larger view

"Regardless of size, the protest felt different. The demographics of the crowd had changed. As opposition to the war in Iraq mounts, sparked by the president's decision to send 21,500 more troops, protesting against it has become mainstream. There were plenty of professional protesters in evidence Saturday, the kind for whom protests are a lifestyle choice, but there were also more yuppies, more families with small children, more older people and even a fair number of stylishly dressed young girls in North Face jackets and Ralph Lauren sunglasses. Just as important, the confused, off-topic rhetoric of so many past protests was noticeably muted."

Salon then goes on to point out the diversity of the speakers but puts it in a negative light, as if its a bad thing. They also poke fun at the extremists or "wingnuts" in attendance.

I disagree because peace groups and activists are not about narrow vision. We, in the anti-war movement, welcome everyone that agrees on one thing: GET OUT OF IRAQ NOW! If they bring their own causes to the march, so be it. Some people don't like that the left welcomes people of dubious mindset, and some think this detracts from our message. I do not think it does. I think it shows that we welcome diversity and even if some folks don't agree that freeing "Mumia" is the right thing to do, or that 9/11 was an inside job..we agree on a bigger issue that affects every man, woman and child..the War in Iraq is wrong, its expensive, its killing our citizens and innocent Iraqi’s, and it needs to end as soon as humanly possible.

Nonetheless, it is a good article to read, it has interviews with first time protesters, and it makes one point very clear..The President is helping our numbers grow. His escalation of the war in Iraq is bringing out more people who have never protested before and from all walks of life. The young people are becoming more active. We see people in their 70’s marching when most likely that isn’t an easy thing for them physically. Republicans that are tired of this war-mongering, budget-busting administration are showing up as well. People in expensive clothes are standing alongside veteran protestors and people in costumes. Bear in mind, there were NO incidents that needed police intervention. In spite of the fact that the government suddenly no longer supplies crowd estimates..there were enough people to surround the Capitol. Read that again..protesters surrounded the Capitol. If that doesn’t warm the cockles of your anti-war heart, I don’t know what will my dear reader. There were hundreds of thousands according to many media sources. UFPJ puts the number at half a million. If you have ever seen the Mall in DC, it’s a huge place and will hold half a million people, I know..I have been there for protests during the Vietnam era.

Add to the DC march the 100 others that took place at the same time around our nation and you have a huge turnout of people with one common goal: End the War Now!

So, like Bush did in Iraq, he does here at home..he has created a situation that sparks involvement and people are not afraid to speak out, they feel they must speak out and I agree with that assessment completely. Bush is his own worst enemy. Thanks George. We, the majority of American citizens, would really appreciate it if you listened to us, we put you in office. Try talking to your enemies instead of blowing them to kingdom come. Attempt dialog instead of bullets. Show the world that we are above using the same tactics as the terrorists..just try it..you will like the results far better than the ones you are currently seeing in Iraq, not to mention that talking to people costs far less than killing them.

For an independent POV and additional pictures of the March on DC that does not have that MSM spin, DCIndymedia has a good writeup as well.

Tags: Politics, Bush, Iraq, MarchonDC