WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 150 protesters sat in front of the White House on Monday to savor their last meal before starting a hunger strike that some said will continue until American troops return from Iraq.
The demonstration marking the Independence Day holiday was organized by CodePink, a women's anti-war group that called on volunteers to abstain from eating for 24 hours from midnight on Monday.
Some protesters said their fast would continue beyond July 4th.
In related developments, noted Iraq war supporter BPSCG held a counter-demonstration at his home in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife and several neighbors. The group expressed support for administration policy in Iraq and for U.S. troops by consuming large quantities of solid food. One neighbor brought a red, white and blue parfait for dessert (made from strawberries, whipped cream, and blueberries), while other neighbors brought salads, baked beans, and additional desserts. Mrs. BPSCG prepared appetizers, corn on the cob, and a summer berry pudding (the last of which stayed in the refrigerator due to the unexpected glut of other desserts), while BPSCG roasted peppers on the grill and spent much of the afternoon preparing his famous rotisserie baby-back ribs.
The counter-demonstrators also consumed moderate amounts of alcoholic beverages, including Genesee Cream Ale, Lindeman's Australian Shiraz wine, and a powerhouse bottle of Rosenblum Zinfandel. BPSCG also prepared a pitcher full of frozen margaritas.
In the only sour note to the counter-demonstration, several of the women insisted on watching the Italy-Germany World Cup semifinals. The men protested by sitting out on the deck and drinking as much of the margaritas and Genny Cream as they could, while launching a raid against the crab dip.
"We believe the best way to show our support for our troops," BPSCG stated, "is to put meat on the grill and eat it. We are unanimous in our resolve to eat solid food regularly, in support of our troops, and we intend to eat solid food every day, if necessary, as long as it takes to finish the job. We encourage patriotic Americans everywhere to follow our example, and to eat solid food not just on Independence Day, but on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Super Bowl Sunday, and every other day of the year. The anti-war defeatists who want to cut and run and abandon Iraq to terrorists and insurrectionists will not prevail as long as patriotic Americans can fire up the backyard Weber."
Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq, said she would drink only water throughout the summer, which she said she would spend outside President George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.
I agree with the "she's deranged" crowd. You couldn't get me to spend the entire summer in Texas unless you could guarantee an adequate supply of cold beer against the possibility of heatstroke.
... I won't mention it to our Aussie brethern