Tens of thousands of protesters are expected to gather in Washington, D.C., this weekend for a major anti-war rally -- the first of several events designed to pressure Congress to end the war in Iraq.
Hollywood stars known for their opposition to the war, including actors Susan Sarandon, Jane Fonda, Tim Robbins and Danny Glover, plan on joining the protest on the National Mall this Saturday. Speakers also include the Rev. Jesse Jackson; Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio; Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif.; and Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif.
Anti-war groups say their cause has been re-energized by November's midterm elections in which Democrats gained a majority in both the House and Senate, and by the president's troop escalation plan.
"We want to translate this energy into a powerful, political force," said Tom Andrews, national director of the anti-war group Win Without War.
Groups including United for Peace and Justice, Win Without War, the National Organization for Women and the RainbowPUSH Coalition, have organized a rally and march around the Capitol building Saturday, and arranged a "citizen lobby" day on Capitol Hill Monday, urging protesters to target House members, senators and congressional staff in an effort to force them to do more to stop the war.
"The president is a lost cause and everybody knows it," said Andrews, a former Democratic representative from Maine.
"So we are going to push the Democrats in Congress to not just talk but act and use their power -- and that power is the power of the purse," said Andrews. "It's time to stop the rubber stamp of Congress and start the accountability and stand up to the president."
Andrews said congressional Democrats are in danger of spending all their time debating "toothless words." He was referring to the nonbinding resolution against President Bush's plan to send 21,5000 additional troops to Iraq, which the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed this week.
