# So, how'd the anti-war rally in YOUR town go? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 15, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301 "2003-02-15T20:58:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/61 "2003-02-16T15:38:40Z")
About 20 people in White Plains. Walking in circles, around and around the smallest block in town, which happened to be where the comic store I play Mechwarrior at is. The City Hall is only three blocks over, too. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/62 "2003-02-16T17:13:57Z")
Another “stupidest sign” candidate I’ve just remembered: **Drop spuds not scuds** ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/63 "2003-02-16T18:07:24Z")
> [@](#): > > A lot of protestors seemed not to have gotten the memo about the purpose of the march. I _hate_ that shit. On our way down 2nd Ave, a loud person was shouting about how US tax dollars underwrite evil Zionist activities in evil Israel, so ‘wake up America’. Another rally participant finally engaged him in discussion and argued against his characterization. As many readers on this board know, I’m active in the psychiatric inmates’ liberation movement. Our NY group attended yesterday’s rally bearing a humongous sign reading **New York Organization For Human Rights and Against Psychiatric Assault**. I didn’t march with them. If I happened to have ended up in the same part of the crowd as a shock doctor who does involuntary ECT on minor patients, well…I’m glad he’s against a preemptive invasion of Iraq, too, and that he took the time to come to the rally. I’ll protest his other activities in a more appropriate setting. C’mon folks. Go organize your own damn rally. This one’s taken. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/64 "2003-02-16T18:36:27Z")
Eh, I’m so used to it I barely notice anymore. As long as it’s not grossly disruptive. But I definitely understand the annoyance. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/65 "2003-02-16T19:01:22Z")
Vancouver’s went pretty good. Conservative estimates of 35,000 bodies squeezed into a fairly small geographical area – it was shoulder-to-shoulder for as far as you could see. Our [mayor](http://www.cope.bc.ca/index.cfm/fuseaction/page.inside/pageID/FF01C352-E664-4076-81F70AFEC479EAC3/) was one of the best speakers, which surprised me. Best soundbite: “We can influence events. Fifty million people are saying ‘no’ to war. Your voices are not only noticed, but heard. They’d better damn well be respected.” I hate crowds, but I’m glad I went. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/66 "2003-02-16T19:49:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ruadh \* > \*\*Well, you must have been in a very different part of the march than I was, 'cause I certainly never got that impression from any of the protestors around me. In fact I have heard from many people who were absolutely _horrified_ at the sight of what appeared to be Saddam Hussein flags (which in fact were pictures of Abdullah Ocalan, the Kurdish leader, who just looks a bit like Saddam). \*\* Were these the yellow flags with the picture of the guy with the big mustache? I was wondering who that was, but didn’t get close enough to the group to ask. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by jjimm_\*\* > DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING\*\* Ooooh! I wish I’d thought of that! :smack: “Careful now!” 😃 BTW, the Met police deserve a special mention for being professional, courteous and generally good lads throughout. I chatted briefly with a few as I went by, and they were taking it all in their stride. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/67 "2003-02-16T19:53:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jr8 \* > **Were these the yellow flags with the picture of the guy with the big mustache?** Probably. The Ocalan flags on the Dublin march did have a yellow background, I think. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/68 "2003-02-16T21:20:36Z")
Best signs " Na bac Iraq " (dont smoke Iraq in Irish, Iraq rhyming with “Tabac” the irish for Tobacco". one guy carrying a styrofoam bomb with “Boo-ush” written on it. and one girl carrying a head and shoulders picture of Waldo 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/69 "2003-02-16T21:32:42Z")
I choked on my dinner at the news footage of the London March, there was a group of signs all reading: **Make tea, not war** No wonder we still have a soft spot for Brits. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/70 "2003-02-16T23:16:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by raisinbread \* > \*\*I just heard the sad news over the telegraph. Noted English Prime Minister and basketball center Neville Chamberlain was found dead in his flat at the age of 133. Early reports are sketchy but evidence indicates that Mr. Chamberlain was assaulted by the Utah Jazz led by a man with a ridiculously small mustache. The mess is reportedly horrendous. > You may not have appreciated his contributions to international diplomacy and Nike ads but there is no denying his impact on the nascent British rapper scene. Truly a British icon. \*\* _Huh_? 😕 :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/71 "2003-02-16T23:22:21Z")
Houston had 7,000 according to the _Chronicle_. ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Berk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c37758/32.png) [@Royal\_Berk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Berk)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/72 "2003-02-17T10:34:09Z")
I’ve never been on a political march before, but I thought I had to join the London march on Saturday. There were lots and lots of “the usual candidates” there - the Socialist Worker banners were out in force - but that was mainly due to these groups being much more organised than the vast majority, who weren’t used to this sort of thing. There were two types of speakers at Hyde Park - first, the crowd pleasers who tried to give out sound-bites in the hope of a big cheer. Sadly, it usually worked. I find that sort of “Nuremburg” mentality rather distasteful, and clearly so did a larger, quiet section of the crowd. The second approach was a much slower, clearer, almost legal approach, by raising the issues and replying to each one in turn. Not so many cheers, but people were listening. Charles Kennedy and (to my utter astonishment) Bianca Jagger were particularly good at this. I was really disappointed by both Jesse Jackson and Mo Mowlam, I was looking forward to seeing them * * * And as for the Neville Chamberlain remark above - Chamberlain tried to appease Hitler by giving him things (i.e countries) in the hope that he’d go away, because “the West could trust him”. I haven’t heard ANY-ONE describe Saddam like that, we all know he totally untrustworthy and needs to watched - and indeed, inspected. ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Berk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c37758/32.png) [@Royal\_Berk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Berk)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/73 "2003-02-17T10:36:23Z")
And the best poster - one with pictures of Chirac and Bush’s faces, with the comment “I’d rather be a frog than a toad” ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/74 "2003-02-17T15:03:29Z")
I was also at the London March, and it was one of the best things it has ever been my privilege to participate in. It really restored my faith in the basic goodness of humanity, and in the English sense of humor. My nomination for best sign: **22 & Single! (and no to war, by the way)** Held aloft by a young male student with a big grin and a hopeful expression. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@The\_Ace\_of\_Swords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ace_of_Swords)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/75 "2003-02-17T17:24:13Z")
I’d put the number in NY as 300,000 - 500,000. I really couldn’t see the whole thing. More info is in the NY thread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sWitchazel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@sWitchazel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sWitchazel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/76 "2003-02-17T18:47:48Z")
In Raleigh we reportedly had 6,000. We couldn’t hear any of the speakers, but there was a puppet show, lots of drumming, belly dancers, and some young people on stilts in what looked like stork costumes. It was kind of bizarre to have all that and it not be a faire or something, but I’m glad that the atmosphere wasn’t all grim. I didn’t understand the folks who were angrily yelling and flipping the bird at the twenty to thirty pro-war folks who showed up. The police did an excellent job of keeping the two groups apart and I think they really enjoyed the belly dancers. My favorite poster said, “ **Clinton messed around with a few women. Bush is screwing the whole country.** ” I had the Frodo Failed phrase on my umbrella and my very dyke-looking friend had “ **Eat Bush** ” on the back of her jacket. She also had a sign with a picture of Bush as Alfred E. Neuman and a childish scrall saying, “ **Daddy, I’m going to blow up the world when I grow up.** ” She had her picture taken several times. ---
**Author:** ![sKipping\_girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19adc/32.png) [@sKipping\_girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sKipping_girl)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301/77 "2003-02-18T07:23:36Z")
Well the march here in Adelaide was pretty much like that in Brisbane. They were expecting about 10,000 people to turn up, and even though it was a very rainy, very humid day, there was a huge turn out!! At first they were saying that there were 100,000 protestors, then on the news on Sunday they said there were 50,000 and in the _Australian_ newspaper yesterday I think they said it was 80,000. I’d say there were 80-90,000 people which is pretty good for a city of only 1,000,000 people! It was an amazing day! I found it so reassuring to see so many people standing up for they believe in! And it was just your usual peace-lovin, placard-bearing, alternative (read: in desparate need of showering) activists, I’d say that a majority of the people who attended the march were just your everday people… old folks, young people, families with little kids… anyone who just wanted to stand up and be counted. Like I already said, it was an amazing day… I just wish the public transport system hadn’t understimated the turnout ☹ I caught the train up to town with my mum and even before it was 1/4 of the way to the city, the 2 carriages they gave us were chokka block full. That was a bit disappointing, but all in all, it was a fantastic day 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-howd-the-anti-war-rally-in-your-town-go/155301.md?page=3)