The fringe left was out in all its glory in San Francisco on Saturday (6/5/04), marking the anniversary of Israel's 1967 war. International A.N.S.W.E.R. organizers also managed to lump Iraq into the equation, with the blanket statement, ''End All Occupations!'' And just to cover their bases, the banner above the stage read, ''U.S. Troops Out of Everwhere!'' The banner also called for the U.S. to ''End the Torture'' and of course, there were many references to Abu Ghraib throughout the day. But all in all, it was a pitiful display and the best they could turn out was 4000-5000 people. Presumably the numbers will be exaggerated.

The usual speakers blamed the problems of Cuba, Zimbabwe, Haiti, Okinawa, and the Philippines, on the United States, while the rest railed on Israel and the plight of the poor Palestinians. There were repeated calls to ''change the system'' by speakers espousing communism and invoking the evils of capitalism.

Anti-Kerry sentiment was high, with the most common complaint being that he and President Bush are both ''warmongers.'' No doubt the Nader campaign should be thrilled, and Republicans can look forward to four more years in the White House if the left continues to abandon Kerry.

The large and lively group of counter-protesters, made up of members of ProtestWarrior.com and SF Voice For Israel, were waiting when the main crowd of marchers arrived at Justin Herman Plaza. The SFPD set up a row of police officers and motorcycles between the two sides.

As always, it was the ''peaceniks'' who were the most violent, screaming and shaking their fists at the counter-protesters. In the forefront were several Arab-Americans, wearing keffiyehs and leading the crowd in Hamas-style chanting. Hippie kids yelled, ''Free Palestine!'' while others chanted, ''Viva, Viva, Palestina!'' as if they were at a rock concert. A sign that said, ''Smash the Jewish State'' pretty much summed up the crowd’s attitude towards Israel. For good measure, an Arab woman spat on a Jew wearing a yarmulke.

The Protest Warriors, wearing T-shirts that said, among other things, ''I Heart Halliburton'' and chanting ''Four More Years!'' did their best to irritate the leftists. Judging from the red faces and the shaking fists across the walkway, it was an unqualified success.

At around 500, this was the largest turnout of counter-protesters in San Francisco. It is interesting that their ranks have risen as the left’s have declined. Now their rallies are attended by only the most fringe groups.

Setting the bar as low as possible seemed to be the order of the day, and late in the afternoon one of the A.N.S.W.E.R. speakers informed the crowd that he had ''good news'' to share. His gleeful announcement that Ronald Reagan had died brought a round of cheers from the crowd. In fact, this news got the biggest response in what was a rather lackluster, dispirited affair. Perhaps even in San Francisco, the tide is turning.