Anti-War Protest Group Fined $10,000

(CNSNews.com) - The anti-war activist group Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) faces a $10,000 fine from the city of Washington if it fails to remove thousands of fliers it has posted to advertise a September anti-war march.

"They have told us that we have 72 hours to remove every poster, or the fines will go into effect," the group said in a statement Tuesday. "Tens of thousands of dollars in additional fines are expected in the coming days."

The group accuses "Bush's Interior Department" of using "intimidation tactics to slow our outreach or silence" the antiwar movement.

"This is part of a systematic effort to disrupt the organizing for the September 15 Mass March that is timed to coincide with the report of General Patraeus and the debate in Congress on the Iraq War," the statement said, referring to a progress report set to be delivered by the commander of the Multi-National Force in Iraq.

The group insists that its posters "are legal and conform to city regulations" and accuses Fox News of mounting a campaign to convince the D.C. government to fine the group.

The September 15 march on the White House and Congress kicks off a week of action against the war in Iraq. Protestors also are scheduled to demonstrate "in the halls, hearing rooms and offices of Congress" during the following week.

A spokesman for the D.C. Department of Public Works, which ANSWER cites as the origin of the fines, was not immediately available for comment Tuesday.

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