Marching with hope

Our sources on the ground in D.C. say that the mood of today's March on Washington against the war is more upbeat than in recent years. Grim determination has been replaced by a real hope that now, with opposition to the war skyrocketing at home and abroad -- and new leadership in Congress -- a change of course is possible.

Just like Vietnam, some of the most powerful voices denouncing President Bush's plans to escalate the Iraq conflict are soldiers from Iraq Veterans Against the War and Appeal for Redress. One of those speaking today is Navy Petty Officer Jonathan Hutto of Appeal to Redress, who before the march said this:

"The occupation hasn't benefited the Iraqi people at all. It doesn't benefit the American people and certainly doesn't benefit American service members," he said. Hutto, 29, originally from Atlanta, said active-duty personnel he speaks with "see a separation between the global war on terrorism and the war in Iraq. They don't see the connection."

"When we're sitting having chow, and CNN is saying so many more were killed, the look on people's faces is, 'How much longer?'"

Only a handful of Congressional leaders have come forward to join the event, so the movement's power to actually change Iraq policy will be revealed on Monday during the Congressional Advocacy Day. Organizers are trying to get representatives from every Congressional district to Capitol Hill on Monday. For a schedule of lobby day events and contacts from your state, visit here.

Pictured to the left: Members of Veterans for Peace marching against war (New York Times)