Sep 22, 2008 7:28 pm US/Eastern
Thousands Show Up To Blast Ahmadinejad
With Politicians Absent, Pro-Israel Demonstrators Call For Action Against Iranian President At 'Stop-Iran' Rally
Palin's Planned Speech Calls Ahmadinejad A 'Monster'
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The United Nations is back to business on Monday, but as world leaders converge on Manhattan's East Side, lots of attention is being focused on Iran and its controversial president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
CBS
Holocaust survivors, students and activists by the thousands converged on the United Nations on Monday.
All rallied in protest against Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is set to address the UN General Assembly.
There was a heavy police presence everywhere. Security was so tight at the "Stop Iran" rally that police searched every person carrying a bag handbag or backpack.
And there were thousands and thousands of them.
"The proper place of Iran's pres, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is not in the UN, not at university events, not at social or diplomatic dinners," author and Holocaust survivor Eli Weisel said. "His place is before a international tribunal who would try him for crimes against humanity."
They came by the thousands to protest Ahmadinejad, his pro-nuke, anti-Israel policies and to listen to speakers who didn't want him in New York.
"The nightmare is back," said Dalia Itzik, speaker of Israel Kisset. "We again hear threats similar to the dark days of Holocaust and when I hear these threat [I] see concentration camps."
Ahmadinejad denies there was a Holocaust that killed 6 million Jews, a stance that brought a lot of people to Monday's protest.
"I am a Holocaust survivor," said Regina Stawski of Bell Harbor, Queen. "He is denying it. I am proof. [He's] trying to bring another Holocaust to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth."
Added Rochelle Marshall of upstate Monroe: This man wants to destroy Israel."
Said another: "We have to make a statement, as peaceful American citizens. We should not support this leader or give him a forum, undermine Democratic values in our country."
"I am here to demonstrate," Yossi Kahan said. "Disgusting Americans let tyrants come to [this country]."
As you can see, emotions are high and will probably get more intense Tuesday when Ahmadinejad addresses the General Assembly.
New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin did not participate in the rally. President Bush, in his farewell address to the world body, was to ask other members to join with the United States in confronting rogue nations like Iran.
Ahmadinejad is vowing military action against anyone who targets Iran's nuclear facilities.
Organizers of Monday's rally had hoped to have Clinton and Palin speak, but Clinton pulled out and pressure from Democrats forced the organizers to bar all politicians from speaking, including the Alaska governor.
Not to be silenced, the McCain-Palin campaign issued the speech the Alaskan governor would have given.
Palin called Ahmadinejad a madman with "an agenda that threatens all who seek a safer and freer world. We gather here today to highlight the Iranian dictator's intentions and to call for action to thwart him. He must be stopped," read the VP nominee's speech.
Clinton also issued a statement saying: "We cannot, we should not, we must not permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons."
Palin will be in New York through Tuesday to meet with several world leaders. Officials hope it will boost her foreign policy credentials.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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