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Thousands Protest in Washington and San Francisco to Mark Iraq War's Sixth Anniversary

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Thousands of anti-war protesters took to the streets in Washington D.C. and San Francisco on Saturday to mark the sixth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, calling for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops. The peaceful demonstration in Washington, which began at the Lincoln Memorial and marched past the Pentagon, drew an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 protesters, while a similar protest in San Francisco saw clashes between activists and riot-equipped police. The protesters, affiliated with the ANSWER Coalition, which claims to have organized over 1,000 groups to participate in the protest, demanded that President Obama honor his promise to end the war.

Key Takeaways:

  • The anti-war protest in Washington, D.C., was estimated to have drawn between 2,500 to 3,000 protesters.
  • The protest, organized by the ANSWER Coalition, had over 1,000 participating groups.
  • Protesters in Washington demanded President Obama's immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, citing thousands of Iraqi and U.S. casualties.
  • Anti-war activists expressed disappointment with Obama's perceived slow progress in ending the war.
  • Obama plans to withdraw roughly 100,000 troops by summer 2010, with the last troops to leave by the end of 2011.
  • As of March 13, there were approximately 138,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.
  • Prominent peace activists, including Cindy Sheehan, Paul Haggis, and Ron Kovic, participated in the San Francisco protest.

Statistics:

  • Estimated number of protesters in Washington, D.C.: 2,500 to 3,000.
  • Number of participating groups in the ANSWER Coalition: over 1,000.
  • Projected number of troops to be withdrawn by Obama by summer 2010: roughly 100,000.
  • Projected timeline for last U.S. troops to leave Iraq: the end of 2011.
  • Current number of U.S. troops in Iraq: approximately 138,000 (as of March 13).

Sources:

  • "Thousands of anti-war protesters converge on D.C." by Nafeesa Syeed, The Associated Press, March 20, 2008.
  • "ANSWER Coalition" (no date).

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