More Photos From Yesterday's Rather Large Anti-War Rally

Yesterday, thousands of people gathered at Union Square for an anti-war rally organized by the United National Antiwar Committee, the Muslim Peace Coalition, and many other peace groups. The rally's official name was: "United National Antiwar Demonstration: Bring the Troops Home Now!" Protesters walked down Broadway to Foley Square carrying colorful signs protesting various ongoing crises and issues in American foreign policy, everything from Islamaphobia to the military actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“It’s costing $100 million a day. In the meantime, we are being told that there is no money for badly needed social programs. We don’t want war. We want more jobs,” Tom Murphy from Brooklyn told CBS. Other protesters and featured speakers echoed this sentiment, arguing that if the U.S. would pull out of the wars it's involved in, the government wouldn't need to cut spending on programs such as Medicare, Head Start and Medicaid. You can see more tweet pics of the rally here. We do have one question we're wondering: is there a difference between a peace rally and an anti-war rally?

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By Ben Yakas in News on April 10, 2011 2:25 PM

Comments [rss]

FU Boy

I hate to agree with LETTiER, mainly because of his bias, but he's right. Protests and rallies serve only to make the people feel united in their cause and benefit from seeing a large, like-minded crowd. They very rarely change policy, and are not the most effective way to change the attitude of the people in power.

Still, it's good to see.

max bontrager

Solidarity among people is the most important thing. Passing laws and changing policies is not important because people will continue to be exploited by the U.S. and other capitalist countries for as long as they are capitalist. A people united for the revolution and overthrow of the U.S. and EU government systems are what's important.

xXxMExXx

I’m disappointed nobody posted a picture of the 'Obama with a Hitler mustache’ sign I had at the event. :(

CallMeGoldie

I was there, at the head of the march. City police said approximately 50,00 people were in attendance. 1,000 people for each city block. We marched from 14th Street Union Square down to the Federal Plaza. We were promoting PEACE. To end ALL wars. Including Palestine. ALL wars. It was beautiful.

Yes, writing congress, lobbying congress, councilmen, etc is a great idea, but having a peace rally is inspiring, moving and uplifting. We want to bring the so desperately needed war dollars home for jobs, education, health care, the poor, the seniors, etc.

We live in a corporatist state America. Don't trust corporate leaders and do not trust the negative people on the internet. The government actually pays people to surf news sources to degrade people's curiosity and questioning.

sasboy

I was there at the rally and I can tell you the number of people at the rally ran into the thousands !

Eric

Not a single anti-Obama sign? How utterly fascinating!

silver

They all voted for Bush 3, he needed a legacy (Libya).

LETTiER

First a pillow war then a peace rally. Where do they find the time? File this under noise and hot air. Write your representative, attend a council meeting, vote, but please put your sign away little girl 'cause if you hadn't noticedthey're not listening. Better yet, go buy one of those yellow ribbons, we Veterans love that shit. Then go study abroad, where the wrong bus could be the end of the road for you because some bat-shit brainwashed individual is out for blood after someone burned a book.

http://www.israelnationalnews....

Vanessa von Hessert

She looks like an adult to me, not a girl. Just saying.

Mordicai

More people need to be called out on their patronizing BS. Good for you.

Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv

I know, right? Why are We always on the wrong side?

Jeri Evans

A "massive" rally that had "hundreds" of people? Not really so massive, was it?

Mordicai

How big was YOUR last rally?

FallOut

Actually, there were thousands.

I was on a roof on Broadway, and the marchers took one traffic lane, averaging 4-5 across, densely packed, and extended as far as I could see, from Broome Street to Astor Place.

Emily Rose

upwards of 12 thousand were there

izzy371

12 Hundred at most

Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv

Gingers For Palestine, LOVE IT.

Rocknrope

"Gingers for Palestine" doesn't really sound "anti-war."

edgie168

looks like like "palestwe" to me

Mordicai

I'm no pacifist, but from what the conservatives are telling me, we're in a real fiscal crunch. Wouldn't the prudent thing be to bring our troops home? I mean-- call me crazy?

unretrofiedforu

I was watching a recent documentary on the Afghanistan situation from Nat'l Geographic called 'Talibanistan'.

I usually don't get scared often, but propaganda or not - the impression left on me is, for our OWN sake we shouldn't be in a rush to be pulling out of there.

Guest

You have to remember dat there's oil in dem dere hills! (aka Our "continued interest" in the region).

M Corbett

It was not billed as an anti-war rally. It was hosted by the United National Anti-War Committee. It was billed as "Bring the Troops Home Now!" & "Move Money from War to Jobs Education, Healthcare & Housing." Nothing about anti-war.

Visits to their site, FB page and poster would indicate this quickly.
https://nationalpeaceconferenc...
http://www.facebook.com/event....

It was a peace rally! As they write on the page event, "We are dedicated to world of peace and justice."

LazyNanny

Sure, they are for peace and justice, except for Israel of course.
How dumb and uninformed those hipsters are.

Mordicai

Yes, you are right, the issue with Israel & Palestine is very, very, very simple & anyone who doesn't agree with your particular take MUST be dumb & uninformed. I mean, it is such an obvious no-brainer!