On Thursday, they will be protesting at Fourth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C., joining thousands of other counter demonstrators during President George Bush’s inauguration. “This president and his administration are strong-arming their will on this country and the countries of the world.

Permitted space at 4th St. & Pennsylvania Ave. (north side) will hold more than 10,000 ~ ~ ~ Volunteers needed Jan. 18-21 ~ ~ ~ Funds are urgently needed ~ ~ ~ Speakers, media coverage, logistics & more The A.

The lawsuit in federal district court claims the National Park Service is illegally blocking the public from access to vast portions of Pennsylvania Avenue reserved solely for guests screened by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

An antiwar group filed suit yesterday alleging that President Bush's inaugural committee has for weeks blocked the public from getting tickets to the inaugural parade route and has allowed only selected donors and supporters to purchase seats.

The lawsuit in federal district court claims the National Park Service is illegally blocking the general public from access to vast portions of Pennsylvania Ave. reserved solely for guests screened by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Groups angry about the Iraq war, the economy, President Bush's environmental policies, and a myriad of other issues promise to put their mark on Thursday's celebration with several marches, rallies and acts of civil disobedience.

From nondescript headquarters a dozen blocks from the Capitol, a coalition of groups linked by their opposition to the war in Iraq and other administration policies are organizing their own inauguration events.

January 20 Update: Media coverage from NYTimes, NPR, AP & Reuters (see below) ~ ~ ~ Funds needed for bleachers, sound, stage & more ~ ~ ~ Spread the word about antiwar bleachers at 4th St. & Pennsylvania Ave.

The anti-war group A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition is planning to erect its own bleachers in the space, an open plaza on Pennsylvania Ave., just a few blocks from the Capitol building, said Brian Becker, national coordinator for the group.

WASHINGTON -- Six thousand police officers, 2,500 military personnel, and dozens of federal security agencies will patrol a locked-down capital during next week's presidential inauguration, which outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge promised yesterday would be the most secure in history.