March 19, 2008 Anti-war protests held across nation Play video

(NECN: Worcester, Mass.) - Anti-war protests are planned across the country Wednesday, marking the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war.

At a demonstration in Washington D.C., police arrested a dozen protesters who crossed a barricade at the entrance of the Internal Revenue Service.

War Protesters began gathering at a church in Worcester, Massachusetts early Wednesday morning to show their opposition to the war that began five years ago. The protesters say the war is unethical, immoral and they need to take a stand as Americans. They then staged a sit-in at a Federal building in the city. Worcester Police quickly removed the protesters, and said they could face trespassing charges.

Nearly 4,000 U.S. military servicemen and women have died since the war in Iraq began. There are currently 158,000 troops serving on active duty in Iraq, and that number will drop to 140,000 by summertime.

NECN's Latoyia Edwards has more.