anti-war rallies a wild success!

Passions High at War-Related Rallies
WASHINGTON - Spirits were high during weekend rallies in the nation's capital, but that's where the similarities ended, as one demonstration supported and the other opposed the war in Iraq.

The anti-war rally, held Saturday at the western edge of the National Mall, drew a crowd of 100,000 or more. Lasting a marathon 12 hours, it featured folk singer Joan Baez and Cindy Sheehan, the California mother whose 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in Iraq last year.

Protesters also marched past the White House, the first time demonstrators have been allowed to do so since the 1995 Oklahoma City bombings.
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On Sunday, a rally supporting the war drew roughly 500 participants, far below the 20,000 expected by event organizers. Held on the eastern edge of the Mall, the rally was over in about three hours.
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"I would like to say to Cindy Sheehan and her supporters don't be a group of unthinking lemmings. It's not pretty," said Mitzy Kenny of Ridgeley, W.Va., whose husband died in Iraq last year. The anti-war demonstrations "can affect the war in a really negative way. It gives the enemy hope."

Kevin Pannell, a soldier who lost his legs from the knees down in Iraq, told the crowd he was amazed that Saturday's demonstrators were taking for granted their right to free speech.

"I would challenge those guys to go to Baghdad and say that," he said.

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All reports show that the anti-war rally in DC drew far more than the 100,000 expected - some reports as high as 300,000! There was another rally in LA that drew at least 15,000, as well as other rallies in other cities, including London, all of which drew in the thousands.
The pro-war rally, on the other hand, drew much less than the 500 that is reported in this article, according to several other sources. (See Americablog article below which says only 100 showed up!)
I do find it funny that a quote from the pro-war folks are "don't be unthinking lemmings" and then they spout the most common repug talking points: "can affect the war in a negative way", and "gives the enemy hope"! Wow! Talk about unthinking! Could this war possibly move in a more negative way?! Hardly seems possible!
And who was taking their right to free speech for granted?! I think the anti-war folks are championing the right to free-speech, while the pro-war folks were doing their best to suppress it! And, did the comment about going "to Baghdad and say that" actually make any sense whatsoever?! If we are bringing democracy to Iraq then the protestors should be able to do that and if they cannot, then it shows what a failure our war has been!
These rallies point out the obvious - that the pro-war people are by far in the minority!

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Much more from Americablog:

DC is actually an exciting place today

It was a HUGE Crowd in DC today

WaPo Front Page: An electrified protest in DC

100 show up for Pro-War Rally thing
Can you call it a rally if no one shows up? This is the early report from AP:

About 100 people had gathered before a stage set up on the eastern portion of the mall as the noon rally began. A large photo of an American flag served as a backdrop for the stage, and country music blared from speakers while other banners and signs proclaiming support for U.S. troops waved in the breeze.

The Freepers were expecting 20,000.

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