Rallying To Both Sides Of War Debate
Rallies for and against a U.S. military strike on Iraq became more frequent and the voices grew louder as Washington moved closer to war.
Eight opponents of a war were arrested Monday at Traverse City, Michigan, when they tried to block an Army Reserve convoy headed to a training area. One handcuffed himself to a truck and the other seven locked arms in front of the vehicle, police said. They were arrested on misdemeanor charges.
Despite some verbal sparring, "it was peaceful overall," said Grand Traverse County sheriff's Capt. Thomas Emerson. "The ones chained to the truck were peaceful."
Some 6,000 people gathered Sunday on a field near Valley Forge National Historical Park in Pennsylvania for the "Rally for America," organized by syndicated radio host Glenn Beck, police said.
Waving flags and holding signs, the crowd sang patriotic songs and helped to raise a gigantic American flag before reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Martin Zak said he thinks the Iraqi people are suffering and that Saddam Hussein has become far too dangerous to the rest of the world. He thinks war is the only answer.
"My feeling is that it has come to a head," Zak said.
In Chicago on Sunday, the loudest voices rang out in opposition to war.
Organizers said an estimated 10,000 people crammed Chicago's Daley Plaza to join religious, labor and community leaders and hoist American flags and placards with slogans such as: "Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld. The real axis of evil."
"We are concerned with all of God's children. And for all of those who question our patriotism," said the Rev. Calvin Morris of Chicago's Community Renewal Society. "We love America because America is a place where when things are out of order, people can disagree and protest."
About 200 demonstrators gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Columbia, South Carolina on Sunday to protest the U.S.'s possible war with Iraq.
"We do not support a war in Iraq," demonstrator Amanda Matrin told CBS News. "I am for the peace movement and I support our troops - bring them home.
"Give them something to do here. Give them something constructive that they can work on in our own country where we have so many problems."
The rallies capped a weekend of protests around the nation and world, including one in Washington that park officials granted a permit to allow 20,000 people. Protesters in Portland, Oregon, held a rally of similar proportions.
In many states and cities, multiple events were held by groups with varying views.
In Mobile, Alabama, the organizer of a rally in support of U.S. troops stressed the group was not supporting war, but unity.
"We're not pro-war by any means," said Barna Goff. "Regardless of how you feel about war, you have to stand together."
Other protests across the country on Sunday included: