Hundreds Demonstrate In Downtown San Francisco Against U.S. War Efforts
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- Despite the rain, hundreds of demonstrators gathered at United Nations Plaza in San Francisco Saturday afternoon to mark the eighth anniversary of the U.S. led invasion in Iraq.
They marched down Market Street to the Westin St. Francis Hotel which has been involved in a recent labor battle.
Coincidentally the protests are now coinciding with the U.N. backed air strikes, involving U.S. cruise missiles against Moammar Gadhafi and his defiant troops in Libya.
An international coalition including forces from Britain, France, Canada, and Italy convened at an emergency summit on Saturday to answer the call for the protection of the Libyan rebels who oppose Gadhafi's 40 plus year regime.
KCBS' Tim Ryan Reports:
While some demonstrators were critical of the U.S. involvement in Libya, Bishop Otis Charles took a different approach on Saturday's U.N. intervention.
"You can't stand by and watch people being slaughtered. At the same time you don't want to foster war. It's walking a very fine line," said Charles.
He encouraged people to pray for our leaders during this escalation of international military action which puts the U.S. in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, where drone strikes reportedly killed civillians last week, and now Libya.
"I think we have a president whose instinct is restraint," said Charles almost in a way to reassure himself. Dozens of San Francisco police officers on motorcycles were present to monitor the situation.
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