Groups Protest on the Second Anniversary of the WAR in Iraq

Anniversaries are usually a time to reflect upon celebration of a certain event, but that wasn't the case for the people who marched on Saturday, protesting the war in Iraq.

Protesters and activists alike came from all around to speak in one voice: "Stop the war!" There were several organizations that came to the event to support the cause to end the war and bring the troops home including the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition and War Resistance League. There were other organizations that not only called for an end to the war, but also to defend reproductive rights, speaking out against racism and the removal of U.S. involvement in countries including Haiti and Afghanistan.

A public display of protester's signs, cheers and outbursts, plus loads of effigies of our current President George W. Bush, surrounded the corner of Hollywood and Vine.

"We estimate that a few thousand people showed up to protest," said Alex Montes, who is an Anti-War group member. He was trying to gather as many volunteers to help out in the event.

The people that marched against the war, got first hand or regurgitated information about issues including the current status of the country, Bush's plan to privatize Social Security, how there are some possible plans to reinstate jobs and improve the economy that are being offered by many organizations which attended the event, such as the Lyndon LaRouche Financing Program to create six million new jobs.

Motoki Hasai is one such activist, who works for the Lyndon LaRouche P.A.C. He basically stated that the purpose of the LaRouche P.A.C. is "to show what happens behind the scenes" of government and how Americans need to be more alerted about the current state of the nation.

Another member of the LaRouche group, Julien Lemaitre, has been with the LaRouche group in Europe two years ago. "It is much more effective in America rather than in Europe," he said. Roughly 150 young people are a part of the LaRouche group in California alone.

Activists kept well away from violence or public distortion as police and sheriff's deputies overlooked them. Both departments declined to comment on the event security, as they stood in groups or patrolled the area in their bicycles. Most would assume that they were there not just to protect the activists, but pedestrians as well.

Protesters were enthusiastic despite the rain and the presence of law enforcement, raring to march for what they believed in. "(I am here) just to show that I am 100 percent against the war. This is the only way our voice is heard except by voting," said Kevin Laycock.