Hundreds of demonstrators gathered peacefully in heavy rain in a park across from the White House on Saturday to protest the war in Iraq and the presence of US and French troops in Haiti.
The demonstration was organised by the group Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER), under the slogan, "End occupation, Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti."
Organisers said similar demonstrations were being held in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The demonstrators included families of US troops in Iraq, who demanded the immediate return of their loved ones.
President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, were not at home.
They were in France for celebrations commemorating the 60th anniversary of D-Day.
The demonstrators said they were heading later in the day for the home of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, to continue the protest.