Thousands Stage Anti-War Protest in Los Angeles

（单词翻译）

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