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CNN Live Today

Pro-Israel Rally Taking Place in Washington D.C.

Aired April 15, 2002 - 13:47   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back in Washington right now. There's a rather large rally taking shape right now. In fact, it got underway about 45 minutes ago. Kate Snow is tracking that and joins us live, where it is well into the afternoon in Washington, D.C. Kate, good afternoon to you.

KATE SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill. You're right, it is rather large. I'm not sure how many people we have behind me here. But fair to say thousands of people. Organizers were expecting tens of thousands of folks. We're told some of the busses are still making their way through Washington's traffic to get down here to the national mall.

We are just in front of the U.S. capitol building, a site symbolically chosen, obviously, so they could send a message not only to Congress, but I'm told by the organizers, also sending a message to the Israeli people and U.S. public about solidarity, about the fact that they are behind Israel 100 percent. Many of them are holding signs and placards that talk about being in support of Israel. One gentleman said to me a while ago that when President Bush said you're either for us or against us in the war against terrorism, he said, I want to show that I'm with the president and that's why I'm here this afternoon.

A couple of minutes ago, we heard from Dick Gephardt. He's the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives. Se had very strong words for Yasser Arafat. To quote him, he said to join us in the effort toward peace, Palestinians, he said, must turn unequivocally against terrorism. He then said Arafat has not yet demonstrated a true commitment to peace. We heard loud boos, a chorus of boos, when Arafat's name was brought up. Mr. Gephardt went on to say terrorism must not be supported, condoned or rewarded. And I quote him there.

Speaking right now is Senator Harry Reid, the top Democrat here from the Senate sides of the capitol. He, of course, is the number two Democrat in the Senate, number two to Tom Daschle. Tom Daschle is out of town, as are many lawmakers today. Being a Monday in Washington, many of them are coming back tomorrow to start voting here in Congress. But there is a fairly sizable crowd of members of Congress. I'd say at least 20 of them gathered here today, Bill. And a lot of folks from all over the country, many bussed in. Some of them taking charter planes.

I have talked to people from as far away as Florida, California. There are some here from the Midwest, from Wisconsin, from Tennessee. You name it. There are people here from nearly every one of the 50 states. Again, they say their message is one of unity and solidarity with Israel. Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: Kate, let's keep this picture here in Washington for a moment. We have been reporting on various rallies, both for and against the current situation here in the Middle East in just about every capitol that we have come across in various countries around the world. You live in Washington. Have there been many pro Palestinian rallies that you have come across there in D.C.?

SNOW: I think there have been a couple of smaller ones. I know there is one planned for this coming weekend, if I recall correctly. But I would say nothing of the scale you have seen in New York City. And one interesting note, Bill, nothing like this, in terms of pro- Israel, in terms of the Israeli point of view. There has not been a rally like this for quite some time.

I was speaking with Elie Wiesel, who is here to give a speech later. He is the Nobel Literary Prize winner, a former holocaust survivor. He said he hadn't been to anything like this since 1987, since the late 80s. So there hasn't really been a rally of this size, in favor of Israel, for quite some time. Bill?

HEMMER: Kate, thanks. Kate Snow working the beat there in Washington, D.C.

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