September 15, 2007, anti-war protest

The September 15, 2007 anti-war protest was a march from the White House to the United States Capitol. It was organized by Veterans for Peace and the ANSWER Coalition. Volunteers were recruited for a civil disobedience action, which included a die-in. Volunteers signed up to take on the name of a soldier or civilian who died because of the war, and lay down around the Peace Monument.[1] In attendance were public figures such as Cindy Sheehan and Ralph Nader.[1] Police arrested more than 190 demonstrators who crossed police lines in front of the Capitol.[2] Chemical spray was used by Capitol Police.[3]

Protesters marching down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol
Memorial of a fallen Marine brought to the White House
Radical cheerleaders perform a cheer in front of the White House

The protest march started near the White House in Lafayette Park where many protesters raised placards to show their disapproval of the war and to demand impeachment of the President for war crimes. One father brought a flag-draped coffin, as a memorial to his son who was killed in Iraq. The parent placed the coffin near the fence at the White House expressing President Bush's culpability in the deaths of U.S. troops who have died in Iraq. Other signs were raised proclaiming that the U.S. occupation of Iraq is illegal and that U.S. troops should be supported by bringing them home.

Organizers estimated that nearly 100,000 people attended the rally and march. That number could not be confirmed; police did not give their own estimate. Associated press reported "several thousand." A permit for the march obtained in advance by the ANSWER Coalition had projected 10,000.[4] Independent aerial photography and crowd counting firm AirPhotosLive was commissioned by ANSWER Coalition organizers and measured attendance at 1 pm to be 74,000 - with a margin of error of 8,000.[5][6]

The demonstration was met with a counter-demonstration of the Gathering of Eagles organization and Free Republic, which had also counter-protested anti-war protesters during the March 17, 2007 anti-war protest.[7]

The DC Department of Public Works levied a $10,000-fine against ANSWER for violating city ordinances by putting signs on utility boxes and using an adhesive that was difficult to remove. Additionally, the National Park Service, which administers many of the parks in the District of Columbia, stated that the signs are defacement of federal property and ordered the group to remove the signs or pay for their removal. ANSWER refused to pay the fines or remove the signs saying that the city's actions are "politically motivated."[8]

ANSWER sued the city in federal court to stop the city from enforcing its laws until it creates a "constitutionally allowable and non-discriminating system" for determining the rules on sign posting. An ANSWER spokeswoman stated that they gained support from the publicity and intended to continue to post more and more posters, stickers, and banners despite the efforts of the city.

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Protest against the Iraq War in Washington, D.C. (15 September 2007).

References
  1. Three days until the Sept. 15 March to Stop the War! Archived 2007-09-11 at the Wayback Machine pephost.org, Retrieved September 16, 2007
  2. More than 190 arrested at D.C. protestģ.
    We Are the Troops! Bring Us Home! Archived 2012-07-08 at archive.today.
    175 arrests as Iraq vets jump fence at US Capitol Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. Dueling Demonstrations As Thousands March to Capitol to Protest Iraq Conflict, 189 Arrested; War Supporters Take on 'Vocal Minority' Michelle Boorstein, V. Dion Haynes and Allison Klein, The Washington Post, Sunday, September 16, 2007; Page A08, Retrieved September 16, 2007
  4. More than 190 arrested at D.C. protest, Mattew Barakat, Associated Press Writer, Yahoo News, September 16, 2007, Retrieved September 16, 2007
  5. AirPhotosLive, Methodology - Sept. 15 Washington DC Demonstration.
  6. ANSWER Coalition, March on Washington: A New Movement is Emerging Archived 2011-03-15 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. Phil Wilayto, Some thoughts on the Counter-Demonstrators at the March on the Pentagon.
  8. Johnson, Jenna (August 16, 2007). "Antiwar Group Refuses To Back Down on Signs". The Washington Post. p. B01. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
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