"It's a shame that in the richest country in the world twelve million children are hungry every night," cried an activist from a small platform in front of United Nations headquarters, galvanizing a crowd of protesters under the watchful eye of police clad in riot gear.

Pacifists, anarchists, union members, defenders of the poor and others, several thousands of them gathered Monday at mid-day, one of two large marches of the day in Manhattan demanding social justice.

For them, opposing Bush is not just about marching against the war in Iraq. They point to what they say is the lack of social progress under the Bush administration.

"I came here to protest against the nursing home industry, to defend all those people that are abused by being locked in institutions," said a man who gave his name as Jim, who belongs to a group that wants more government aid to help the handicapped.

Deaf and mute marchers joined single mothers and state employees from nearby New Jersey in the protest, each group with a particular grievence against the Bush administration -- and taking advantage that journalists from around the world are in town.

Julia Perkins represented a coalition of farm workers from Immokalee, in south Florida.

"The farmer workers that collect tomatoes for Taco Bell earn from 40 to 45 cents for every 32 pounds, their wages are the same they were in 1978," said Perkins.

The number of Americans living in poverty or without health insurance grew last year, according to government figures released Thursday.