Thousands march in Portland on 5th anniversary of Iraq war

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_031408_news_saturday_peace_mar...

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) --
Thousands of marchers carrying signs and beating drums paraded through
the center of downtown in late winter rain on Saturday to protest the
fifth year of the Iraq war.

Among the marchers was Oregon
House Speaker Jeff Merkley, a leading Democratic challenger to
Republican U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, who is seeking a third term.

Merkley, surrounded by supporters, joined the chorus of demonstrators
when they shouted it was time to get U.S. troops out of Iraq.

"It's important to replace Sen. Smith because he has not taken a stand
on bringing troops home," Merkley said. "We need to start bringing them
home, starting now."

Smith initially supported the war
but now opposes it, and has become one of the few Republican senators
backing legislation to order troop withdrawals.

The World
Without War march stretched through about a half dozen blocks at a
time, closely watched by police. Some traffic delays were expected, but
weekend traffic was light.