The protestors, roughly estimated around 100,000, were addressed by several Hollywood stars, leaders of the civil rights movement and Congressmen critical of the manner in which President George w. Bush took America into the war in Iraq and the decision to send an additional 21,000 plus troops to the troubled country.

"Thank you so much for the courage to stand up against this mean-spirited, vengeful administration. Your ongoing commitment to ending this war allows people in other parts of the world to remain hopeful that America has the stuff to become again a country that they can love and respect," said actress Jane Fonda, a key Vietnam war era protestor.

"Silence is no longer an option," the 69-year old actress said to cheers The event, sponsored by the umbrella group 'United For Peace and Justice', started with a rally yesterday on the Mall and later marching towards the Capitol Hill.

"George Bush has a habit of firing military leaders who tell him the Iraq war is failing. He can't fire you. He can't fire us. But we can fire him," remarked senior House Democrat John Conyers, one of the speakers at the event with California Democrat Lynn Woolsey making the point that Bush's request for additional troops is a waste of taxpayers money.