Maria Sayied, who is from Afghanistan, holds a sign Saturday during a protest that began at the state Capitol. About 200 protesters marched down the 16th Street Mall and called for an end to the bombing in Afghanistan.

"I think the rest of the country needs to know that we don't support a war against innocent civilians," protester Bill Myers said as he walked down the mall.

Among the marchers were Muslims who said the bombings are taking an unacceptably high toll on people of their faith.

"Afghanistan is running out of targets, so innocent people are getting hit," said Hamaya Ghanrieyar, who is from Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

"Life is enough of a struggle there as it is. Having to deal with bombs just makes it worse," he said.

Mir Khan, a Muslim from Bangladesh, said the people responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks should be brought to justice before the United Nations.

"They can try (Osama bin Laden) in a court of law, without bombing," he said.

Akbarali Thobhani, an African studies professor at Metro State College of Denver, said he and other Muslims condemned the Sept. 11 attacks but want a peaceful resolution. He also praised the protesters for showing their opposition to the war.

"It takes courage to be out here when the vast majority look down on what you are doing," he said. "They will say you are unpatriotic. But we should remember that the greatest right we have as Americans is the right to dissent."

The march drew one vocal counter-protester, Fred Long, who rode his bicycle on the sidewalk next to Lincoln Avenue.

"They're undermining the war effort," Long said.