Thousands Of Christians Protest The Iraq War

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-03-17-war-protest_N.htm?csp=24

Thousands of Christians protest Iraq war

Anti-war protesters hold a candlelight vigil Friday outside the White House in Washington. The Friday night events marked the beginning of a planned weekend of protests ahead of Tuesday's anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.


Activists march from the National Cathedral (background) to the White House. Christian Peace Witness for Iraq organized a worship service and march, one of several protests marking the fourth anniversary of the Iraq war.


Anti-war protesters are arrested during the White House demonstration.



WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of Christians prayed for peace at an anti-war service Friday night at the Washington National Cathedral, kicking off a weekend of protests around the country to mark the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq.
Afterward, participants marched with battery-operated faux candles through snow and wind toward the White House, where police began arresting protesters shortly before midnight. Protest guidelines require demonstrators to continue moving while on the White House sidewalk.

"We gave them three warnings, and they broke the guidelines," said Lt. Scott Fear. "There's an area on the White House sidewalk where you have to keep moving."

About 100 people crossed the street from Lafayette Park — where thousands of protesters were gathered — to demonstrate on the White House sidewalk late Friday. Police began cuffing them and putting them on buses to be taken for processing.

Police said they would not know the total number of protesters arrested until later Saturday.

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"Mr. Bush, my Christian brother, we do need a surge in troops. We need a surge in the non-violent army of the Lord," he said. "We need a surge in conscience and a surge in activism and a surge in truth-telling."