Nearly 200 anti-war protesters demonstrated in front of the Smith Haven Mall Saturday and were met by others in opposition to the demonstration.
This week marks the deaths of 4,000 soldiers in the war in Iraq. A coalition of about five Long Island groups has been gathering periodically to protest the war. They display pictures of those who have died, carry banners against the war and show up in large numbers to garner attention.Veterans like Lee Zeldin, who just served in Iraq, find the protests offensive.
"We're doing it for the people on our side of the street and the other corner of the street," says Zeldin. "The colors don't run. We wear the red white and blue through our veins." The protesters in the other camp insist they are not being disrespectful, but supportive.?Our thinking about supporting the troops has to do with removing them from harms way,? says Bill McNulty. ?Bringing them home, ending this conflict, this invasion, this occupation, which is illegal." The anti-war demonstrators intend to keep marching till the troops come home. But, they will be met at every turn, the others say, by many of those who have served.