WAR PROTESTERS MARK ANNIVERSARY.Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer VALENCIA - Marking the second anniversary of the start of war in Iraq, more than 80 people gathered at one of the Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, Valley's busiest intersections Saturday, calling for peace and for the U.S. government to bring the troops home. The vigil, organized by the Democratic Alliance for Action and the Santa Clarita Neighbors for Peace and Justice, covered the corner of Valencia Boulevard and McBean Parkway, where protesters carried signs that read ``Peace is Patriotic'' and ``Bush Divides Us.'' ``We want to get the troops out of Iraq,'' said Patti Salpizio, 49, of Valencia. ``We want to return Iraq to the Iraqi people. We want to bring the U.S. soldiers back alive.'' The rally coincided with anti-war marches around the globe. More than 1,500 people gathered in Hollywood to demonstrate through light rain, and thousands more hit the streets of San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden . In New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , hundreds of protesters, some carrying cardboard coffins draped drape v. draped, drap·ing, drapes v.tr. 1. To cover, dress, or hang with or as if with cloth in loose folds: draped the coffin with a flag; a robe that draped her figure. in American flags, gathered at armed forces recruiting stations and demanded that U.S. troops be brought home. Since the start of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein (born April 28, 1937, Tikrit, Iraq—died Dec. 30, 2006, Baghdad) President of Iraq (1979–2003). He joined the Ba'th Party in 1957. Following participation in a failed attempt to assassinate Iraqi Pres. , at least 1,519 members of the U.S. military have died, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. an Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. count. The valley has lost three of its sons in Iraq. Marine Lance Cpl. Richard Slocum, 19, a gunner from Valencia, died in October when he was thrown from his Humvee as the driver negotiated a barricade. Army Pfc. Cole W. Larsen, 19, of Canyon Country was serving on the military police force in Iraq when he died Nov. 13 of injuries suffered in a vehicle accident. Army Pfc. Jose Ricardo Flores Flores, town, Guatemala Flores (flōrəs), town (1990 est. pop. 2,200), capital of Petén department, N Guatemala. Flores was built on an island in the southern part of Lake Petén Itzá and on the site of the , 21, of Newhall was killed Nov. 19 in Mosul, Iraq, when an explosive struck his convoy. At Saturday's rally, protest organizer Salpizio said Iraqis have not yet achieved democracy despite January elections. ``They're being occupied by a foreign army,'' she said. ``Would you feel like you were really free if that's happening in America?'' Across the eight-lane road, a half-dozen counterprotesters gathered in support of President George W. Bush's policies. Pat Hummel hummel entire, naturally polled deer. , 51, of Newhall, held up a sign that read, ``If you can vote, thank our troops.'' ``I believe in what Bush is doing,'' she said. ``If we don't fight terrorism where it is, it could be here ... I want to bring back the troops but not to the detriment of freedom.'' Kevin Korenthal, 33, of Canyon Country criticized a sign held up by those across the ideological divide that read ``Peace is Patriotic.'' ``When did peace ever liberate a country?'' he asked. Rita Lee Rita Lee Jones, now Rita Lee Jones Carvalho, known simply as Rita Lee, (born on December 31, 1947) is a Brazilian rock singer and composer. Lee continues to be a popular figure on the Brazilian entertainment scene. , 60, of Valencia endured a catcall from a driver calling her a loser as she held up a sign that said ``Pray for Peace.'' ``I want the war to stop,'' she said. ``We don't belong there. ``Saddam Hussein shouldn't have done what he did (to his people) but he didn't bomb us,'' Lee said. ``Why didn't we wait for the U.N.?'' War protester Maureen Cole, 57, of Valencia said she hoped the local demonstration along with those around the world would convince Bush to stop the war. ``I hope that there are a lot of people protesting, and I hope Bush will see that there are a lot of people who are against the war.'' The Associated Press contributed to this story. Eugene Tong, (661) 257-5253 eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Giovanni Messori waves the flag at demonstrations for and against the war at Valencia Boulevard and McBean Parkway. (2 -- color) Anti-war demonstrators hold signs and gesture at Valencia Boulevard and McBean Parkway in Santa Clarita on Saturday. Theirs was part of nationwide protests marking the second anniversary of the Iraq war Iraq War: see under Persian Gulf Wars. Iraq War or Second Persian Gulf War Brief conflict in 2003 between Iraq and a combined force of troops largely from the U.S. and Great Britain; and a subsequent U.S. . Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion