Protesters will march through Washington, stage a "die in" across from the White House and turn their backs on President George W. Bush's limousine during his inaugural celebration next week, organizers said today.
As US authorities prepared unprecedented security for the January 20th event, organizers said thousands of protesters will stage a noisy counterpoint to the lavish $40 million celebration.
One group of anti-war activists said it would carry 1,000 coffins to the White House and stage a "die in" to protest the lives lost in Iraq.
Another group said it had obtained a permit to protest along a 200-foot (60-metre) section of the parade route but planned to sue for more access to the large sections of Pennsylvania Avenue set aside for Mr Bush supporters.
"The Bush administration, in conjunction with the National Park Service, is trying to stage-manage democracy," said Ms Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, a lawyer for the anti-war group International ANSWER.
A spokeswoman for the US Secret Service, which is overseeing security for the event, declined immediate comment.
US authorities plan to involve thousands of police, troops and bomb-sniffing dogs in the first inaugural event since the September 11, 2001 attacks.