3 are arrested at Salt Lake protest

Three people were arrested and a half-dozen more cited as anti-war protesters clashed with police in downtown Salt Lake City Saturday.

But for the most part protesters were civil as they gathered to hear various speakers — the main attraction being Mayor Rocky Anderson.

One 17-year-old protester was arrested for allegedly assaulting two officers with a flag while another was arrested for obstructing justice. Still another protester was arrested on a similar violation, although police spokesman Dwayne Baird didn't know the exact circumstances. Others were cited for blocking traffic — one for sitting on TRAX light rail lines.

Like a prosecutor on closing arguments gunning for a conviction, Anderson laid out his case against President Bush for the some 2,000 protesters who turned out at the City-County Building downtown. The rally coincided with similar anti-war gatherings across the country, the biggest being held in the nation's capital.

The theme of the protest — and the substance of Anderson's case — was that Bush, his key administrators and a complicit media lied to the country about various aspects of the war.

Those lies, Anderson said, led the public to initially back the war.

"The people must insist on the truth from our elected officials and our news media," said Anderson, who sent out a mass e-mail last week urging people to attend the protest.

The crowd repeated Anderson's call over and over, "No more lies, we want the truth."

Anderson slowly built his case, touching on Bush's statement that deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was seeking to buy uranium from African sources — a claim that later proved inaccurate. He then moved on to the administration's claim that Saddam's government had chemical weapons. So far no such weapons have been found in Iraq. Early reports of Pvt. Jessica Lynch's rescue were also incorrect, Anderson said, accusing the media of not investigating certain claims and only regurgitating the administration's line.

"The media has failed us miserably," he said.

The mayor also noted early claims by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that the war likely wouldn't last six months and a statement by Vice President Dick Cheney that the Iraqi people would welcome U.S. troops as liberators.

Many protesters called for the United States to bring the troops home.