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CNN Live Today
Protests in Europe Over U.S. Push for War
Aired February 17, 2003 - 11:36 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the message was loud and clear this weekend from well over a million protesters in 600 cities across the globe. No war with Iraq.
Marchers rallied in European capitals traditionally friendly to the U.S., including Rome. But there, over a million protesters were out on the streets. Nearly as many jammed central London. A large crowd there increased home pressure on British Leader, Tony Blair, who has stood with President Bush on Iraq war policy.
Anti-war activists also made their views known on the streets of New York City. Our Maria Hinojosa covered the rally. She joins us live this morning for a follow-up. And, Maria, surprising to see the kind of numbers that we saw there on the streets of New York, considering what the weather was like there.
MARIA HINOJOSA CNN URBAN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, Leon, I'm still thawing out just in case you wanted to know. But, organizers in New York City are saying that this weekend's demonstrations were an overwhelming success. The NYPD is saying that the crowd was well over 100,000.
Organizers are saying they believe it could have been as large as half a million. The crowds in New York City stuck out with the protest even though it was a frigid day, with highs only in the 20s and freezing winds. And the crowd was overwhelmingly peaceful, although the New York Lawyers Guild is saying that over 300 were arrested. The NYPD put that number at 50.
Now, this was a national speak out against a possible war with Iraq that extended from coast to coast. In Denver, large crowds came out but there were confrontations with police using tear gas. And in San Francisco, there was also a large turnout, most of them of course having a much better day in terms of the weather. But, the largest and most prosperous crowds were here in New York City. Organizers saying they felt they made history with these numbers all over the country and all over the world -- Leon.
HARRIS: But, Maria, do us a favor and put a face on the kind of crowd that you happen to witness there in New York. Demographically, what are we talking about? Was it a bunch of, a bunch of old hippies? A bunch of young kids out there or what? How would you describe the demographic mix there?
HINOJOSA: You know what? It was as mixed as New York City. I have to tell you, I saw women in mink coats caring no war posters. I saw old-time activists who have been taking to the streets for, since the 1960s.
But on the very front lines where I was based the entire day I spoke to a lot of people, middle class and working class families that had never been to demonstrations and this was the first time that they were coming. Most of them said that they did not support Saddam Hussein at all. That they don't want him to necessarily be the leader of that country.
But they continue to say that a possible war with Iraq might mean lots of civilian casualties, both in Iraq, and they continue to point to their relationship with New York and surviving September 11 and feeling like a possible war could make this city more vulnerable -- Leon.
HARRIS: Interesting. Maria Hinojosa in New York, inside in New York. And I'm glad she -- I'm sure she's glad about that. Thank you Maria.
HINOJOSA: Absolutely.
HARRIS: All right, take care.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 17, 2003 - 11:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the message was loud and clear this weekend from well over a million protesters in 600 cities across the globe. No war with Iraq.
Marchers rallied in European capitals traditionally friendly to the U.S., including Rome. But there, over a million protesters were out on the streets. Nearly as many jammed central London. A large crowd there increased home pressure on British Leader, Tony Blair, who has stood with President Bush on Iraq war policy.
Anti-war activists also made their views known on the streets of New York City. Our Maria Hinojosa covered the rally. She joins us live this morning for a follow-up. And, Maria, surprising to see the kind of numbers that we saw there on the streets of New York, considering what the weather was like there.
MARIA HINOJOSA CNN URBAN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, Leon, I'm still thawing out just in case you wanted to know. But, organizers in New York City are saying that this weekend's demonstrations were an overwhelming success. The NYPD is saying that the crowd was well over 100,000.
Organizers are saying they believe it could have been as large as half a million. The crowds in New York City stuck out with the protest even though it was a frigid day, with highs only in the 20s and freezing winds. And the crowd was overwhelmingly peaceful, although the New York Lawyers Guild is saying that over 300 were arrested. The NYPD put that number at 50.
Now, this was a national speak out against a possible war with Iraq that extended from coast to coast. In Denver, large crowds came out but there were confrontations with police using tear gas. And in San Francisco, there was also a large turnout, most of them of course having a much better day in terms of the weather. But, the largest and most prosperous crowds were here in New York City. Organizers saying they felt they made history with these numbers all over the country and all over the world -- Leon.
HARRIS: But, Maria, do us a favor and put a face on the kind of crowd that you happen to witness there in New York. Demographically, what are we talking about? Was it a bunch of, a bunch of old hippies? A bunch of young kids out there or what? How would you describe the demographic mix there?
HINOJOSA: You know what? It was as mixed as New York City. I have to tell you, I saw women in mink coats caring no war posters. I saw old-time activists who have been taking to the streets for, since the 1960s.
But on the very front lines where I was based the entire day I spoke to a lot of people, middle class and working class families that had never been to demonstrations and this was the first time that they were coming. Most of them said that they did not support Saddam Hussein at all. That they don't want him to necessarily be the leader of that country.
But they continue to say that a possible war with Iraq might mean lots of civilian casualties, both in Iraq, and they continue to point to their relationship with New York and surviving September 11 and feeling like a possible war could make this city more vulnerable -- Leon.
HARRIS: Interesting. Maria Hinojosa in New York, inside in New York. And I'm glad she -- I'm sure she's glad about that. Thank you Maria.
HINOJOSA: Absolutely.
HARRIS: All right, take care.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
