Richmond Times-Dispatch from Richmond, Virginia • A14

103217DCA14A 1 0321 7DCA1 4A ZALLCALL 63 00:51:27 032103 Al 4 Friday, March 21, 2003 i -m- Richmond Umei-Dkpatch Attack on Iraq www.timeidiipatch.com War protesters seari major U.S. cities Buses, idled on the streets, were abandoned by their drivers. Cars were rerouted so far off the normal paths that major streets were emptied. And while police in riot gear kept arresting protesters more than 500 by midday there always seemed to be another wave of protesters at another intersection. As the day went on, the chaos in the city escalated.

Marchers set fire to bales of hay in the shadow of the Transamer-ica Building, opened fire hydrants and smashed police car windows. This is what democracy looks like!" the protesters in San Francisco shouted, with the same slogan echoing from crowds in Boston, Washington and arrested yesterday after blocking the entrances to the downtown federal building. In New York, more than 300 protesters converged on Times Square at the afternoon rush hour, blocking traffic. In Chicago, hundreds of protesters shut down Lake Shore Drive, one of the city's main arteries. And in Washington, marchers forced the police to close Potomac River crossings during the morning commuter rush.

But San Francisco was the antiwar movement's epicenter, with hundreds of protesters arrested in the financial district Demonstrators also made the Bay Bridge and as many as 40 intersections impassable to cars during the morning rush hour. out thousands of counterdemonstrators. Some 2,000 people gathered outside the state Capitol yesterday in Mississippi, a state that has seen 4,500 guardsmen and reservists activated during the buildup to war Marlena Puckett, who is engaged to a Marine in the war zone, fought back tears as she watched people waving American flags and carrying handmade signs. "I'm proud of him. Fm just ready for him to be home," Puckett said of her fiance, Danny Myers.

One sign in the Jackson crowd said Thank God for Bush" on one side and "Support the VS. or keep your mouth shut" on the other. This is one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done in my life," said Elliot Rubin, a 54-year-old English teacher, who sat under arrest in one San Francisco intersection, hands cuffed behind his back. "War is immoral. When no one listens, you have to take action and make a statement" One protester died after tumbling from the Golden Gate Bridge.

Authorities were investigating the death as a possible suicide. "It has turned into an ugly situation," said a police spokesman, Dewayne TuHy. There has been no abatement to the protests. It's challenging the resources of the police department" But the antiwar groundswell brought Fkoti Wise Reports san francis co Antiwar demonstrators across the country took their anger and dismay to the streets, from rallying and marching to blocking intersections, paralyzing traffic and getting arrested. Peace vigils and rallies took place in approximately 500 cities nationwide and in hundreds of cities worldwide.

Thousands of protesters in scores of cities also made good on their promise to engage in mass civil disobedience and disrupt business as usual the morning after President Bush ordered the attack on Iraq. In Philadelphia, 100 protesters were Students rally across state to protest war BKUCI PAHKHtTOOS-DBPAICH Antiwar demonstrators gathered at the Federal Courthouse at 10th and Main streets in Richmond at noon yesterday. 100 gather downtown to protest area, told the students standing in a steady, cold drizzle, "We cannot go on with business as usual when our government is bombing yet another country." One of those looking on was Joe Ciarallo, a junior from the New York City suburbs of northern New Jersey. Ciarallo said he believes the war is not the best the way to fight terrorism. "I think ifll encourage terrorism," he said.

"ItTl hurt American interests here and abroad." But standing alone just outside the gathering was Ben Strohm, a senior from Chesterfield County who held up a cardboard sign with the Pledge of Allegiance written on it Strohm said the war with Iraq is regrettable but necessary to prevent terror "War is never something you want," he said. "But I think that by going in and fighting now, well save innocent lives here and in Iraq." About two hours later, protesters marched to downtown Harrisonburg for a vigiL At the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, about 200 antiwar marchers staged a noisy parade through the campus and blocked traffic at a busy intersection for about 10 minutes. Williamsburg city police, notified in advance of the marchers' plans, detoured traffic around the demonstration at an intersection known as College Corner and made no arrests. The event was noisy, but the participants seemed good-natured and attentive to directions by police. A smaller group of people, many of them members of the William and Mary College Republicans, formed the end of the protest parade and carried signs condemning Saddam Hussein and supporting the VS.

military action. Most of the protesters, however, carried antiwar signs with slogans such as, "Ifs not too late to stop the war," and blew whistles and other noise-makers or shouted anti-war slogans. Bill Fisher, an anthropology professor, called on the crowd to help make "a hotbed of anti-war activity." He said war opponents have an obligation to try to change the minds of others. "Now that the bombs are falling, our jobs are still the same," Fisher said. Matt Lancaster, a junior who helped organize the protest, said the terrorism of Sept 11, 2001, doesnt justify making war on Saddam Hussein.

"Iraq has done no injustice to us," he said. BY CARLOS SANTOS TmesDispatch Staff Witter Hundreds of college students across Virginia rallied against the Iraqi war yesterday, chanting and marching in protest though in some cases countered by other students who supported the military action. In pouring rain, bearing umbrellas and a few signs, about 300 University of Virginia students gathered on the Lawn to speak against the war with Iraq. Many of the students, who joined Charlottesville peace activists, marched to the downtown mall to the office of 5th District Republican Rep. Virgil H.

Goode, where they cheered on 10 war protesters arrested for refusing to leave his regional office after it closed at 4:30 p.m. Gladys Swift, 80, a Quaker, was one of those handcuffed and arrested. She said she had been demonstrating against war since World War Tve demonstrated in every demonstration there ever was," she said. Mkhele Mattioli was also arrested. "We've done all the legal action we can do and the war is still going on," Mattioli said.

"We're responding to our conscience with civil disobedience." The U.Va. students skipped class to make an antiwar point "We're taking a break from the normal routine because things aren't normal anymore," said Jenny Vasquez, a fourth-year student The world has changed and we're unhappy that it's changed." The peaceful and even cheerful antiwar protest at U.Va. was briefly interrupted by a young man in a trenchcoat and Saddam Hussein mask shaking hands and sarcastically thanking the protesters for their support. One of the student protesters grabbed the masked man and kissed him. The masked man pushed the protester to the ground and walked away.

The masked man was Jeremy Williams, a second-year U.Va. student, who said he taunted the protesters because "the anti-war rally conveys the idea we don't support our troops and that we support Saddam Hussein. The university is a liberal university, but there are a considerable number of students who support the war." About 150 students also skipped class at Virginia Tech to gather in front of the War Memorial Chapel to protest the war. Just after 3 p.m., about 100 war protesters on the James Madison University Commons began chanting, "Not in my name!" Peter Gelderloos, a former JMU student who helped organize the protest with about 50 others in the Harrisonburg "Ifs just water," said Annette Cousins as she protested alongside her mother, Gloria. "Ifs better than blood." Nearby, Larry Syverson clung to a poster that read, "Iraqi oil isn't worth my sons' blood." Those sons, Bryce and Branden, are both with the Army and IMQinP awaiting orders that their ther said will take them into FLAG FLAP: Iraq 80011.

City worker asted "I support the troops, but to remove 84bot notthewar, Syverson said. American (lag from best way to support office. PutBl. them is to send them home. About a dozen of the protesters took the rally to the streets, heading toward Broad Street, around Capitol Square and then to the Richmond Times-Dispatch building on Franklin Street They continued to chant, "No blood for oil, US.

off Iraqi soil!" The rally for peace was called quickly after the first bombs fell in Baghdad Wednesday night Many protesters plan to attend this weekend's RECLAIM! A Conference on Community, War Oppression. Workshops, films and discussions are scheduled around town beginning today. A dinner, rally and march round out the weekend at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Monroe Park. "What the VS.

military is doing was wrong before they did it, it was wrong when we didn't have the support of most of the world and it is wrong now that innocent people are dying," said Jason Guard, a member of Food Not Bombs. "Blind patriotism doesnt serve the country. It undermines democracy." Another weekend rally is designed to bring community members together, no matter their views of the war. WRVA radio's "Richmond's Rally for America" will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Innsbrook Pavilion.

The day will feature patriotic music and speakers. "When is it not a good time to honor America?" said Randall Bloomquist, program director at WRVA "It is profoundly unfair to send people to war and then sit at home and make them fed unappreciated." War protesters say that is not their intent This is the most patriotic action I can take, because I do care," Gowen said. "I care for the men and the women in the armed forces. I pray for them and I pray they return home safely." Contact Janet Caggano at (804) 649-6157 or jcaanoiti mesdispatcfi.com BY JANET CAGGIANO Times-Dispatch Staff Wrttfji Three months after being released from prison, Nancy Gowen was back on the front lines yesterday risking another confrontation with police. The Henrico County resident, jailed last fall for civil disobedience while protesting violence at the School of the Americas in Fort Benning, was one of nearly 100 people waving banners and shouting slogans in a relentless rain during an antiwar protest at the Federal Courts Building downtown.

"War is not an answer," said Gowen, who served four months in prison. There is no room in the heart for that" As protesters waved their "No blood for oil" banners, several people across Main Street held up signs of their own: "Get a job, you hippies." The two groups exchanged barbs, but with police on horseback nearby, the disagreement quickly ended. For more than an hour and despite the rain, women on their hinch breaks, some in high heels and skirts, stayed true to the cause. Men, some in coats and ties, gave up trying to stay dry. Anti-war activists block bridge into D.C.

by the bridge were detoured onto Interstate 66. Police using bullhorns warned the protesters that they were blocking a public roadway and risked arrest Most of the protesters dispersed peacefully on the Washington end of the bridge. But before that, some of them tossed a traffic control barrel in front of a police cruiser accompanying the group on the Virginia side, Martin said. Three people were arrested and charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the barrel-throwing incident They were identified as Wade Fletcher, 25, of Woodbridge, Erica the inbound lanes. About 100 other protesters watched from the bridge's sidewalks and chanted their support There are many, many people here and around the world that are opposed to this war," said Dana Hubbard, 54, of Washington.

Authorities responded swiftly to move the protesters off the bridge, a key commuter route into Washington. About 40 police vehicles from Arlington County and the Virginia State Police converged at the bridge and closed it Traffic quickly backed up on both sides of the bridge. Vehicles attempting to head into the city Wagner, 25, of Brookville, and a juvenile female. One of those arrested was sprayed with pepper spray after shoving an officer, Martin said. The march was organized by the Shirts Off Coalition, an umbrella group of local antiwar, anti-capitalist and pro-Palestinian groups.

The group took the Metro subway from Washington to Rosshn. Once in Virginia, they took to the streets and headed to the bridge. No property damage or injuries were reported. The group was planning more protests in Washington through the weekend. Contact Paul Bradley at (703) 548-8758 or pbradleyftimesdispateh.com BY PAUL BRADLEY Times-Dispatch Staff Wrttfji Arlington War protesters blocked rush-hour traffic on one of the main bridges between Northern Virginia and Washington yesterday, closing the span for about 30 minutes.

Three people were arrested. Arlington County police spokesman Matt Martin said about 30 antiwar activists began marching across the Francis Scott Key Bridge between Ross-tyn and Georgetown at about 8:30 a.m. yesterday. The protesters walked arm-inarm in the pouring rain across the bridge, where they blocked Staff writers Calvin R. Trice and Andrew Petkofsky contributed to this report Contact Carlos Santos at (434) 295-9542 or csantosfrJmesdispatch.com 3r- "Saddam has been a problem and is going to continue to be a problem and needs to be taken care of." Danny Hughes, Montross "We've got to go forward and eliminate that problem once and for all.

My biggest concern is after we settle this thing, how many more factions are going to pop up?" Larry Cameron, King George County I'm not against it they've got to do what they've got to do, especially after 911. You can't just sit around. You want your boys to be safe, but you have to take care of business." Linda Osterfeld, 45, Richmond.