Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/17/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ANTI-WAR PROTESTS (L-O)

NUMBER=2-300819

BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: As war against Iraq appears imminent, anti-war demonstrators in the United States are making a last-ditch effort to ensure that their voices are being heard. V-O-A's Stephanie Ho reports from Washington.

TEXT: Dozens of people opposing war with Iraq were arrested Monday during a peaceful protest on the lawn of the U-S Capitol. Organizers say this action is just the start of anti-war activities planned all week across the country.

Tens of thousands of anti-war protesters came to Washington over the weekend. A candlelight vigil at the Lincoln Memorial Sunday night was headlined by the folk group "Peter, Paul and Mary" -- who were famous for their peace songs opposing the Vietnam War in the 1960s.

/// PETER, PAUL AND MARY SINGING -- EST, THEN FADE UNDER ///

Under drizzling skies, many of the several thousand people gathered at the vigil sang along to the familiar words.

/// SINGING -- EST, THE FADE OUT ///

On Saturday, tens of thousands of people came to Washington for what organizers characterized as an urgent effort to show public opposition to war with Iraq.

Forty-seven year old Janet Frick, a childrens' book editor from New Jersey, carried a sign saying "U-S Arrogance Loses Allies."

/// FRICK ACT ///

I just think our government is acting very foolishly and (President) Bush is charging ahead.

/// END ACT ///

Forty-one year old Vince Newton, from Virginia, says he is most concerned about the loss of innocent lives.

/// NEWTON ACT ///

The "Shock and Awe Program" that the Pentagon wants to do is supposed to drop three thousand bombs on the city of Baghdad in two days. It's a city of four million people. And I don't care how smart the bombs are, they will kill civilians. That's what it's all about to me.

/// END ACT ///

Not everyone came to demonstrate against the war, though. Thirty-six year old Scott Gill carried a sign calling on the American public to boycott French goods. When confronted by an anti-war protester, he rejected allegations that the purpose of the war is to control of Iraq's oil.

/// GILL ACT ///

(Iraqi leader) Saddam (Hussein) killed a million and a half people -- that's what we're stopping.

/// END ACT ///

///START OPT/// Mary Travers called on the audience at Sunday's vigil to use the democratic process to show their opposition to war.

/// TRAVERS ACT ///

Let's say, for argument's sake, it doesn't go well. Have we lost something? No; to the contrary. We have begun something. We have begun to speak out. In the last presidential election, 36-percent of the eligible voters voted. That will not happen in two years. (cheering -- fade out)

/// END ACT ///END OPT///

The group United for Peace and Justice -- which serves as an Internet clearinghouse for anti-war activities -- lists more than 100 rallies and vigils around the country, planned for the day after a war starts.

///SINGING -- EST. & FADE OUT /// (SIGNED)

NEB/SHO/MAR/FC