WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 18 — To many anti-war demonstrators, the half-million people who gathered on the National Mall were democracy.

More than 35 speakers and performers energized what appeared to be a sea of bodies tightly packed as cold air numbed noses and toes. Participants in the rally sat in lawn chairs, in wheelchairs, up in tree branches or stood to listen as several speakers talked about the Bush administration’s focus on weapons of mass destruction as a “tactic of mass distraction.”

People from all walks of life, of all colors and occupations were gathered there in what Elizabeth McAllister of Jonah House, a peace advocacy group in Baltimore, told the crowd was the “largest pre-emptive peace movement in history.” Signs, both printed and homemade, filled the air. They carried messages of “No war on Iraq” and “No blood for oil.” Some people wore masks; a few even walked on stilts. They all wanted to send one message, against the current U.S. foreign policy toward Iraq.

Vietnam veteran and author of “Born on the Fourth of July” Ron Kovic raised his hands in peace as he wheeled himself to the microphone. “Thank you for having the courage and citizenship for coming here today,” he said. Kovic said it was 35 years ago on Martin Luther King Jr. Day that he was shot, wounded and paralyzed in Vietnam. “You were born to be here … to take this country back. Change the priorities of this nation. Believe in this dream,” Kovic said.

Rev. Al Sharpton linked the importance of the rally to the weekend on which it was held by reminding the crowd of the message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Dr. King was not for blacks only — he was for those that love peace,” Sharpton said.

Actress Jessica Lange said she was speaking to the crowd as a mother and an American woman. “I don’t want to pass on the legacy of shame, greed and bloodshed. We don’t want these sins visited on the heads of our children.”

With each speaker, momentum grew and the crowd became eager to begin the march from the Capitol Building to Washington Navy Yard, where an International Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition group asked for access to and elimination of weapons of mass destruction in the United States.

Rev. Jesse Jackson challenged, “Campus by campus, city by city and state by state to give peace a chance.”

“The weather is cold, but our hearts are warm. There’s a fire in everyone’s belly for peace,” Jackson said. At the end of his speech he led the enormous sea of faces in a chant, “It’s healing time, it’s hope time, it’s peace time.”

A glazed look fell over many demonstrators as the group they were a part of seemed to overwhelm them. Some had tears welled in their eyes as they clapped and cheered in response to the speeches.

“I would describe it as organized confusion,” said Omar Tesdell, founding member of Iowa State’s Time For Peace and a Daily columnist. “There are a lot of people with a lot of causes all united behind this one — opposing the war on Iraq.”

There were union members, teachers’ organizations, veterans groups and others advocating the need for peace in other parts of the world. There were families marching together. The Nelson family from Olney, Md. marched together, mother, father, son and daughter. “They wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Anita Nelson of her children. “It feels great doing something for what I stand for,” said Rachel Nelson, 13.

There were small pockets of protesters of the anti-war demonstration. Perched on a building ledge was a group of about five with signs that read “College Republicans support our troops.” Several anti-war demonstrators carried signs also in “support of the troops.”

“Even when anti-protesters were there everyone was still united for peace,” said Ramsey Tesdell, ISU freshman in technical communication.