After a six-month lull American anti-war protesters are back in force. Khaled Dawoud and Anayat Durrani report from Washington and San Francisco Thousands of anti-war protesters descended on Washington DC and San Francisco demanding an end to the occupation of Iraq and the withdrawal of American troops from the region. The protests were considered one of the largest against the United States' military involvement in Iraq since US President George Bush declared an end to major combat operations on 1 May. Students, activists, American Muslims, veterans and family members with loved ones stationed in Iraq were among the estimated 100,000 people in Washington who voiced their disapproval over the Bush administration's handling of both domestic and foreign policy. Organisers of Saturday's protests, Act Now to Stop War and End Racism International (ANSWER), said the large turnout refuted allegations that the anti-war movement had lost its vigour in the past few months. While President Bush was away at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, demonstrators gathered for speeches near the Washington Monument and the White House before finally converging on the US Justice Department. Throughout the day, protesters chanted "Impeach Bush" and carried signs that read "No more Bush, no more blood", "Bush is a liar" and "Make jobs not war". Others beat drums and carried posters that read "UN in, US out", and "Support our troops. Bring them home." Protesters also carried posters of US President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld with the word "Liars" printed in big letters. The fact that no weapons of mass destruction have been found yet in Iraq has angered many who felt cheated by the Bush administration's claim that Iraq posed an "imminent threat" to the US, regional and world security. Saturday's protests also coincided with the second anniversary of the US Patriot Act's enactment, which curtailed civil liberties and allowed authorities to deliberately target Arab and Muslim Americans in the wake of the 11 September attacks. Protesters lashed out at US Attorney-General John Ashcroft and his plans to introduce the Patriot Act II, a plan President Bush has indicated he will support. Among the speakers addressing the crowds near the White House was former US Attorney-General Ramsey Clark. He called Bush's policies "a threat to peace and security" and said Bush's actions violate international law. "We have to work from this day until next spring to do everything we can to convince the House of Representatives to impeach George Bush," he said. "The American people are viewed around the world as supporting George Bush's policies and they will be until he is removed from office." Clark also criticised the treatment of Arab- Americans since the 11 September attacks and the horrendous conditions of Arab and Muslim prisoners in Guantanamo, a US military base in Cuba where members of Al- Qa'eda have been held for as long as two years without charges or trial. Democratic presidential hopeful Al Sharpton told demonstrators that US troops should be pulled out of Iraq immediately and criticised calls for a "gradual withdrawal". He accused the Bush administration of "double-talk similar to Vietnam" by hiding the truth about current problems in Iraq. Sharpton also assailed Bush's request for $87 billion to finance the war and reconstruction of Iraq. He claimed the administration was "misusing America's power" by spending massive amounts in Iraq while US towns needed that money for education, jobs and health care. "Don't give him $87 billion. Don't give him 87 cents. Give our troops a ride home." Sharpton said. Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim-American Freedom Society took aim at the Bush administration for what is increasingly being perceived by American Muslims as a United States at war with Islam. "This is not a war against terrorism, this is a war against Muslims and Islam," Elias Rashmawi of the Free Palestine Alliance told protesters "Bush lies and people die. They die here and they die all over the Arab world." Fernando Suarez del Solar, the father of a Marine who was killed in Iraq, held Bush responsible for the rising death toll of American soldiers. Solar's son Jesus was killed in action on 27 March in Iraq. "We don't need anymore deaths. President Bush -- wrongly called president -- has lied to the entire world about this war." he said. "We need to make Mr Bush understand: He's not the owner of the lives of our children." The San Francisco anti-war protest drew an estimated crowd of 10,000 and included speakers like Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, author of Born on the 4th of July. Kovic compared the war in Iraq to his experience during the Vietnam War, which left him paralysed from the chest down. Actor Danny Glover also spoke to protesters saying, "This war is not about us. It is against us, against Iraqi people, and against our children." Organisers hoped that the protests sent a clear message that the anti-war movement was alive and well. "We certainly pose a problem for Bush," said Jessie Marthon, an anti-war activist. "He now has a strong opponent which derives its power from the people themselves, and he definitely has to be worried." Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, a lawyer and leading ANSWER spokesperson, said the group was planning similar protests in coming months.
