San Francisco ? More than 100,000 people hit the streets of San Francisco on Sunday to join the voices around the world this weekend protesting a possible U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Demonstrators had postponed their event one day to make way for the city’s popular Chinese New Year parade and celebration. But the delay didn’t hamper turnout, which appeared to swell throughout the day.

“Finally it seems there is a worldwide movement saying this is obviously a catastrophic path we’re on,” said Deborah Hoffmann, 55, part of a Jewish women’s group at the rally. “And now everybody is out in the streets.”

A steady stream of chanting, sign-waving protesters filled 12 large city blocks stretching from the waterfront to City Hall.

Homemade signs identified librarians, psychologists and even “mushroom people” against the war: this last was carried by David Rust, 54, president of the Mycological Society of San Francisco, a group of amateur students and gatherers of mushrooms. A man wearing a suit and tie declared himself to be “Another Straight White Professional Taxpaying Father Against the Illegal War.”

Police estimated the crowd at 150,000 people. Other estimates claimed 250,000.

Protesters, including actor Danny Glover, writer Alice Walker and singers Bonnie Raitt and Joan Baez, tied the San Francisco event to a worldwide series of demonstrations held Saturday around the world.

This is a movement for justice and democracy,” Glover said. “We’re not going to leave it up to unaccountable politicians.”

“We know that we have not been shown enough evidence for a preemptive strike,” Raitt said. “There are a million people around the globe who have shown they feel the same way.”

The Rev. Amos Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP, drew one of the largest roars, speaking as if he were preaching a Sunday sermon.

“No blood for oil, no war in Iraq,” he said, intoned to cheers. “Let there be peace, and let it be now.”

Protesters climb on top of a cable car following an anti-war rally in San Francisco. Sunday's rally capped a weekend of global protests against war with Iraq.

After the main demonstration, a group of a few hundred people, some masked in bandanas, marched to the city’s posh Union Square shopping area, where some pelted police officers with rocks and other objects. Police in riot gear closed some stores to prevent looting; reasons for the trouble were unclear.

In Denver, about 300 people waving American flags and holding signs proclaiming “war is bad, evil is worse” also gathered Sunday in support of using force against Iraq.

“I support our president, and I support my sons. This is the only option,” said Pam Pearson, 49, who has two sons in the Navy. “I’d rather force Saddam out than have to play by his rules.”

Some came dressed in colonial costumes or as World War II fighters. Others held signs that said “Remember 9-11?” as state legislators and religious leaders expressed support for President Bush.

At an anti-war rally in Colorado Springs on Saturday, police fired tear gas at demonstrators and hit at least one with a rubber bullet after a demonstrators spilled out of a park and blocked a major thoroughfare.

Scores of demonstrations brought out millions of people across the nation and around the world Saturday. Rome claimed the biggest turnout — 1 million according to police, and London reported more than 750,000 in what police called the city’s largest protest ever.

In New York, police said Sunday that more than 250 people were arrested the day before during a massive anti-war demonstration as tens of thousands of protesters packed a 20-block area north of United Nations headquarters.

Police said the crowd that withstood bitter cold was about 100,000-strong, while organizers estimated it at three to five times that size.

Most of the 257 arrests were for disorderly conduct and other minor violations, police said. Five people were arrested on felony charges and 53 on misdemeanors.

In Los Angeles, police estimated the crowd at 30,000; one person was arrested for vandalism, another for a warrant and three for disturbing the peace.