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Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of several cities across the United States on Saturday to mark the seventh anniversary of the U.S. war on Iraq. The largest protest took place in the nation’s capital as at least eight people were arrested for laying mock coffins outside the fence of the White House. Locally in Los Angeles, thousands marched and gathered on the corner of Hollywood and Vine on Saturday to call on the President to end the war and occupation of both Iraq and Afghanistan. Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic led the protest and speakers at the rally included Shakeel Syed of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, Long Beach Mayoral candidate Stevie Merino, and KPFK’s own Blasé Bonpane. Corporate media coverage of the LA anti-war march was scant as just a sole photo of the demonstration was published on the back page of the California section in the Sunday edition of the Los Angeles Times. Uprising intern Martina Steiner, however, was present at the Hollywood and Vine gathering and filed the following report including interviews with demonstrators and sounds from the stage.

GUESTS: Various Demonstrators from the March