Washington D.C. March 19, 2008 anti-war protest

students democratic society protesters march towards armed forces recruiting office part of funk war 3 protest in washington d.c..

in washington, d.c. protests on march 19 culmination of other smaller demonstrations , events took place during weeks leading five-year anniversary of iraq war. example, on march 7, several churches in city held services pray safety of u.s. troops , end war. in afternoon churchgoers marched hart senate office building intention of asking u.s. senators discontinue u.s.-funded terrorism. @ least forty of protesters arrested entered building , began praying peace.

united peace , justice (ufpj), coalition of more 1,300 international , u.s.-based organizations opposed describe our government s policy of permanent warfare , empire-building organized march 19 actions. events – involving 1000 people – took place throughout downtown protesters marching on 12th street internal revenue service (irs) building on constitution avenue declaring not want more tax money being used wage war. led, in part, war resisters league , code pink, 31 people arrested crossing police lines @ irs , blocking 3 entrances. demonstrators gathered in front of institutions profit war, such american petroleum institute – staged sit-in blocking traffic – , @ military recruitment offices. protesters, including war veterans, demanded arrests of president george w. bush, vice president dick cheney , secretary of state condoleezza rice war criminals. students democratic society protesters marched , down k street part of funk war protest put on map people profited war . other protesters hurled balloons full of red paint @ military recruiting station , smeared on buildings of defense contractors bechtel , lockheed martin. many protesters marched beating drums, , chanted, no blood oil! traffic in many areas disrupted, , interruptions @ irs evident workers inside seen peering out windows @ protesters. @ least thirty demonstrators arrested around irs headquarters crossing police barricade. 2 blocks whitehouse, in mcpherson square, on 2 hundred protesters declared victory in shutting down traffic engaging police while others chained hands inside school desks while demanding cuts in war spending , more money education. according congressional budget office (cbo) report published in october 2007, u.s. war in iraq cost taxpayers $1.9 trillion 2017 when counting huge interest costs because combat being financed borrowed money.

one of more visible groups, code pink, opted not large protest in capitol timing before easter break , united states congress not in session, local chapters had plans follow members of congress , protest in smaller towns across country. washington d.c. chapter did push pink bed on wheels down street, urging americans wake . members of granny peace brigade delivered hand-knitted stump socks – meant keep ends of amputated limbs warm – department of veterans affairs. march of dead demonstration staged near women in military service america memorial in arlington national cemetery. outside national archives , records administration protesters laid large cloth on ground preamble united states constitution forcing entering building walk on text. nearby masked man in orange prison clothing kneeled hands tied behind while wearing sign – no torture, no secret prisons, no detention without legal process, referring contentious issues tied united states treatment of prisoners. outside white house protesters acted out prisoner, dressed in orange guantanamo captives uniform – signifies prisoner has been labeled non-compliant – being waterboarded.