The protests that took place in 250 U.S. cities against the war in Iraq were more subdued than last year, judging by the number of protestors and arrests made.

Organizers from Act Now to Stop War and End Raciscm (ANSWER) estimate that while 50,000 protestors attended the "global day of action" to end Iraqi occupation on March 20, 2004, 87 arrests were made, compared to the 200,000 protestors who turned out last year when 2,300 were arrested.

Activists rallied in an attempt to motivate protestors with speeches, music and by displaying posters and signs with anti-war messages at Dolores Park. Meanwhile, police waited in five nearly packed buses to see what would happen nearby.

When asked what they were doing, one officer said, "We're just going to march along with the crowd. Once we get there we don't know what's going to happen."

The protest was largely peaceful.

As a symbol of the hope for peace internationally expressed by protestors, Mathew Hoffman and his friends carried a giant and soaring peace dove high above the heads of protestors. "People are building these all around the world," the 28-year-old said.

This year's demonstration, which marked the one-year anniversary of the launching of war on Iraq, was recognized by many for the number of issues being protested. Last year the sole cry of the anti-war movement was to stop the war before it started.

LeiLani Dowell, 26, a labor studies major at SF State said, "We're against occupation anywhere." Many of the protestors linked issues, like occupation of Iraq with Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip and U.S. occupation in Afghanistan.

At the steps of City Hall, a large group of people protested the anti-war protest, hoisting pro-Israeli picket signs high in the air and voicing support of the war. Many declined to give their names after being interviewed.

The shouting matches that ensued across conflicting political lines at the feet of City Hall sparked a response from police Officer Frazer of the Mission Station. Police lined between the two sides, not permitting one from the other to cross the very visible line.

"This is a counter demonstration," Frazer said, motioning toward the line of Iraqi occupation supporters. "Everyone has the right to free speech and we're just trying to minimize the conflict."

At the end of the day, 82 people were arrested for failing to obey traffic officers, a misdemeanor, and five for aggravated assault, a felony.