CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Anti-War Protest Planned at Parade

Anti-war groups plan to stage protests today when San Francisco honors returning Gulf War soldiers with a two-mile homecoming parade. War opponents in the city, which is known for its anti-war sentiments, were so outraged when President Bush launched Operation Desert Storm in January that they rallied tens of thousands of protesters to march in the streets. Today’s protests are expected to be much smaller, but police will be on hand to monitor them. Authorities are setting up a “free speech” area near the end of the parade route for use by demonstrators.