A small number (<100) of local political activists gathered at 16th & Broadway on Saturday evening, August 26th to protest the continued U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, Israel's kidnapping and continued detention of democratically elected Palestinian leaders belonging to the Hamas Party, Bush's pro-war policies and to show support for Hezbollah.

The event was sponsored by:
National Council of Arab Americans (NCA)/Sacramento,
Muslim Student Association West (MSA WEST),
Muslim Student Association UC Davis (MSA UCD),
Sacramento County Peace and Freedom Party,
Sacramento Coalition to End the War,
Green Party of Sacramento,
Veterans for Peace/Sacramento Chapter,
Code Pink/Davis Chapter,
Affiliated Obsidian Nation/Davis,
Liberation News,
CSUS Faculty for Peace & Justice,
Sacramento Progressive Alliance,
Coalition for Democracy in Haiti,
Not in Our Name/Sacramento,
Chicano Consortium,
Stephen & Virginia Pearcy,
LABOR COUNCIL FOR LATIN AMERICAN ADVANCEMENT (LCLAA)
NORTH AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRACY IN MEXICO (NADM)
FRENTE DE MEXICANOS EN EL EXTERIOR
COALITION FOR JUSTICE FOR IMMIGRANTS
UNION CIVICA PRIMERO DE MAYO
PEOPLE OF COLOR FOR RACIAL JUSTICE

This demonstration included most of the "core group" in addition to quite a few new faces. Absent were the "protest warriors" and the pro-Israel group who were present at the last demonstration. Unfortunately, it appears that some of the sponsoring organizations failed to have representatives or members in attendance. The response from passing motorists was mixed.

The event was not without controversy. A young Jewish woman and a small group of individuals, whom appeared to be from a single family and who also identified themselves as being Jewish, showed up to complain about some of the imagery and flags being displayed. In particular, they objected to the use of swastikas on a few of the anti-Israeli and anti-AIPAC displays. At one point, the young Jewish woman could be observed debating with Steve and Virginia Pearcy regarding the use of such imagery and Israeli foreign policy. However, the creator of one of the signs in question is himself Jewish and at least one other Jewish attendee stated that he didn't object to the use of swastikas in the displays.

It should be noted that although many participants are well aware of Israel’s human rights violations, many of us thought the use of swastikas was not a good idea for a number of different reasons.

Despite the controversy, the atmosphere was generally relaxed, friendly and remained completely peaceful.