Anti-war protesters from around the state took to the streets of San Francisco Saturday, protesting the U.S. occupation of Iraq and urging President Bush to bring the troops back home. One of the groups organizing the protest, International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and Racism) says the anti war movement has gained momentum since President Bush declared the end to major conflict in Iraq. "87-billion dollars is being spent for war and meanwhile our jobs are getting cut, our social services are getting cut. Our sons and daughters are being sent to be killed for a war that is clearly based on lies, " said Leilani Dowell with ANSWER. But Gail Nero with the San Francisco Republican Party disagrees with that view. "You're taking about a bunch of dysfunctional, radical misfits that they're only productivity is littering our environment with their whining," she said. KCBS reporter Henry Mulak was along the protestors' route which began at San Francisco City Hall and was to end at Jefferson Square Park for a rally and speeches. Among the throng was former Green Party gubernatorial candidate Peter Camejo. "This is a war that was based on a lie to begin with. It's not protecting us in any way, shape or form and it's time for the United States to recognize the mistake that George Bush has led this country into," Camejo said. "We're calling on the United States to get its troops out of Iraq and let the Iraqis solve their own problems." Some protesters took a midnight bus from Burbank to make it to San Francisco for the gathering. Bill Nelson, 30, made that trip with his mother, Anna May Nelson, 67. ``We feel it's very important to keep our voices heard because we want our troops home,'' said Bill Nelson, a Burbank bookstore owner. ``We want the money here for health care and jobs, not a military industrial complex.'' Nelson's mother said her message to the Bush administration was ``stop supporting Halliburton and Bechtel,'' two companies that figure prominently in the rebuilding effort in Iraq. She agreed to come to the demonstration after a college political science course piqued her interest in world politics. Five groups, International A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop the War and End Racism), Bay Area United Against War, Not in Our Name, United for Peace and Justice, and the Vanguard Foundation, helped arrange transportation so that protesters from Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and 27 California cities could attend. Many in attendance at Civic Center Plaza waved large signs, some of which read ``Register to vote for peace'' and ``Support our troops. Bring them home.'' The San Francisco protest was the West Coast's version of a similar demonstration held in the nation's capital that drew thousands from over 100 cities. Before the rally at the Washington Monument, about 200 protesters played songs, listened to drummers and rallied for peace in a park about 20 blocks north of the White House. Bush is spending the weekend at Camp David in Maryland. Featured speakers at the San Francisco rally were to include Ron Kovic, Vietnam veteran and author of ``Born on the 4th of July,'' and Marine reservist Stephen Funk who was sentenced to six months in prison last month for leaving his unit as a protest against the war. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Albert Blais, of Schenectady, New York, with bandana, and Scott Miller of Hollywood, California hold a placard in front of San Francisco's City Hall during a protest and parade against the Iraq War on October 25, 2003. (REUTERS/Susan Ragan)