Antiwar demonstrators protest call for troop 'surge'

In 30-degree weather, nearly 200 protesters packed the corner of Tremont and Park streets in downtown Boston yesterday evening in an "emergency rally" to stop President Bush from sending more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq.

The Boston Common rally was inspired by Bush's nationally televised address Wednesday night, when he announced that more troops would be sent to work alongside Iraqi units. It was one of hundreds nationwide organized by activist groups, including MoveOn.org .

Some protesters said they were not surprised Bush wants to send more troops, despite low public approval of the war and the bipartisan Baker Commission's recommendation to withdraw military personnel from a country wracked by civil strife.

"More than 3,000 US soldiers are dead, and the total death is over 18,000," said Dylan Seo , 24, an activist with Socialist Alternatives and Stop the Wars Coalition . "It's ridiculous that all this time and money and energy is being spent."

Protesters hoisted signs bearing such messages as "War is terrorism with a bigger budget" and "Kill one person and it's murder, kill thousands and it's foreign policy." Speakers took turns at a microphone addressing the protesters, many of them seemingly middle age. Calls to "impeach Bush" roused applause.

One of the speakers, historian Howard Zinn, told the crowd that the president was completely disassociated from the impact the war has had on people's lives.

"I thought it was a robot up there," Zinn, author of "A People's History of the United States" said of watching the president's speech. "I didn't sense an iota of feeling."

Catherine Melina , a member of MoveOn.org, expressed fear that her 28-year-old son, who is training to drive a tank, will be deployed to Iraq.

"It just scares the hell out of me," Melina said. " 'Escalation' is just a word for more people dying. They're going to be more American people, and they're going to be more Iraqi people, and they're all going to be innocent people."

David Ascher , a member of Newton Dialogues on Peace and War, said he held antiwar signs with about 120 people at a protest in Newton Centre.

"We hope that it emboldens those who are closer to the levels of power than we are, to stand up and do something," Ascher said.

April Simpson can be reached at asimpson@globe.com.