On that day , over 300 buses and four special trains brought protesters in from across the country . BBC estimates that 100,000 protesters took part in a rally near the UN headquarters . Among those taking part was the 9/11 Families For Peaceful Tomorrows , a group made up of some relatives of victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center . Speakers included politicians , church leaders and entertainers , such as actress Susan Sarandon and South African Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu . As people tried to reach the rally area they ended up constituting an unplanned march , stretching twenty blocks down First Avenue and overflowing onto Second and Third Avenue . In total estimates range from 300,000 to 400,000 protesters ( WSWS estimate ) . The protests were largely peaceful though a small group of protesters who were reported to have broken off from the main rally , caused damage to property in Union Square , and threw stones at police officers , which resulted in forty arrests
attacks on the World Trade Center
September 11 attacks
15 February 2003 anti-war protests