Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=2/15/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ANTI WAR DEMO (L)

NUMBER=2-299683

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE=NEW YORK

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: WATCH FOR REVISED CROWD ESTIMATES, POSSIBLE ARRESTS, ETC. THAT WOULD UPDATE INTRO./// ///

INTRO: In New York, tens of thousands of people took to the streets Saturday to protest against a possible U-S led war with Iraq. Correspondent Nick Simeone reports large sections of Manhattan were blocked off to ensure the protest did not get out of hand.

/// SOUNDS OF PROTESTERS ///

TEXT: Anti-war protesters, many carrying signs saying 'no war on Iraq' and 'the world says no to war' marched through Manhattan in sub-freezing temperatures as hundreds of police deployed on foot and on horseback and in helicopters overhead -- kept a close watch.

Young and old alike, these demonstrators are angry over U-S threats to disarm Iraq by force, rather than working to resolve the standoff over Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction through the United Nations, even if that takes time.

/// PROTESTERS ACTS ///

Act 1: This guy is a tyrant and we need to get rid of him somehow but I think we should do it more carefully and slowly and with the will of the world instead of going against everybody and making ourselves a target.

ACT 2: Negotiations need to continue, ad infinitum. We are a great nation. We can show our greatness by taking the leadership in negotiation and diplomacy.

ACT 3: Colin Powell was preparing us yesterday for a five to ten year engagement of taking over another country which is going to cause more terrorist attacks.

/// END ACT ///

/// NAT SOUND OF DEMONSTRATION ///

New York, perhaps more than the rest of the nation, has been on an especially high alert for a possible terrorist attack and it's hard to find a street within blocks of this protest without a heavy police presence.

This city is used to large protests. But a judge rejected a request by organizers of this event to be allowed to march, citing security concerns and worries that the size of the expected crowd could overwhelm police.

But these protesters did in effect, get to march as they paraded through Manhattan's heavily-patrolled streets, chanting anti-war slogans and banging drums, just a few blocks from the United Nations where the next steps on Iraq are being considered. (signed)

NEB/NJS/RH