After awhile all these protests begin to look pretty much alike. Often times it seems the same people show up... "the usual suspects" (as they are known by themselves and the mainstream media).

But then-- especially today-- there were plenty of new faces: most notably Middle Eastern faces-- Lebanese families-- after all, there are many Lebanese families living in California now (many refugees displaced by war).

There were lots of women and children....

The day was peaceful-- even as pro-Israeli groups called and taunted from the steps of City Hall. When the rally broke up to march-- they returned to the Civic Center-- and the pro-Israeli group was largely gone.

As a protest-- the A.N.S.W.E.R. supported rally appeared to be a huge success. It attracted thousands from all walks of life. Many local TV networks had their cameras set up. The police turned out in force, but all this was pretty much "old hat" to them. I saw one cop in a van, bored, munching peanuts.

There is always potential for trouble whenever you cram thousands into a small area. The police in San Francisco for the most part appeared smart, ready, and sympathetic.

San Francisco protesters were patient, good-humored, and passionate... and knowledgeable: most were fluent with the facts regarding the long and short term history of violence and war in Palestine and Lebanon--

one must wonder: whose newspapers are they reading?