Pro-Israel, Anti Terror Rally In Denver

Over a thousand people from the Denver/Boulder Jewish and Christian community gather on the west steps of the Capitol in support of Israel and America's fight against terrorism. The rally began shortly following a shofar (ram's horn) blowing. (Evan Semón © News)

The nearly three hour rally went off without a hitch, as speakers including Reps. Musgrave and Tancredo and representatives for Sens. Allard and Salazar reaffirmed Israel's right to self-defense:

American and Israeli flags flew side by side as hundreds of Coloradans gathered on the west steps of the Capitol Sunday evening for a rally in support of Israel and the war against terrorism.

"(Israel) is seriously fighting the terrorists," said Peter Wright, who had draped a blue-and-white Israeli flag over his shoulders and held a smaller one in his hand. "As far as I'm concerned, Hezbollah is one of the cowardly terrorist groups."

. . .

Throughout the crowd supporters held signs that read "JerUSAlem - United We Stand, Divided We Fall" and "No Concession, No Terrorists."

Supporter Mike Higgs wore a leather motorcycle vest and a blue ribbon pinned to his shirt.

"I think they (Israel) have the right to do what they need to do to protect their country, just the same as we do," said Higgs, a Vietnam veteran from Thornton. "If we were under attack, getting bombed day after day, wouldn't we want to stop it?"

Higgs motioned to the phrase on a man's white T-shirt: "Except for ending slavery, fascism, Nazism and communism, war has never solved anything."

"That," Higgs said, "basically sums it up."