Christians gather for anti-war protest - Arrested!

[Breeze54]

Christians gather for anti-war protest

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4639231.html

March 17, 2007, 12:19AM

By SARAH KARUSH Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON —

Thousands of Christians prayed for peace at an anti-war service Friday night at the Washington
National Cathedral, kicking off a weekend of protests around the country to mark the fourth
anniversary of the war in Iraq.

Afterward, participants marched with battery-operated faux candles through snow and wind
toward the White House, where police began arresting protesters shortly before midnight.
Protest guidelines require demonstrators to continue moving while on the White House sidewalk.

"We gave them three warnings, and they broke the guidelines," said Lt. Scott Fear.
"There's an area on the White House sidewalk where you have to keep moving."

About 100 people crossed the street from Lafayette Park — where thousands of protesters were
gathered — to demonstrate on the White House sidewalk late Friday. Police began cuffing them
and putting them on busses to be taken for processing.

Police said they would not know the total number of protesters arrested until later Saturday.

The windows of the executive mansion were dark, as the president was away for the weekend
at Camp David in Maryland.

John Pattison, 29, said he and his wife flew in from Portland, Ore., to attend his first
anti-war rally. He said his opposition to the war had developed over time.

"Quite literally on the night that shock and awe commenced, my friend and I toasted the
military might of the United States," Pattison said.
"We were quite proud and thought we were doing the right thing."

He said the way the war had progressed and U.S. foreign policy since then had forced him
to question his beliefs.

"A lot of the rhetoric that we hear coming from Christians has been dominated by the
religious right and has been strong advocacy for the war," Pattison said.
"That's just not the way I read my Gospel."

The ecumenical coalition that organized the event, Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, distributed
3,200 tickets for the service in the cathedral, with two smaller churches hosting overflow crowds.
The cathedral appeared to be packed, although sleet and snow prevented some from attending.

"This war, from a Christian point of view, is morally wrong — and was from the beginning," the
Rev. Jim Wallis, founder of Sojourners/Call to Renewal, one of the event's sponsors, said toward
the end of the service to cheers and applause. "This war is ... an offense against God."

In his speech, the Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, senior pastor at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church,
lashed out at Congress for being "too morally inept to intervene" to stop the war, but even more
harshly against President Bush.

"Mr. Bush, my Christian brother, we do need a surge in troops.
We need a surge in the nonviolent army of the Lord," he said.
"We need a surge in conscience and a surge in activism and a surge in truth-telling."

Celeste Zappala of Philadelphia recounted how she learned of the death of her son, Sgt. Sherwood
Baker, who served in the National Guard. When a uniformed man came to her door asking if she was
Baker's mother, she said yes.

"'Yes,' and then I fell to the ground and somewhere outside of myself I heard someone screaming
and screaming," she said.

The Friday night events mark the beginning of what is planned as a weekend of protests ahead
of Tuesday's anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion, which began on March 20, 2003.

On Saturday morning, a coalition of protest groups has a permit for up to 30,000 people
to march from the Vietnam War Memorial across the Potomac River to the Pentagon.
Smaller demonstrations are planned in cities across the country.

http://www.sojo.net/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whom were they blocking on the sidewalk, after midnight, in the wind and snow?
Yeah, I know, "It's the Law!" but it's a new law, since B* stole the WH!
I think it's absolutely ridiculous!!! If the police are arresting ministers
after midnight in a storm, then tomorrows march should be a real pip!

[patrice]

1. Wouldn't it be a surprise to some Christians if THIS were the

Second Coming?

That would be consistent with teachings about the Mystical Body of Christ, Christians living their lives as Christ to all of Humanity.

[nebenaube]

2. uh oh... this will awaken his base!

Yea!

[Breeze54]

4. That would be a good thing, IMO!

It's about time they re-read their bibles!

Read the first comment left on this Christian blog:


Friday, March 16, 2007

Jim Wallis: Ending the War is a Matter of Faith

http://www.beliefnet.com/blogs/godspolitics/2007/03/jim-wallis-ending-war-is-matter-of.html

For all of us here tonight, the war in Iraq has become a matter of faith.

By our deepest convictions about Christian standards and teaching, the war in Iraq
was not just a well-intended mistake or only mismanaged.
THIS WAR, FROM A CHRISTIAN POINT OF VIEW, IS MORALLY WRONG - AND WAS FROM THE VERY START.
It cannot be justified with either the teachings of Jesus Christ OR the criteria of St. Augustine’s just war.

more at link...

posted by God's Politics @ 1:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)

--------------------------

The comment is at the link, under the article.

[nebenaube]

11. I agree...

and now they are feeling the facism.

[WolverineDG]

12. I like this particular comment

(the first line is a quote from an earlier comment attempting to use the Bible to justify the war in Iraq)

When Israel fought in the name of God they were directed to invade, overcome and convert the enemy."
The U.S. is not Israel, Iraq is not our promised land, and we are not fighting in the name of God. If I remember the rhetoric correctly, we invaded to prevent Sadam from using WMD and to establish democracy in the Middle East. These goals are not analogous to God leading Israel out of slavery and into the Promised Land.
CV | 03.16.07 - 4:43 pm | #

:thumbsup:

dg

[jberryhill]

16. This is not Bush's base

Folks make fun of Bush for not knowing that Shia and Sunni are two different branches of Islam, but it seems that there is no shortage of folks that don't understand that there are substantial divisions between American protestants.

Evangelicals, Fundamentalists, and Pentecostals have as much contempt for what they perceive as liberal protestants as they do for, say, Muslims.

Catholics are only somewhat tolerated by the conservative American protestants because the Catholics come in handy on abortion. Aside from that one issue, the Catholics remain hell-bound statue worshippers.

[Breeze54]

17. I know .

These christians are against the war!

My reply was concerning the RW christians, that they should re-read their bibles. ;)

[ninkasi]

3. Why can't I find that part?

I've looked and looked, but according to the First Amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

I see the part about the right of the people to peaceably assemble, but somehow have missed the part about the right to peaceably assemble, only if they have permission to do so. That kind of defeats the purpose of having the right, doesn't it?

Thomas Jefferson and James Madison would be turning in their graves, if they could see how far from the Constitution we've come over the years. This is pathetic.

[Breeze54]

5. Good point!

You're right on the ball!

...the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

That's W's new law! He hasn't read the Constitution, after all, it's just a piece of paper! :sarcasm:

"I don't give a goddamn," Bush retorted. "I'm the President and the Commander-in-Chief. Do it my way."

"Mr. President," one aide in the meeting said.
"There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution."

"Stop throwing the Constitution in my face," Bush screamed back. "It's just a goddamned piece of paper!"

I've talked to three people present for the meeting that day and they all confirm that
the President of the United States called the Constitution "a goddamned piece of paper."

http://www.rense.com/general69/paper.htm

[Breeze54]

6. gwb - Time Traveler

[annm4peace]

7. Proof of El Diablo is in the White House.

this makes me sad. how can they arrest these people. I know these were many elderly people
I bet their hearts were breaking as they were marching to the White House.

[Breeze54]

9. Agreed.

This is pathetic.

Welcome to DU!

[CGowen]

13. Hook 'em Horns

[TheConstantGardener]

8. This is how Good Christian Bush deals with his Brothers in faith

With a healthy dose of fascism.

[Breeze54]

10. You said it ! -- It is 'Fascism.'

B* 'new world order'... :grr:


Welcome to DU! :hi:

http://static.flickr.com/21/buddyicons/[e-mail]

[Kolesar]

14. Congress is "too morally inept to intervene" to stop the war, but so are the US Christians

The major social institutions of America: business, religion, schools, etc. have not done due diligence to sort out the meaning of this war and the urgency to get out of there. They are still stuck in this perverted goal that it is for America to establish the government of Iraq. To them, any other end is victory for the terrorists.

America still lives by Richard Cheney's talking points.

[Breeze54]

15. More than 200 Christians were arrested - PICS!

Jordan Schmidt, of Leesburg, Va., an anti-war protester, holds a
candlelight vigil with others outside the White House in Washington,
Friday, March 16, 2007. An estimated 3,000 protesters march from the
National Cathedral to the White House to protest the military presence
in Iraq and Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

Protestors Arrested Outside White House
Rally Kicks Off Weekend Of Protests

POSTED: 10:30 am EDT March 17, 2007
UPDATED: 1:04 pm EDT March 17, 2007

http://www.nbc4.com/news/11280644/detail.html

WASHINGTON --

More than 200 Christians protesting the Iraq war were arrested outside the White House
late Friday, kicking off a weekend of protests across the country.

At least 3,000 people opposed to the war gathered Friday night at Washington National
Cathedral for a prayer service. They later marched through the cold wind to the White House.

Several hundred had volunteered to risk arrest by standing and praying on the sidewalk directly
in front of the White House. Protest guidelines require demonstrators to continue moving while
on the White House sidewalk. President George W. Bush wasn't there.
He is at Camp David this weekend.

According to U.S. Park Police, 222 protesters were arrested Friday night. They face $100 fines, police said.

Protestor Jim Wallis, a preacher, said the war in Iraq has hurt Christianity because millions
of people around the world believe it's a religious war.
He said Christians need to clear up the confusion.

Organizers said they expect tens of thousands of protestors to converge on Washington for protests
in advance of Tuesday's four-year anniversary of the Iraq invasion.

A protest coalition has a permit for as many as 30,000 people to march from the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial to the Pentagon. Smaller demonstrations are planned across the country.

---------------------

War anniversary draws protesters to D.C.

By Larry Margasak and Calvin Woodward, Associated Press Writers | March 17, 2007

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/03/17/war_anniversary_draws_protesters_to_dc/

WASHINGTON --

Denouncing a conflict entering its fifth year, protesters raised their voices Saturday against
U.S. policy in Iraq and marched by the thousands to the Pentagon in the footsteps of an epic
demonstration four decades ago against another divisive war.

A counterprotest shadowed the anti-war crowd on a day of dueling signs and sentiments such as
"Illegal Combat" and "Peace Through Strength," and songs like "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
and "War (What's It Good For?)."

Thousands crossed the Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial to rally
as close to the Pentagon as they could get. Smaller protests were organized across the country
and held abroad, stretching to Tuesday's four-year anniversary of the Iraq invasion.

"Too many people have died and it doesn't solve anything," said Ann O'Grady, who drove through
snow with her husband, Tom, and two children, 13 and 10, from Athens, Ohio. "I feel bad carrying
out my daily activities while people are suffering, Americans and Iraqis."

Retired Marine Jeff Carroll, 47, an electrician in Milton, Del., held a sign saying:
"Proud of our soldiers, ashamed of our president." Carroll said he served in Lebanon
when the Marine barracks was bombed in a deadly attack in 1983, and thinks the U.S.
should be focusing on Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden instead of Iraq.
"We're fighting the wrong country."

snip-->

Some active-duty service members joined the anti-war protest, following rules that allow
them to demonstrate but limit what they can say.

Speaking into a microphone hooked to massive speakers, Petty Officer Jonathan Hutto, who
is on active duty with the Navy, told the crowd that the people had voted against the war
in the November elections and "we're here to cash the check."



Activists from the Mennonite group the Psalters pray
before taking part in an anti-war procession from the
National Cathedral to the White House on Friday.
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)
11:16 p.m. ET, 3/16/07


CODEPINK Women for Peace co-founder Medea Benjamin of San Francisco, Calif.,
center, and others, take part in a demonstrates in front of the Rayburn House
Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 15, 2007, to
protest the House Appropriations Committee's vote on funding for the war in Iraq.
2:11 p.m. ET, 3/15/07


A group of Nicaraguan citizens take part in a protest
against the war in Iraq, in front of the U.S Embassy
in Managua, Thursday, March 15, 2007. The yellow banner
reads in Spanish "An end to Iraq's illegal occupation"
and the white one "An end to the Iraqui's people struggle".
8:42 p.m. ET, 3/15/07


South Korean protesters shout slogans during a demonstration
against the war in Iraq, in Seoul, 17 March 2007 marking the
fourth anniversary of the Iraq war. About one thousand of
protesters demanded the withdrawal of South Korean troops in Iraq.
7:04 a.m. ET, 3/17/07

[rebel with a cause]

18. Too bad there will probably not be any pictures of the arrests.

The police (?) have gotten really good/bad about making sure none of these are allowed to surface. It would really be good - especially if any of those arrested were Mennonites! There would sure look bad and might even cause the Amish to think about their choice to even listen to the bush in charge. (if I am wrong about the Amish, I apologize).

There is a law even here in our university town that you have to continue to move when you demonstrate on the streets. (maybe because of the old sit ins of the old days) I know this from my demonstrating days before I quit due to differences among the protesters (ha ha) and my health. We just stood there with our signs and the police would come by and wave at us or give us a peace sign. They never once stopped to say anything, but one of the organizers warned us that it had happened in the past so if we saw a cop starting to stop to start moving. ;-)

[Breeze54]

22. You're right..they won't show those but

here's a link I found to more pics of the march.

http://www.pbase.com/srogouski/march_on_pentagon

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

19. I want to see the Christian Right scream "persecution of Christians" on this one.

Crickets. Tumbleweeds.

[DesertRat]

20. ...

"A lot of the rhetoric that we hear coming from Christians has been dominated by the
religious right and has been strong advocacy for the war," Pattison said.
"That's just not the way I read my Gospel."

Amen to that!

[Sybil_23mist]

21. This is so courageous

Good for them!! :patriot:

[Breeze54]

23. Agreed!

They're brave to risk arrest, imho.

Welcome to DU! :hi: