In the largest pro-Palestinian demonstration ever in the US, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Washington to condemn what they saw as the US administration's pro-Israeli bias in the Mideast conflict.
Waving signs equating Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and wearing the traditional Arab headdress, crowds massed on the Ellipse in front of the White House to voice their disapproval of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians and US Middle East policy.
According to AFP, police estimated that around 50,000 people took part in the peaceful protest although organizers, pro-Palestinian groups, put the figure at 100,000.
The pro-Palestinian demonstrators came from across the US, including chapters of Muslim American Societies from New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia and Michigan, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, the Islamic American Institute and the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Speakers took to the podium to decry the two billion dollars in military aid the US provides Israel each year. Protesters waved signs equating the Jewish Star of David with the Nazi swastika along with signs stating 'Sharon is a terrorist too' and 'Violence breeds violence'. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
