Thousands Stage Anti-War Protest in Los Angeles

Broadcast: Jan 12, 2003

 

Thousands of ¹⁾demonstrators protested a possible war in Iraq at a rally and march in Los Angeles Saturday. As U.S. troops mobilize for a possible invasion, protest organizers are promising¹ frequent demonstrations².

Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the city, carrying signs that said "Food, Not Bombs," and "Healthcare, Not Warfare³."

They chanted their opposition⁴ to war with Iraq.

"No war on Iraq. No war on Iraq."
Los Angeles ²⁾congresswoman Maxine Waters, a Democrat⁵ who seldom sees eye to eye with the President, was back from Washington to join the protest. "I came here to be with you today because I want to send a message back to Washington," she said. "I am not afraid of George W. Bush. I do not support a strike on Iraq."

With crowd estimates in the tens of thousands, organizers called this the biggest anti-war march in Los Angeles since the Vietnam War. 1970s-era musicians, all members of major rock bands, played some of the same music that was heard at earlier protests.

There were middle aged⁶ veterans of antiwar protests of earlier times, as well as high school and college students and families with children. A man named Kelly from Los Angeles came with his young daughter. "Because I got tired of yelling at the newspaper every day," he said. "I just thought it was important to come out and show that I have a voice and that I want to support other alternatives in this country besides war."

Los Angeles resident Silva Blackstone also took part in the rally with her family. "I'm here because I believe that war is a total waste of our resources and that every dollar we're spending on war we could be spending on humanity instead. " she said.

Recent public opinion polls show some two-thirds of Americans would support a war in Iraq if the United States is part of an international coalition⁷. A majority opposes ³⁾unilateral action by the United States, or a costly⁸ ground war.

This week U.S. Defense⁹ Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld ordered some 62,000 more troops to join those already deployed¹⁰ around the periphery¹¹ of Iraq.

If war preparations continue, protest organizers predict that ⁴⁾rallies like this one will become frequent. Protests are scheduled for San Francisco and Washington next weekend.

Mike O'Sullivan VOA news, Los Angeles.

 

1)    demonstrator[5demEnstreitE]n. 示威者

2)    congresswoman [`kCN^res9wJmEn]n.国会女议员, 众议院女议员

3)    unilateral [5ju:nilAtErEl]adj.单方面, 单边的, 片面的

4)    rally[5rAli]n.集会

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 warfare   

n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突

参考例句：

• He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。
• Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

6 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

7 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

8 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

10 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

11 periphery   

n.(圆体的)外面；周围

参考例句：

• Geographically, the UK is on the periphery of Europe.从地理位置上讲，英国处于欧洲边缘。
• The periphery of the retina is very sensitive to motion.视网膜的外围对运动非常敏感。