WASHINGTON — About 100,000 antiwar protesters from around the country converged Saturday on the National Mall, galvanized by opposition to President Bush's plan to increase the number of troops in Iraq.
Protests attended by several thousand people also were held in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities. But the demonstration in the nation's capital was among the biggest since the war began.
Joining the Washington rally were several members of the House of Representatives and a few Hollywood liberal activists, including Jane Fonda, who said it was her first antiwar demonstration in 34 years.
"Silence is no longer an option," said Fonda, once derided as Hanoi Jane for her opposition to the Vietnam War. She was flanked by actors Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins.
Although longshot presidential contender Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio) made an appearance, the demonstration failed to lure the big guns of Democratic politics, such as presidential hopefuls Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.)
"If I was Barack Obama, I would be up there," said Will Ehrenfeld, 18, a freshman at Tufts University.
Martin Freed, 60, of Alaska, said Democratic leaders were "cowards" for skipping the protest. "They ought to be out here addressing us," he said.
Signs focused on Bush's decision to send more troops to Iraq. "A surge seems like the wrong way to go," said Sarah Bratz, 28, of Rockland, Maine.
Under sunshine that made the day feel like spring, others stood with brightly colored placards bearing slogans such as "Bush Bin Lyin" and "Civil War Accomplished."
Shirin Afssous, an Iranian American, was among those who said they worried that Bush intended to expand the war into Iran. "The troops need to come home," the Fairfax, Va., resident said.
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) pledged not to vote for "one dime for this war," then led the protesters in a chant mocking the president: "He's not the decider; he is a liar."
Fonda drew cheers. She said she had stayed away from antiwar rallies out of concern that the "lies spread about me" would harm the movement.
"Thank you so much for the courage to stand up to this mean-spirited, vengeful administration," she said.
There were some counterprotests at the edge of the crowd. And at one point, more than 100 protesters broke away and rushed up the front lawn of the Capitol, sending police scrambling. But U.S. Park Police said there were no arrests.
