Protesters supporting and opposing action in Syria gather outside the White House. | POLITICO Dueling protests outside White House

Dueling protests erupted outside the White House on Saturday as President Barack Obama announced in the Rose Garden he plans to seek congressional approval for a limited strike against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The announcement didn’t appear it would please either side.


About 100 peace activists were fenced into a protest zone on the sidewalk in front of the White House, chanting: “Hands off Syria now.” Police officers blocked other protesters — and a reporter — from entering the protest zone, saying the one opening was an exit only.

( See POLITICO's full Syria coverage)

The fences fueled suspicion among the crowds, with protesters speculating the White House was trying to control the size of the demonstration. But a spokesman for the U.S. Park Police, Lt. George Davis, said there were regulations barring more than 25 people from being on the sidewalk outside the White House.

The protest zone was “probably for the safety of officers, protesters and the public,” Davis said. The protests ended of their own volition around 3 p.m.

The peace protests were organized by the anti-war groups Code Pink and the Answer Coalition, according to Tighte Barry, 50, a member of Code Pink who had a megaphone and was helping lead the chants.

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“We will be here every day to stop this out-of-control unilateral bombing of another country,” said Barry, who flew to Washington from Los Angeles last week to protest a potential U.S. military intervention in Syria.

“I think this government has the power to sit down with all parties in Syria and reach an end to the violence, but bombing will only get you more violence,” Barry added.

Meanwhile, about 50 counter-protesters gathered nearby to call for U.S. action in Syria.

“We’re here to tell Obama he has to take action as the leader of the free world,” said Noura Almasri, 35, who moved to the United States 13 years ago from Syria.

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“Take Assad and his regime out and let the people of Syria solve the problem.”

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