Anti-war activists rally in Stapleton's Tappen Park

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- You didn't have to ask John McNulty and his wife, Sara, their thoughts yesterday on the Bush Administration's handling of the war in Iraq; the South Beach residents' T-shirts said it all.

"Worst President Ever," proclaimed the message across McNulty's chest. "Where is the Outrage?" was the demand posed on his wife's shirt.

"Three years ago we needed to be out of there," McNulty said moments before a peace rally kicked off in Stapleton's Tappen Park.

Part protest, part street fair, the 100-minute demonstration sponsored by Peace Action of Staten Island, (PASI) featured chants, skits, clowns, kids' activities and an activist band dubbed the "Rude Mechanical Orchestra." About 125 people attended.

And while the atmosphere often was festive, the message was as blunt as a punch to the stomach: End the war in Iraq and bring U.S. soldiers home -- now.

"It's an immoral war. It's not serving any purpose," said St. George resident John Lawrence, PASI chairman. Stephen Harrison, the Democratic candidate who tried unsuccessfully last year to unseat Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) said protesting the war is "the most patriotic thing" citizens can do.

"Everybody supports our boys, but we do not honor them if they are dying in a war for no reason," Harrison told rallygoers. "We need to get out of Iraq now. Not tomorrow, but right now."

West Brighton resident Debra Anderson, whose husband served in Iraq, and Fernando Braga, a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War, urged Staten Islanders to keep the heat on elected officials.

"It's going to be a long struggle, but we're here to win," said Braga, a Bronx resident who served in the National Guard.

Fossella was lampooned in several skits and songs during the rally. PASI members said they have sought, unsuccessfully for some time, to meet with the congressman, a Bush ally who voted against a war spending bill that requires troop withdrawal from Iraq to begin by Oct. 1.

Fossella has said the legislation "creates critical timetables that will hurt our troops."