Thousands of protestors gathered in Washington, D.C. last Saturday in what is estimated to be the largest anti-war demonstration in the U.S. since Vietnam War demonstrations. According to internationalanswer.org, an estimated 200,000 people attended the peaceful protest. The crowd occupied 25 blocks of downtown Washington.

The demonstration, organized by ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) began with a rally in Constitution Gardens near the Vietnam Memorial with speakers and performers including Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Co., Susan Sarandon, Reverend Al Sharpton, Patti Smith and Reverend Jesse Jackson. Jackson generated massive applause upon urging the crowd to "live in the present" through continued politicalactivism.

Following the rally, demonstrators marched through downtown Washington in a square route around the White House, ultimately returning to Constitution Gardens. An impromptu demonstration erupted on the lawn of the White House when demonstrators took advantage of the fact that tours were being given of the White House gardens.

Demonstrators utilized a variety of media during the action, including puppetry, chanting, music, dance and costume. "I liked the diversity of the people represented at the protest," Lizz Weber '05 said. "You saw everything: grandmas, babies, kids dressed as fairies, aging hippies trying to relive their glory days and families."

In addition to anti-war sentiments, a variety of other political causes were represented at the rally, including Palestinian liberation, LGBT issues and civil liberties in the U.S. Michael Barnes '06, who traveled to D.C. with four other Macalester students, found the political pluralism inspiring. "Everyone was echoing the same sort of truth that you were there for," said Barnes. "It was very powerful."

For many young demonstrators, such as Weber, the protest was the largest political action they had ever seen. "I think that as we've seen in the last decade, young people are more apathetic to the political process," said Weber. "If the threat of a war overseas for a cause we don't believe in isn't enough to get people motivated, I don't know what is."

The anti-war proponents were met with some opposition. Protected by police in riot gear, roughly three dozen counter-protestors carried signs and chanted warnings depicting the danger of Iraq and the threat of its weapons of mass destruction.

St. Paul also participated in the day of protest. According to the Pioneer Press, as many as 10,000 protestors were present, making the St. Paul demonstration one of the largest in the nation. Protestors met outside of the Cathedral of St. Paul before marching to the nearby state Capitol. Speakers included St. Thomas professor Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer and Macalester graduate Jess Sundin from the Anti-War Committee.

Mourning for Senator Wellstone, who had died the day before, was mixed with an attitude of determination. "It wasn't very aggressive at all," said Federico Helfgott '03, who attended the protest with about 20 other Macalester students. "A lot of people were carrying Wellstone signs … in a way it was consoling for people."

The Macalester antiwar coalition will continue its actions every Friday on the corner of Snelling and Grand from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. To join the MacIraq listserv, email fhelfgott@macalester.edu.