* Official March 20 protest thread — Please post stories and photos here *

[prolesunited]

Sorry to be so presumptuous and start an "official" anything, but I'm starting this based on past experience. Rather than have dozens of threads for people to follow and perhaps get buried, I thought it would be good to gather everything together in a primary thread to make it easier for everyone to follow what transpires today.

So, post your stories and photos here. We also can include what's going on in the rest of the world as well. If your experience merits its own thread, please at least post a link to your thread.

That said. I have to get my butt out of here and head up to the the city. Stand strong and be safe. See y'all in the streets! :bounce:

Could some posters help keep this kicked until the reports start coming in since I won't be around.

[nostamj]

1. here's a start

lots of picture of US and international protests in this LBN thread!

March 20 Protests

[Judi Lynn]

37. From Budapest, in the slideshow you linked

People bearing torches form a giant peace sign on Budapest's Hero's Square on Saturday March 20, 2004. 30 civil organizations planned the peace event to protest against the war in Iraq (news - web sites). (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky)

Protesters march up Sixth Avenue with placards in New York March 20, 2004 during an anti-war demonstration. Thousands turned up to march the streets of New York. Thousands in New York city attended the rally, just one of the many anti-war protests taking place in cities around the world on the anniversary of U.S.-led war in Iraq (news - web sites). REUTERS/Chip East

[Habibi]

40. Oh, that peace sign is beautiful!

I would love to have a poster of that image!

[NewHampster]

70. I love the peace sign

thank you

[WillyT]

2. Here's A Starter !!!

Every other protest was barely covered by our local news (Sacto, CA).

This morning they gave a great back story of all the past protests, plus info on today's. Not only that...

They broadcast info on when and where folks could catch buses to S.F. if they wanted to go.

THAT'S NEW !!!

:shrug::yourock::shrug:

[prolesunited]

3. One last kick before I leave

Could someone please help out here?

:kick:

[seg4527]

4. bump

Is everybody so busy with getting Kerry elected that they have no time to be bothered by a silly old protest?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

5. KICK

:kick:

[Gato Moteado]

6. kick

nt

[donsu]

7. kick

nt

[Joanne98]

8. We're our own media now

The Chimp is on every channel. Let's rock.

[imax2268]

9. Wow...

isn't that something that two men (BushCo and Blair) can cause so much anger around the world...

Hey Georgie...next time you use the words "The American people have spoken" or..."On behalf of the American People"...just remember your not speaking for me...I don't want you to speak for me...!

[Spazito]

10. Kick

:kick:

[DeaconBlues]

11. kick n/t

[Karenina]

13. HEH?!?!?!?!?!?!

I'm looking for reports and all I get is kicks! :wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

[Lars39]

12. Here's a link to Will Pitt's blog.....

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/IraqProtestCoverage.shtml

on edit: thanks gristy!

[Robbien]

14. Last night the local stations here in Chicago

did a big segment on the planned protest today with emphasis on security. But they did have a good representative speak in favor of the anti-war protest and she did have good decent air time.

On This is Hell, radio program of Northwestern University, they reported they got a call from someone attending the rally. They said that the crowd was gathering at the Water Tower where so far about 3,000 people are there. They do not have a permit to gather there, but the police force so far are just showing their presence and not getting aggressive. The police are allowing them to 'step off' where the protesters will march down Chicago, then Clark on to the rally at Federal Plaza where they do have a permit.

[gristy]

15. Still nothing on the NYC protest at the NY Times

But they DO have an article (and a picture of the smirk himself) on his noon Orlando speech on the front page of their web site http://www.nytimes.com/

So I called their national news room and spoke to a woman. She actually listened and took my name and number. I said they had "good" coverage of bush in Fla, but why NOTHING on the protest in Manhatten? I said they need to present some balanced coverage. And currently their coverage is not balanced.

There is no excuse for an aricle on the chimp to get on the web site and nothing on the NYC protest when THEY ARE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME. And the event in NYC is much bigger (many more people anyways). By 1 or 2 friggin orders of magnitude.

So to all this I say, :wtf:

[Robbien]

21. The Boston Globe did a nice article on the NYC protest

I guess you have to go out of state to get the news of 30,000 people marching in NYC.

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/080/region/30_000_at_NYC_rally_against_th:.shtml

[IkeWarnedUs]

87. Coverage of Bush' s speech

I am very aware of the realities of media ownership and agenda, but when I saw CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and C-Span all covering Bush's campaign speech I couldn't help but shake my head at the hypocracy of it all.

The Democratic candidates had multiple debates, speeches, announcements, press conferences, etc. and they were like the tree falling in the forest - if no one can here them, were they actually making noise?

But chimpy opens his mouth and the whores all fall to their knees.

[Kanary]

100. thanks for speaking up, gristy!

We need to take back our media, too!

Kanary

Another Delusional Diehard for Dennis!!

Kucinich 2004!

[Lars39]

16. Protest *live* on NYC DOT Webcam (Thanks, Deb !!!)

http://nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/atis.html

click on closed circuit television camera link, click on Manhattan

Choose streaming video button, click 6th @34th St webcam on map.

Further instructions, if needed:
click on the map of Manhattan,


it will give you a map of Manhattan, choose the last blue camera on the bottom left of that map. It will open a new window with the stream

Sorry no sound.

[gristy]

20. 6th and 34th?

I thought it was on Madison Ave? Is that the same thing as 6th?

[Lars39]

22. I don't know. Here's the thread from the Activism forum:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x6510

[minkyboodle]

24. wow

2:48 EST and the cam is mobbed with people. Great Job New York!!!
Scott

[nostamj]

26. the march started on Madison

turned west on 23rd to 6th and then uptown to 40th via 6th ave

[Stephanie]

113. The march went in a loop - from Madison Sq. Park at 23 & Mad.

across 23rd, up Sixth to 40th, back over to Madison, and back down to Madison Square. Round trip. Many, many people.

[milkyway]

23. Cool! Thanks for the heads up.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

25. Thanks-looks like lots of people!

:hi:

[Michael Costello]

152. NYC demo pictures and report

I was at the NYC march yesterday. I posted a report with pictures at NYC's Indymedia.

http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/89584

I actually bought the camera on Friday. My very old digital camera is having some problems, so I was looking for a Canon digital camera, but instead bought a Minolta one. I actually took 108 pictures, with room to spare, but Indymedia likes you to be a little selective, so I left out most of my pictures of friends, as well as union people like PSC/CUNY or CWA - I just put in the IWW people I marched with. I also left out some signs I liked like the Shel Silverstein drawing "All the arms we need" with two kids hugging or a guy with a sign that said "A MUCH better world is possible", the radical cheerleaders who had some really good cheers, and a really good brass band playing "I'm going to lay down my sword and shield down by the riverside and study war no more".

With some of the protests in the past, the NYPD was a bit draconian with pens, access and the like, but this one was a lot better and of the tens of thousands there, there were only four arrests for disorderly conduct. The biggest incident I saw was when some "Protest Worriers" - about a dozen people who support Bush's imperialistic foreign policy and who are worried about all these protests - walked into the middle of the crowd and attempted to make some trouble - the police quickly pulled them aside and took them out of the crowd, telling them to stop making trouble.

I moved recently and am not registered to vote here. One of my friends , who I worked with at a company I used to work for, was out there with his friends handing out voter registration cards, which was a good idea. I saw Malachy McCourt and told him I saw him on TV recently, he was very nice. I also heard Amy Goodman and Dennis Kucinich speak via the speaker system. Toward the end, I ran into a friend of mine and we went out to dinner. The whole event was nice, I met new people, ran into people I know, saw lots of interesting things, I had a good time. Hopefully in November, if we go out and pound the pavement for it enough, we'll get someone in the White House who doesn't have the Bush cowboy mentality toward the rest of the world.

[cmd]

17. Small town rally report

I just returned from a thunderstorm rally in Coshocton, Ohio. There were 15 protestors and 3 disrupters there. We paraded down the town streets for an hour huddled under umbrellas and ponchos. I wish I could report a warm reception, but for the most part we were ignored. I'm wet and disappointed, but still glad that I went.

[Mari333]

19. dont feel bad our small town isnt even protesting

thats why Im going to Kalamazoo!!! over 700 people expected there
EVERY PROTEST COUNTS...!!EVERY VOICE COUNTS!! GOOD FOR YOU!!!

[IkeWarnedUs]

88. Bravo CoalMinersDaugher!!!!!

It's one thing to be a part of a crowd of thousands (like here in Chicago) but it takes real courage and conviction to stand up for what you believe in with only 14 others at your side (and a few disrupters).

I can understand your feeling wet and disappointed, but I salute you. You should be proud, very proud.

You'll never know how many people saw or heard about your protest today who agreed with you but didn't have the guts to join in. Maybe even assumed they were alone in their thoughts. Or how many may have started to think about what we are doing in Iraq and maybe even talk about it later.

Thank you CMD. Sometimes I think the small, courageous protests are the most important.

:yourock:

[BlueCollar]

118. I'm so proud

to be associated with people with your courage and conviction. We had about 800-1000 in Crawford...Thanks for showing up.

[Mari333]

18. well I got up at 5 am and spoke to Europe via Irish radio!!

and let Bush and his admin have it from the perspective of a mom with a kid in Iraq! then they told me they will continue to use me on the radio as a spokesperson for American mothers! so good! so I went back to bed and I will go to the protest in Kalamazoo Michigan at 5:30 and march tonight!! Ill post on it when I get back
Mari333
PS: never apologize when you start an official thread!! thats soooo catholic..just start the thread, and be proud =)

[tigereye]

74. good for you Mari

[duhneece]

137. You go, Girl

I am so proud of you.

[Robbien]

27. From the Chicago Indy site--An Arrest!

These updates are from their site (cst times):

1:22 PM Report of an arrest at Superior and Wabash, someone is being held in a wagon.

1:23 PM Reporting from Chicago and Ohio. Chicago and Clark standoff. Thousands of people (?)

1:31 PM Confirmation of one arrest, taht of Superior and Wabash. Being held in wagon. Confirmed of numbers: about 5000 people.

1:32 PM Buses that are cutting off east and west street.

1:35 PM On Randolph, reports of a massive police presence of correctional vans. "They look ready".

1:39 PM Milwaukee reports taht some 1000+ protesters are marching there.

1:42 PM Clark and Wacker report. March is heading south.

[Qanisqineq]

28. Ok, I am off to the protest

in a couple minutes. Hope it doesn't start raining again!

[DustMolecule]

29. kick

.

[althecat]

30. Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch New Zealand...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0403/S00228.htm

Below is a report from Scoop's Auckland editor. My Bro was getting married in Wellington Yesterday so I did not make it to our local protest but heard it went well.. there was a vigil at the embassy and a march to the cenotaph (our national war memorial). There were also protests in other cities and reports on all the festivities can also be found at.

http://www.indymedia.org.nz/

Al
Scoop

****


Demands Made For NZ Military To Withdraw From Iraq
Story and images by Selwyn Manning – Scoop Co-Editor

Approximately 300 people took to Auckland’s Queen Street Saturday as part of a global march for world peace. Calls were made for New Zealand to withdraw military support for the ongoing U.S-led occupation of Iraq. Others cried for peace in the Middle East and for an end to oppression against Palestinian people.

On Iraq, Green Party MP Keith Locke said: “"In the 12 months since, Bush, Blair and Howard's justification for the assault has proven to be built on lies. There are no 'weapons of mass destruction' - other than those in the US arsenal.

[althecat]

31. Christchurch Images..

MORE:
http://www.indymedia.org.nz/front.php3?article_id=16552&group=webcast

[althecat]

32. Wellington Images (Indymedia Rocks Again!!!)

The building behind the protest is our Government Executive Building which houses our PM and her Ministers. It looks like a beehive and is called The Beehive.

More...
http://www.indymedia.org.nz/front.php3?article_id=16533&group=webcast
http://www.indymedia.org.nz/front.php3?article_id=16538&group=webcast
&
http://www.indymedia.org.nz/front.php3?article_id=16519&group=webcast

[jpak]

33. Pensacola

I estimated 50-75 protesters - but they did make a noise.

Two guys with snare drums banged away and were later joined by a fellow with at guitar who sang.

There was a good mix of people there, but the local "Circle-A" folks put on the best show.

They had LOTS of large and very artsy protest displays including a life-size effigy of The Boy King.

They hung it from an overhead cable and smashed it to pieces with a broom (pinata style) then they attempted to torch it.

(I have to admit that I left at that point - something I remember about having a fire permit and felony arson charges...)

The local TV station, however, filmed the whole thing!

I'm sure the local repugs will be highly scandalized by all this.

The reaction of drivers-by was predictable - most were shocked and outraged - some hooted in support - lots of "birds" from the rednecks.

I only saw one vocal exchange.

A woman rolled down her window and asked "Are you protesting the war in I-raq?"

We said "yes!".

She then said, "Well I have news for you - the war is over!"

Everyone broke down into collective belly laugh.

Don't think she will ever "get it".

That is all...

[pss]

34. NY1 Report

Includes video...

http://www.ny1.com/ny/TopStories/SubTopic/index.html?topicintid=1&subtopicintid=1&contentintid=38269

[Duncan Grant]

35. San Francisco - Dolores Park

This is where everyone gathered this morning before the march. What you can't see is all the people on Cumberland St. and Dolores St.

It was a large turnout! So large that I couldn't find the Bay Area DUers. I'm off to Civic Center to meet up with other friends (cell phones are good for some things...). Maybe I'll find the DU crowd down there. Ciao!

[not systems]

62. I was right in the center of this photo...

had a good time.

Forgot to bring a hat so got cooked by the sun.

Lots of interesting signs and cool drumming groups.

Carried a big War Monger poster with the scowling chimp on it.

There was a little pack of pro-test-warrior dot com losers in the march.

Talked with one of them a bit he said, "Aren't you glad Saddam is gone?"

He must watch Denise Miller to get his lines.

Then, "Isn't it great that Iraq has a democracy now?"

I said, "What type of democracy is it where people don't vote?"

"Isn't it great that they have a constitution and a bill of rights?"

"Sure but at the cost of 160 billion dollars and 550 American lives
and 10000 plus Iraqi lives I don't think that war was worth it."

Then he stuck a video camera in my face and I left so as not to
go out like the star wars kid.

Over all a good time and well organized. The cops kept the
car about a block or two back so it was less visible than the
last march but had less angry drivers.

It was great to see so many people out who care about stopping Bush's war.

[cally]

95. I'm sorry we missed meeting you

nt

[cally]

94. I'm sorry we missed you!

I never connected to DUers and Dolores Park as I was rather late. :shrug: But I then saw them during the march and connected. We met afterwards. I'm sorry you didn't make the meeting place. I would have liked meeting you.

I thought the crowd was pretty large. I think the estimates of 50,000 sound good but that is a guesstimate. Folks seemed more anti-Bush and the militaristic invasions than anything else.

Kerry had a booth and we're offering free sunblock in a very good natured way. They were passing out bumperstickers and pins. You could donate or not. Lot's of Kucinich supporters and a few Dean supporters.

[not systems]

108. I wish I would have found your booth...

I could have used some sticker and pins. Go Kerry!

By the time I got to civic center I was cooked and had to
get out of the sun quick.

I did see a couple of Kerry signs but it was definitely an
anti-Bush event.

I did see lots of people registering to vote and taking
self registration forms.

[proud patriot]

128. I can see arcane1 and the rest of us in this shot as well

:D

[Duncan Grant]

131. I should send you more pictures!

I took quite a few photos around this playground area! :7
Sending a PM to you...

[proud patriot]

153. Got it

I can't believe we missed each other ..

My eyes were peeled .....

[Robbien]

36. Again posting from the Chicago Indymedia site

2:46 PM Huge, and I mean huge, rally at Federal Plaza. Speeches are going on. Incredibly massive, almost daunting, police presence.

Sounds great. You go Prolesunited & Chicagoans!

[Suspicious]

38. Lansing, Michigan

I don't have an official count, but my girlfriend and I are guessing there were about 300 people (far less than last year, anyway). Still, it was a great experience - wonderful speakers for the rally at the Capitol at noon. Dedicated, like-minded people.

Not much of a police presence to speak of, and only a very small (we're talking 5 people) group of counter-protesters (I'm not kidding - the "ringleader"'s sign said, "WAR GAVE YOU YOUR FREEDOM" :eyes: ) who shadowed us all the way to the Capitol. They were ignored easily for the most part, but what I found disturbing was the fact that at the Capitol, when a Vietnam Veteran for Peace was at the microphone speaking, the counter-protesters really let loose on him. It was one of the most disrespectful things I've ever witnessed (aside from their shouting of slurs against just about every minority group you can think of).

There were workshops afterward - a lot of information was available about various local activist groups.

I wish more people had turned out, but it was still a productive march, and I'm thankful I was able to participate.

[debsianben]

82. 700+ actually

An organizer told me that they counted at least 700 people.
As a friend remarked (given that there were just the 9 dumb freepers with pro-war signs) if that was the real ratio in the U.S.--700 to 9! I suppose its not too far off from the ratio in much of the R.O.W. ("rest of world" besides U.S., a wonderful phrase I picked up from RealTime on Friday.)

Did you see our SPMI banner ("The War Against Terror is a War Against Workers--REGIME CHANGE BEGINS AT HOME--Socialist Party of Michigan") and table?

[Suspicious]

86. Wow!

I guess my girlfriend and I are really poor estimators - that's a great turnout! Thanks for the information. The pro-war people were unbelievable, were they not?

I was looking for you guys, and I did not see you. I was truly looking forward to meeting up with your group! :(

[debsianben]

89. Yeah....

I'm not even good enough at estimating to hazard a guess, but the person I talk to claimed that they had been counting.

I actually watched the first part of the 10 o'clock news on Fox-47 (thank God the protest coverage was the first item, so I didn't have to sit through the whole thing), and it was almost unbelievably "fair and balanced."

Almost half of the report was devoted to interviewing one of the pro-war assholes (one of the NINE in a crowd of several hundred!), and much of the rest of it was covered with pro-war commentary by the reporter, masked as news coverage--you know, "some say that..."

Unbelievable.

[Suspicious]

106. We have global anti-war protests,

yet they always manage to devote major segments of "news" coverage to interviewing the pro-war elements, don't they? I suppose it was the guy with the ridiculous sign "WAR GAVE YOU YOUR FREEDOM", too. Oh, well...he was good for a laugh or two. }(

It's literally painful to watch the television, anymore.

[seg4527]

39. I remember at prior protests, DU was filled with topics about them...

Probably at least a dozen or two topics about the protests, each with dozens of replies, one or two of them with a hundred replies. A rush of excitement would swell over this message board. I remember feeling, along with the rest of us, like we were some kind of indestructable force, plowing ahead, ready to stop the war machine.

Today, we have this topic. When did so many of us stop caring?

[FlemingsGhost]

44. I remember when posts like this used to demoralize me...

Now I see it for the steaming pile that it is...

"Stopped caring"? Speak for yourself.

My ankle is broken. What's your excuse?

[seg4527]

47. re

I have a physics paper and an english paper to write this weekend(one down, one to go). I'm not criticizing you for not going, as that would be pretty hypocritical of me. I'm just saying the sense of excitement about protesting seems to have faded quite a bit. I think you can agree to that.

[FlemingsGhost]

50. Along with speaking for me...

Please do not think for me.

Pssst... Republican National Convention.

(edited for grammar)

[seg4527]

52. Duly noted

I'll be there in September, by the way. Hopefully there will be excitement-a-plenty for that one.

[ParanoidPat]

53. Did it ever occur to you that many DU'ers are AT the protests?

Check back later! :hi:

[seg4527]

54. yes, it has.

Despite my low post count, I've been here for at least a year and a half. I'm mostly a lurker, though.

I decided to come out of my shell a little bit today.

[Logansquare]

41. Report from a relative in Mansfield, Ohio

Only about a dozen people, but so many honks and thumbs up! A number of folks took literature as well. They only got one finger, which is pretty good in central Ohio.

[bowens43]

42. Photos from Fayetteville, NC

http://community.webshots.com/user/bowens44

(sorry , didn't see this thread before making the other post)

[leftchick]

130. Look at my boy protesting in Fayetteville!!!

Great pics Bowens! Here is my 9 year old son with our rainbow peace flag all the way over on the left of the picture. He made it in their local paper! Here is the link....

http://fayettevillenc.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?theway=back&picnum=13&image=10085969&thispage2=&return=#show

[Catholic Sensation]

43. here's mine (and i guess dolo amber's and rainbowgrrl's)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1259158

not re-writing it ;)

[Deb]

45. NY Newsday, "100,000 protest war"

"Anti-war protesters turned out nationwide Saturday to mark the first anniversary of the U.S.-led war on Iraq, with tens of thousands marching through Manhattan to call for the removal of American troops from the Middle East country." ..............

"In the early afternoon, Bloomberg estimated the crowd at about 30,000. But organizers said later that number had grown to more than 100,000 people, stretching for more than a dozen blocks through Manhattan."

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/newyork/politics/nyc-war0321,0,391239.story?coll=nyc-homepage-headlines






There is a slide show and poll on right side of page

[VolcanoJen]

56. Excellent link and THANK YOU, Deb!!

Thank you, NYC!!

[Kool Kitty]

109. The woman in the bottom photo carrying the sign

that sez, "You killed my son" was interviewed on CH 2 News in NYC at 11 PM. Very sad, she was crying. The interviewer only spoke to the anti-war protesters. They showed Dennis Kuchinich giving a speech, what they showed sounded great. Mayor Bloomberg was out in the street and told the newswoman that he thought this was great for the city, this is how democracy works. Pretty good coverage, not snide like last year.

[prolesunited]

46. Gotta run to work

But Chicago was AWESOME!!!

I have a ton of excellent photos that I'll post later. Massive police presence, but no trouble. Jesse Jackson took the front of our march for awhile. I got some great shots of that.

Best part. The Freepers and antiwarwarriors crashed our rally and I got the cops to move them to a more secure location where no one could see them. Hahaha! They left soon after.

I am so JAZZED right now. :bounce: I'll check in later tonight!

[tigereye]

75. as usual proles

great idea, great attitude, thanks a lot. You are an inspiration! I went to our very WET, but fortunately warm, protest here in Pgh today ( hadn't been to a protest in a while) and it was very energizing. I was soaked, but it was cool. I marched with some Quaker friends.

[prolesunited]

115. Thanks!

That really means a lot to me. :pals:

Glad you made it out and had a great time, in spite of the weather. See you out in the streets again soon.

[VolcanoJen]

48. Cincinnati - News footage here

I wasn't there, but WCPO news did briefly report on the rally in the 11-o'clock hour.

Click here

http://www.wcpo.com/news/2004/local/03/20/peacemarch.html

and then choose "Watch this 9News Video" to see the crowd gathering on Fountain Square. Keep in mind that the protestors were just beginning to gather when this live shot was aired.

Also note the news reader's snarky tone while reporting the worldwide protests. :-(

[Minstrel Boy]

49. Toronto: US conscientious objector seeking asylum spoke.

He said he was glad for his time in the military, because otherwise he might never have learned his government's true intentions. At least one other US soldier seeking asylum was present.

The most passionate speaker was a Muslim community leader who raised the lies of 9/11, saying we need to expose the truth about that day as much as we have already about Iraq.

NDP content: good representation from downtown candidates, though Jack Layton was on the Vancouver march. Olivia Chow spoke, and Davenport candidate Rui Pires read a message from Jack. What an orator he is. Sure would love to have him in the House of Commons.

The protest began with "one minute of noise", not silence, to demonstrate that we won't keep quiet about this goddamned war. It felt good to howl again.

[SixShooter]

51. Well here's my report

I was so proud of our little city here in Sarasota...about 50 people turned out and waved signs on the sidewalks and hills at New College overlooking the busy thoroughfare of US 41/Tamiami Trail....we got cheered and honked at by tons and tons of cars...and some got out of their cars and joined us...then again we got called every name in the book by the Bushies who drove by as well...one practically hung himself leaning out the car giving us a finger...which made it even better...riling the Bushbots up is so much fun...Im so glad I participated because Im still in HS and this was my first protest ever!

WooHoo!!!:bounce: :toast: :bounce:

[BeFree]

78. Way to go Sixshooter

Ain't protesting great? Stick with it, we need youth to keep hope alive.

Peace

[Lisa]

71. Victoria B.C.

--we didn't have Noam Chomsky (he was in Vancouver) but the turnout was pretty good. I would estimate 400-500 people in the march through the downtown core. Several of the NDP federal candidates on the Island showed up. I thought about Mari333 and her son who's over in Iraq now. She would certainly have received a warm welcome from this crowd!


p.s. I made a point of telling the march organizers about all the demonstrations going on in the States, even in Texas -- they were pleased and intrigued to hear that DUers are out there.

[Neecy]

55. ...from KC

Nice turnout - I'd guess around 250, although people were still arriving when I left so it might have gone up a bit.

Assembled at JC Nichols fountain at the Plaza, got lots of honks and peace signs from passing motorists. Very few rednecks flipping us off and bellowing support for Bush.

Still, for a city of this size, I wish we could have had a few thousand.

Not a single cop in sight. Not a one. This is quite a change from the San Francisco protests with the SFPD in their cute lil' riot gear that I've been to. It's been interesting adjusting to the midwest (and nice not getting maced).

[graphixtech]

104. more about KC . . .

There was a long discussion after the protest about the crowd number. The consensus (between fifteen of us) was that turnout was between 500-600 at the height. We have attended protests at this same location for over a year and have developed pretty sound estimates.

Strong energy, music and speakers on a sunny spring day. Public passerby reception was very positive. A man tied up as a manequin was walking around like a puppet. The humongously tall guy up on stilts was very visible, as was his sign "I AM ASHAMED". Took lots of photos and video, and will post some of the best signs online soon.

Often multiple cars were honking at the same time, and there was a steady background rhythym of honks and verbal support. Over this last year, the wind has changed at the KC protests. There used to be much more regular negative confrontations, boldly yelled at the protesters. Not only has the passerby's negativity noticably declined, it seems like the few verbally obnoxious drivers want to pass by much more quickly nowadays.

Glad that you did not see an obvious police prescence. We noticed at least four cops watching from the Cheesecake Factory roof across the street, and a few other plainsclothes milling about. Good thing that Kansas City has such a large budget surplus that they can afford to have so many policemen assigned to watching peaceful protesters.

[donotpassgo]

57. Great Hollywood Protest

I took my DV and interviewed people. Some pro-Bush folks were there, who were no as insane as one would imagine, but they sure was an underlying creepyness there. Both interviews I had with them ended with Jesus coming down to bring a thousand years of peace. Are all Freeps rapture nuts at heart?

An old acquaintance of mine was Laura Bush in drag.

The weather was beautiful and hot dog vendors were abound.

I would have stayed longer, but I was exhausted from searching for my lost cat all night.

[robertpaulsen]

139. Yeah, the Hollywood protest was great!

Lots of great signs and cool drumming. I think you're right about all Freeps pining away for the rapture. Honestly, I think there were only 20 pro-Bush people there and probably 15 of them linked Bush with Christ somehow. We had a lot of fun marching past them chanting, "Thou shalt not kill! Thou shalt not kill!"

The march was great, starting at Hollywood and Vine, turning left on Highland, turning right on Sunset and right on La Brea, then right on Highland and stopping at Hollywood and Highland. Congresswoman Maxine Waters gave a great speech about Aristide and her efforts to get him out of Africa and into Jamaica. Ron Kovic was there and his speech evoked peace signs from everyone. I left soon after even though people were still coming up to speak. I'm still nursing a sunburn as I write this.

Overall this was a great protest. People had a great time and I felt a real sense of hope seeing 15,000+ sharing my feelings. The media may try their worst to downplay it, but I think we're only getting stronger.

[Qanisqineq]

58. I'M BACK!!!

from the Urbana, IL protest. Very peaceful, very moving, everyone drove by, honked, and waved. Not a single bad word or anything (unless I was somehow not aware of it).

Heard from an Iraqi-American and he showed slides taken in Iraq. Also talked to a veteran of Vietnam and the 1st Gulf war... he says the reports of US troops dead ARE NOT CORRECT and are actually much closer to 1,200. I am still unsure what I believe about that.

Edit: I should have given an estimate of people there, but I am really bad at estimating that! I'd GUESS around 50, 75??? And about 10 cops who just stood around and listened to the speakers.

[linazelle]

59. Chicago checking in

Went to the rally, my first ever. Unfortunately, I was so nervous, I forgot my camera, so I'll try to paint a picture in words.

Got downtown about an hour early so I drove around. Michigan Avenue is the area where the mayor was adamant about preventing protests. On the news last night protesters said that it was not illegal to walk on the sidewalks. I drove through to see if they were--and they were there in small groups traveling north.

What was overwhelming was the police presence. The police were not in regular uniform but special forces gear. Some had on body armor. They were in groups of three spaced about 25 feet apart for the entire length of the Michigan Avenue shopping district. At the corners, there were hordes of them. At Chicago Avenue, near the Water Tower, the streets were blocked off and all you could see were police lights flashing and some of those with neon yellow hats and vests diverting traffic.

I turned before that blockade onto a side street where I passed a group of about 20 guys on Harleys with American flags and "Support Our Troops" signs on their windshields. I rolled my eyes, shook my head and kept driving.

I traveled about a mile south to Daley Plaza. A large group of about 200 protestors were gathered and more police were everywhere. I went a half mile further to the official site. It was quiet at first. But at about 2PM there were sirens, chants and a large group of marchers joined the rest at the Federal plaza. On the podium were Jesse Jackson and congressman Danny Davis. (I was happy to see both of them.) All in all, there were about 1,000 protesters.

The motorcycle guys showed up causing a ruckus with their vehicles but the police did not allow them to bring their bikes on the plaza so they drove on by. A few of their friends, about five, were sporting leather jackets and one moran paraded around with a huge sign reading "I Protest Those Who Protest War". :eyes: When that failed to get a charge out anybody Mr. moran took out his red marker and wrote "Freedom is Not Free...Ask A Vet We Know" on the other side of his stupid sign.

As I looked around, the police presence grew, and grew....

Behind me I saw about 50 policemen march up to the rear of the plaza forming a barracade of a line. (Very intimidating.) I looked up, a helicopter staged overhead. I looked forward, the scaffold of a building was crawling with police. To my right, was a block of parked sheriff's buses ready to make arrests. One idiot policeman harassed a woman with a dog telling her to leave because the dog didn't have a muzzle even though the dog was on a leash.

All of the major news stations were there. I watched NBCs local journalist interview a freeper. Afterward, I introduced myself to the interviewer as a long-time watcher and told her that I hoped she would also interview some antiwar people as well. She said she already had although I didn't see her do that--or any of the others.

As I was leaving, more sheriff's buses were driving up to make for two blocks long of buses ready to arrest people.

All in all, I'm glad I went. I felt compelled to go--especially since the last casualty in Iraq was a Chicagoan just yesterday. But the police presence was VERY disturbing.

[Lorien]

67. Thanks for the report

:thumbsup:to you for participating and fighting the good fight! I wish I could have gone to the protest here in Orlando today (especially since * was holding his rally here) but I've had a gallbladder attack for the past two days, and haven't been able to leave home. :-(. Congrats to all the DUers who DID make it!:yourock:

[rocktivity]

60. NYC went beautifully

I took a New Jersey Transit train to Newark Penn Station and switched the PATH train to West 23rd Street in Manhattan ($3 round trip) instead of the connecting NJT train into Penn Station New York ($7 round trip). While manuvering towards PATH platform, the NJT train pulled in. This huge group of people with signs got on, and I could hear cheering from inside the train when the doors opened!

I knew right then that everything was going to go smoothly. The the cops were cooler about the barricades, and a group of Korean drummers nearly stole the show. I'll have my pics up first thing in the morning--hopefully including the one I took of Dennis Kucinich!

:headbang:
rocknation

[rocktivity]

158. Monday 3/22 -- My pics are up and running

Just click on the very insighful young lady below.



:headbang:
rocknation

[SpiralHawk]

61. Santa Fe, NM - Maybe 2,000 people

maybe 1,500. I never got into a good position to estimate the crowd. But there were a lot.

We met at the Roundhouse (State House) at noon -- heard speakers, encircled the Roundhouse holding hands, and set off for the walk to the Plaza, let by about 50 different drummers and percussionists. They rocked. Especially Samba Fe -- a new group with a great groove.

Lots of tourists watching dumbfounded as the locals paraded on by in fine style, lots of signs and puppets and all the rest.

As usual in our "free" nation, there were lots of shady looking characters with long lenses on their cameras and videocams, diligently making pictures of all the "free" citizens exercising the basic right of democracy -- to have an opinion and express it.

The crowd was wonderful, and mucho peaceful. Lots of young folks, and old folks, and middle-aged folks. Many a toddler in stroller along with mom and dad. America at its best.

I do believe we made an impression.

[hedgetrimmer]

103. Here are some Santa Fe pictures.

The photos are not really that great, they are really big, I am a novice... but they are fun to look at. enjoy!












Here I am.

[Kool Kitty]

112. Hedgetrimmer,

Your photos are beautiful. Thanks for sharing them with us.

[duhneece]

138. Hedgetrimmer and Spiral Hawk

Thank you, thank you. Our Alamogordo Peace group usually rallies every first Saturday of the month. We considered changing our 1st-Sat-of-the-month policy for this day until we realized the Democratic Party Convention was on that day in Albuquerque. Many of us are participating in the Party for the first time, so we chose to be there.
Come on down on the first Saturday, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, corner of 10th and White Sands.
Know we wanted to be there with you in body (we WERE with you in spiriit!)

[devilgrrl]

63. My report from Los Angeles...

The rally was supposed to start at 12:00, I woke up late and thought I would be running late. While I was riding my bicycle over to Hollywood and Vine, I noticed about 50+- freepers gathered at the northeast corner of Hollywood and Highland singing the national anthem - because they're way more American than the rest of us - waving their flags as if they owned the patent on it.

Then I got to Vine, the rally was running late and I didn't see any of my friends, so I got a bite to eat and headed back to Highland to watch the Freepers, as I knew the scene was going to be rather amusing when the marchers made it down there.

Almost all of them where white people, there were maybe two or three Latinos, no Blacks, no Asians. You could tell that they bused in from Simi Valley, Riverside or Bakersfield. A few were confronting anti-war protesters trying to convince them of the latest right-wing talking point - "that John Kerry was going to appease terrorists by letting the UN become involved" - and other such gems that "Bush is actually finally fighting terrorism..." :crazy: Several were wearing "Bush 2004" buttons shaped like a sheriff's badge. :eyes: Howard Stern whack-pack member Larry "Melrose" Green was there with the Freepers and I was able to ask him what he thought about Howard bashing Bush. He said it was Howard's prerogative but he backed Bush anyway. He was really quite congenial despite that I was wearing my "George W. Bush - Weapon of Mass Destruction" t-shirt.

Then the marchers showed and there were A LOT of them - I estimate that the crowd was close to 100,000 - yee haw!!! :bounce:

Many protesters confronted the Freepers and shouted them down good. The police did a admirable job making sure it didn't get ugly - it didn't. Though, one of the freepers - some white middle aged preppy - told me to get a haircut after I told them to enjoy their bus ride back to Bakersfield. Gee, thought women were more feminine with longer hair. I laughed at him and asked if he came up with that himself.

[rlev1223]

105. More on the moron in L.A. -- and other stuff

Moron Melrose Larry Green was making an ass of himself earlier, at Hollywood and Vine. He was waving crazily at the crowd, as if they had come to see him, and then he started yelling at the youngest, smallest Muslim woman he could find, calling her a terrorist supporter and shouting that if he had been a cop, she would have been searched for bombs.

Also, I think the enthusiastic crowd was in the range of 5000, based on many former rallies along the same route. I saw one ANSWER estimate that said 25,000 -- I don't think it does any good to inflate because credibility suffers.

The compostion of the rally was less diverse than some of last year's. Fewer broad-based organizations and just folks, it seemd more tightly associated with ANSWER and the anti-capitalist hard core -- the Trotsky / Lenin newstand was doing some brisk business. I wish there had been greater outreach to church groups, Dem candidate leftovers (there were some Dean signs), unions, etc. The biggest rally, and most impressive, last year was very broadly attended and did have 25-30000 people.

Anyway, it was a beautiful day and the few Bush-ites were numerically overwhelmed, whatever the actual numbers.

[Andy_Stephenson]

64. Seattle 7-8k

Should have been more but I will take what I can get.

[LWolf]

65. You can catch video

of some people speaking in NY here:

http://www.kucinich.us/video/

and what I think is a pretty positive article here:

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ct--anti-warprotest0320mar20,0,2490614.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

I just got home from work; haven't found any local (So Ca) coverage yet.

It sounds like a good turnout; I don't think the people have lost any of the energy we saw a year ago!

[waywest]

66. Also at L.A.

My son and I arrived at Hollywood and Vine at 11:30 and generally milled about for 45 minutes or so while the crowd GREW to what I would estimate at +_5000.
When the march started, people seemed to come out of the woodwork, and at one point I stood on a tall planter to look down the block. It was solid people for over 5 blocks!

I heard an announcer from KPFK say the crowd was 20,000!
I am very proud to be a "laid back" Californian.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

129. I had to work last night so I could not attend

Glad to know it was once again huge :D

[Beam Me Up]

68. SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Spank that Monkey!



More at:

http://www.aeschatech.com/032004SFpix/

[LividLiberal]

69. Those cheeks look a little sun burned! LOL!

[not systems]

111. great pics

thanks.

[alittlelark]

140. Wasn't that picture from the march a year ago!!!

I have the same shot minus the telephoto lens!! My 8 year old daughter saw it too!!!

I missed them this march.

[Beam Me Up]

145. Nope. Pic taken 3.20.04

18th Street near corner of Albion, I believe.

[GoneOffShore]

141. Great photos on the link. Thanks

N/T

[mopinko]

72. CHICAGO !!!!!!!!

wow, did we have a great event here. my son went along to help me with my buttons (which went great). he is 18, this was his first protest. he had a blast.
jessie jackson gave a great speech. they did not let us march on michigan avenue, but i did not see any bad behavior on the part of the gazillion cops that were there.
it was a huge and happy crowd, and a freakin gorgeous day.
here's some pics.

http://community.webshots.com/scripts/show.fcgi?t=slideshow&ID=126949864&key=JvcSOo


edit
fixed the link, i think?

[linazelle]

73. The pix wouldnt load n/t

[Sentath]

79. Thanks!

Link works
Titles are cute
Photos 16 and 17 are duplicates

{rlg}

[Robbien]

81. Great pictures

You got some good closeups of the speakers. It looks like a great crowd.

Wow, there were way too many police and paddy wagon busses there. You wouldn't know that Chicago was a democratic city.

What was up with the infidel and uppity women sign?

[mopinko]

93. one of the few anti that i saw

i heard there were more, and they were run off. these guys were outside the police lines. that joker was wearing a sadaam mask.

[truth2power]

76. Cincinnati, Ohio

Close to 500 people rallied on Fountain Square. Very diverse crowd. young mothers with babies, older folks, some very elderly people who could barely get around but they came to add their voices. One young couple had a dog - they'd painted a peace sign on its side with tempera paints.

About half a dozen pro-Bush people with signs were on the corner of the square. They were kind of irrelevant, I thought.

The police were pretty laid back, which is uncharacteristic for them. A few on horseback; Most just stood around the periphery watching the rally. No riot gear, surprisingly.

I think this was a good turnout, considering it's Cincinnati. :-)

[truth2power]

77. Kick

:kick:

BTW, thanks proles, for starting the official thread.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

80. Crawford, Texas here

Came down in caravan from Dallas.

It was awesome. Number reported at 900. We more than doubled Crawford population for the day. About ten counterprotestors. Their signs read "You should be ashamed of yourselves". We were advised not to engage counterprotestors but I wanted to know what exactly I was supposed to be ashamed of.

Exercising my freedom of speech?

Exercising my right to peacefully assemble?

Eh. Who knows. It was very peaceful and really really wonderful. A local Republican spoke to the audience to tell us how unhappy a lot of Republicans are with him!!!!

Went very very well.

[stevedeshazer]

83. Portland here

March was peaceful, 12,000-15,000, smaller than last year but still a sizeable crowd. Many creative signs. Cops were mellow. Maybe 25 pro-war demonstrators, who of course got more media attention than the thousands of peace demonstrators. No casualties except a lot of sore feet.

Love this kid's sign...


More pics: http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/03/283549.shtml

[bvar22]

84. Twin Cities,Minnesota

2000-3000 activist participated in the March for Peace and Anti Iraq War rally in St. Paul, Minnesota. A gusting wind of 20knts and a wind chill factor of 15 Degrees did not chill enthusiasm, but made carrying signs difficult. The march ended on the steps of the Capitol building where several speakers highlighted a rally for an end of the Iraq Occupation. One speaker represented Haiti and called for an end of American Imperialism and a global brotherhood for PEACE. The speakers stayed on topic and presented a unified message of the need for regime change and deep reform in the US. One sign read:The PEACE Movement will "Stay the Course!"


The PEACE Movement will "Stay the Course!"



March approaches capitol. St. Paul cathedral in background




Climbing hill to Capitol



On the steps












My sign



Pathetic psycho attempting to act out some wierd repressed Rambo fantasy. He seemed to be daring ANYONE to infringe upon his right to free speech, like this is something we would want to do???
Everyone just waved, laughed, or took pictures for their Photo Album of the Truly Pathetic .
I don't believe he converted anyone.

[preciousdove]

98. Glad to see the turnout despite the city buses on strike.

Saw it on the 5pm news too. I was back on the nitro no Thursday so I didn't try it so Thanks!

[scarletwoman]

102. I was there! With my sister, her daughter and daughter's friend.

We were up near the head of the march. That bush/cheney guy -- as soon as we all caught sight of him, one of the bullhorn people near the front started us all on the "Who is a terrorist? BUSH is a terrorist!" chant. (heh heh...) So there he stood with his sign while several hundred people streamed past him yelling "BUSH is a terrorist!" :evilgrin:

Great crowd! Great sunny (albeit REALLY windy!) day! And I really appreciate the St. Paul cops, they are clearly not out to hassle anyone!

I saw your sign at one point, when we standing up on the capital steps. Sorry I didn't know it was being carried by a fellow DUer!

Here's the Pioneer Press write-up:
http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/8238410.htm -- btw, the girl with peace sign face paint referred to in the article is my niece! :D (Of course, she's told me that they reported her remarks out of context... oh well...)

sw

[suegeo]

123. That story doesn't tell the truth

Hi SW, we met a few years ago when DUers met at Chi-Chis. I was so relieved to finally have met a few people who also asked the same question: "Is it just me, or does it seem like the Bush people were complicit in the 9.11 attacks?"

Anyway, I didn't march, but I did make it to the rally at the capitol. Before the peace marchers arrived at the capitol steps, I watched the "Give war a chance" r-wingers rally. They met in the park area, not on the capitol steps.

They broke up before you marcher guys got there. The r-wing crowd included probably 30 people. But the news story you note above doesn't mention that, naturally. The "journalist" makes it seem like both sides were out in force. That's a pretty unbalanced suggestion.

The "give war a chance crowd" broke up probably 10 minutes before the big march reached the steps. They thought they were so tough. As they broke up, they marched up and down the steps when only a few of us "anti-war" people were sitting there.

bvar22 had it correct: When they are not in full-on rabid attack mode, they are so pathetic.

On the way back to my car after the rally, some rabid r-wing lady and a anti-war lady were in a yelling match. Some guy had to hold the r-wing lady back, she was ready to start swinging.

It really is starting to get tense. That George Bush, he sure is a uniter, not a divider. (ha ha)

[truthspeaker]

156. I was there but my camera's batteries died!

I had a "Bush lied" t-shirt and a US flag with two black streamers. My girlfriend's sign said "US troops dead: 571. WMDs: 0. Was it worth it?"

I loved the "Will Kill for Oil" guy. Also the dog with a sign saying "Drop treats not bombs!"

[Robbien]

85. I love all these protest march stories

Thanks everyone for sharing.

[GoldenOldie]

91. Tucson, Arizona

My usual activist partner (daughter), is presently working in Russia on a teaching assignment, will be thrilled to learn that her Dad marched today for the very first time in his life. I heard that there were 579 marching from the University of Arizona. We met some great people and only 2-freepers who passed by in their SUV's. My hubby is still on a high and very glad that he went with me. The saddest part of the day was watching the news.....to many shootings in this town and the march was just a blip on the news. Congressman Raul Grijalva, spoke at the rally and he is one outspoken guy...look for him to support us. Thousands marching around the country and the "liberal media", is no-where to be heard????? All-in all, it was a great day.

[U4ikLefty]

90. Just home from the L.A. march

It was great!!! As someone said earlier, the crowd really started to grow when the march started. I broke off the march to put some stuff into my car 2 blocks away. I walked back after making a cell call and the marchers were STILL going down the street...lots of people!!!

Also plenty to see for everyone: Ron Kovic was there, Radical Teen Cheeer was there...hell, even Elvis was dancing in a drum circle on Hollywood Boulevard!!!

Thanks to everyone who showed up.

Peace :hippie:
Lefty

[Mari333]

92. Kalamazoo Michigan over 100 people just got back

small town big hearts...large large sign that said HOW MANY MORE WILL DIE STOP THE WAR NOW and I carried Michaels picture that said Bring our Son HOME
lots of honks and beeps and thumbs up only one person yelled asshole at us..
a good night and we froze our asses off but who cares...
had to be part of the world today.
One world, peace .

[MasterKey]

96. A few arrests I heard, but nothing reported on Chicago TV

A few arrests I heard, but nothing reported on Chicago TV that Im aware of.

Masterkey-- :)

[MrBadExample]

97. Denver?

Surely more than two of us Colorado DUers went to the Denver protest. (For those of you who haven't read the thread over in Activism, I was the guy with the big "YEE-HA IS NOT A FOREIGN POLICY" sign.)

It was a good turnout--about 5,000 people, according to what I heard. Everything was nice and peaceful, and the crowd was full of nice, friendly, polite people. And at the risk of sounding like the pig I am, there were some absolutely stunning women...giving me more evidence for my theory that left-leaning people are nicer and hotter than right-wingers. ;-)

[Kanary]

101. Evergreen and Denver!

I went up to Evergreen this morning, to join their peace group in walking from the lake to the intersection. Not a lot of people, but signs for all, and, most encouraging, lots of honks and friendly waves from townspeople passing by. :) Several of the people then went to Denver, for the march.

I met the march on Lawrence Street, and enjoyed the presence of the drums. I was getting a kick out of the "cheerleaders", who did a good job of keeping us all chanting and singing. As we circled the Haliburton building, I wondered if we were going to levitate it. :)

I noticed lots of people in the march taking pictures, so hope there will be many good ones shortly. The Cop Watch crew was out in force, although I saw no problems. The march was so strung out along the 16th St Mall that I'm sure I wasn't seeing a lot of what was happening. I particularly enjoyed the woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty, with the duct tape across her mouth.

What was great was seeing Kucitzens *EVERYWHERE*! A great presence, and several commented on it. Guess we're getting very excited about the upcoming visit of Dennis!

"there were some absolutely stunning women"
Thanks for noticing ~~preening~~ :) ~~gigglesnort~~

Kanary

Another Delusional Diehard for Dennis!!

Kucinich 2004!

[napi21]

99. Protests in Atlanta on regular new tonight.

I didn't hear them say anything about how many protesters, but it looked like quite a few.

Good thing to hear from Southern Atlanta!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

107. Thanks for the reports, everyone!

I had to sing in a concert this evening, and the idea of standing around in 15 degree wind chill didn't seem like a good idea.

I was there in spirit, though!

:loveya:

[Desertrose]

110. Sedona AZ- candlight peace vigil!

We had a small but mighty group tonite...maybe 12 or so...we had our candles lit...peace signs and stood on the street corner of the main hwy. We had more horns and waves & peace signs than they did in PHX.
:bounce:

Some friends who had gone down in Phx and said there were maybe 4-500 in the group they were in not too many folks honked.

We do this every Sat evening...I am gonna make sure I continue...I think we recruited a lot more folks tonite....lots of tourists saw us too!

It was very empowering to actually *do something* even if it is simply holding a candle for peace, its still walking my talk....

It is great to read all these stories...
we rock!!!!

Peace
DR

[G_j]

134. "this little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine"


:hi: :hug:

[For PaisAn]

114. Was at the NYC protest today.

We had a huge turnout at the protest.
Check out this link for a picture of Dennis Kucinich at today's protest.

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/us/0403/iraq.war.protests3/frameset.exc...

Here are a few other photos. The 4th one down is a real heartbreaker.

http://www.internationalanswer.org/news/update/032004m20report.html

[daleo]

116. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

To tell you the truth, it wasn't all that well advertised, so the crowd was nothing like the pre-war marches last year that I was at. I didn't see any posters around the university campus until Friday - I am not criticizing anyone, just giving a hypothesis for why the crowd seemed smaller than last year. Still, I am sure it numbered in the hundreds.

I think most Canadians feel like the marches last year helped convince the government to stay out of the invasion. In that sense, there wasn't the same urgency this year to demonstrate. As for the U.S., demonstrations are fine, but you get to throw Bush out this year in an election, like the Spanish did with Aznar. The rest of the world earnestly prays that you get a fair chance to take advantage of this opportunity, and use it.

[Karenina]

117. Ausgezeichnet!!!

:kick:

[prolesunited]

119. Here's a few more reports

Subject: Here's a few more reports
Message:
Roon from Denver
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&a...

bif from Ann Arbor
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&a...

jmowreader in Fayetteville
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&a...

Neo Progressive in Fayetteville
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&a...

Pics from bowens43 in Fayettesville
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&a...

robbedvoter in NYC
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&a...

liberal72 in Alabama
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&a...

Melodybe in Mississippi
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&a...

Thank you all for taking a stand yesterday. It was amazing and this thread documenting all of our experiences is simply incredible.

In case there was any doubt :yourock:

[diamond14]

120. NYC photos, including the Wyoming banner in NYC....(links/photos)

and thanks to DUer NYC, who worked very hard to document this historical Pro-Peace rally in photos, sending these links to me a at 02:30 AM this morning....great work....it takes real American Patriots to STAND UP and make these rally's work....thanks to NYC....

here's lots of photos
http://news.globalfreepress.com/movs/wonk/VariousOther/NYC/

this one shows the Wyoming banner in the middle...partly....

the banner (in White with dark letters) says "STAND UP FOR PEACE WYOMING"....you can only see part...."STAND UP.....PEAC.........G"

the BIGGER banner in the front is without poles, because the cruel NY cops were pounding on people and stealing people's poles claiming they were carrying weapons, no matter how fragile some of the 'tiny' sticks were....after being harrassed and kicked, we left the rally and obtained some 'cardboard poles' to hold the Wyoming sign up....the NY cops STILL were nasty, and harrassing of law abiding citizens....

in addition, as we arrived from DC into NY in our bus caravan...a 'Darwin award' goes to the NY cop who pulled his cop car next to our bus, and OPENED HIS CAR DOOR while traffic was moving, slightly in front of our bus....the NY cop car was badly damaged by the impact of OUR bus and the door was ripped off it's hinges and couldn't close, with the window shattered....and since we were from DC, we had lawyers and lots of witnesses on our bus....the smart-NY-cop hopefully will loose his job over that stupid, dangerous and arrogant move....

[diamond14]

121. NY cops abusing American citizen, stripping civil right to speak...

at March 20th Pro-Peace rally in New York city....

[diamond14]

122. more NYC Pro-Peace photos from March 20th rally.....

near the stage


Sean Lennon and Yoko Ono






Medea Benjamin & Dennis Kucinich

[diamond14]

124. More NY City Pro-Peace PHOTOS.....

http://nyc.indymedia.org/usermedia/image/9/New_York_Iraq_Protests.bmp


raging grannies...




bloomberg (hahahahahahaha)

[diamond14]

125. more Pro-Peace NY rally PHOTOS....you've gotta LOVE NY!!!

Guernica with oil well...

[freeforall]

126. Edmonton, Alberta

There were about 850 people who marched down Whyte Ave. to Corbett Hall at the University. Quite the difference from last year with 18,000. Complacency setting in.

There were some good speeches and music while we were waiting for a live feed from Vancouver of Noam Chomsky's talk.

I talked to one of the organizers, who said that the march had gone too fast, that they expected more people. As it was, we got there too early and had to stand around for about two hours before the Chomsky speech.

The mainstream media, alternative media (which is pretty good here) and some college/university reporters were there. I spoke to a reporter from my alma mater, about being out to support peace. I also suggested that he check out DU - that it's a great online forum for democratic/liberal folks and that there are excellent discussions on US politics.

People were marching for a variety of reasons - more than I saw last year - but all connected with the Iraq war. Rebuilding Iraq, against deporting people to be tried by the US, anger at Paul Martin for trying to support the Missile Defense, no WMD's, etc.

I must admit that the weather was a tad cold, so after about 2 1/2 hours I had to leave and get some hot tea in me - so I missed the Chomsky talk.

No problems with police: only two of them standing around looking bored. Thye did give us an escort on the march though.


Edit:typo

[G_j]

127. Asheville NC

It was a beautiful day. The turnout was not near the of 2000+ Feb. 15 '03 but still a great crowd, excellent speakers and good music. I'm guessing the crowd was anywhere form 500 to 700, things were a bit spread out and it seemed people came and went during the day. I met misinformed01 JanMichael there and that was a great pleasure, the first time I had met fellow DUers in person. We called in a report live to the Guy James show. The rally ended with a march that preceded to a billboard that the wnc peace coalition maintains on which the names of American troops killed are listed, it also calls attention to the 10.000 Iraqi civilians killed.

The day before there was a rally at UNCA in which a march resulted in the arrests of seven people who were not marching on the sidewalk. Some of these non-violent protesters were actually tazered by the police. yuck!

the stories below, especially the March 19 story are inadequate, though the arrest photos are telling. (we need some serious help here, we have a wonderful activist community and the cops keep abusing and arresting non-violent protesters, most often for not being on the sidewalk)

March 20: Peace groups air message on war's one-year anniversary

http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/news/51892

March 19: Seven arrested after war anniversary rally moves off UNCA campus

http://cgi.citizen-times.com/cgi-bin/story/news/51843

[Auntie Bush]

132. I live in Southern Vermont...sadly

no protests here. One brief photo of people marching down a street in NYC. Couldn't see many people as they were purposely blocked out by tall buildings. (Damn the liberal media) All TV channels were the Bush rally 24/7. Made me almost :puke: So glad to be in America where we have freedom of the press!

[diamond14]

133. LOL...bush* the gunman, with pet italian dog ...in Rome....PHOTO

The Artists STAND UP against bush* and his dog...nice to see...



with Spain leading...
who else will be BOOTED OUT of office ?

[diamond14]

135. more funny stuff....the "missile dick chicks" in New York....

[leftchick]

142. Oh My GawwwwwD! ROFLMAO...

Thanks amen, That is priceless!! :)

[diamond14]

143. here's a sad one from NY.....they are actually Catholic nuns....

truly a poignant statement about bush* and his criminal cohorts...

[diamond14]

147. sarcasm...'Billionaires for bush*' in New York City - PHOTOS

[prolesunited]

136. I guess I should add a link

to my own thread about Chicago. It had so many pics, I wanted to keep it separate.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1261471&mesg_id=1261471

[GoneOffShore]

144. Philadelphia, PA here

My wife and I arrived at the starting point for yesterday's protest at around 11:15A. This was outside the State Office building at Broad and Spring Garden. There was one table set up from ANSWER and literature about our local "hero" Mumia abuJamal (don't get me started). There were about 30 people milling around. Most of them seemed to be anarchist fringe types. We noticed the a couple of Philadelphia Police traffic vans, plus one car with two plain clothes Civil Affairs types. No big presence, no riot gear, no dirty looks, apart from the "Damn, if all these hairy weirdos had stayed home today, I could have slept in" type. Things sure have changed since Rizzo was commish.
We went to get coffee, and returned at noon. The crowd had swelled to around 100+ people, a flat bed truck with generator and PA had arrived, and suddenly there was a sense of organization about the whole thing. Around 12:15 someone got up, made a few opening remarks and introduced the first speaker, Tom Cronin, president (I think) of the local AFCSME. His remarks were excellent and got the crowd a bit fired up. Which was a good thing as the weather, despite the sun, was blustery and chilly.
He was followed by several more speakers, one talking about health care, another about her recent journey to Iraq, all of whom were well received.The final speaker was a young woman who read a statement from Mumia Abu Jamal and then embellished it with her own remarks about political prisoners.
This is where things started to get a little surreal for us. We were there to protest the war in Iraq and to call for the impeachment of George Bush. And suddenly we found ourselves in another place: a rally to free 'political' prisoners* and end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As far as we were concerned, and by the look on the faces of many people there, this was a different protest for another time. I understand the liberal desire to be as inclusive as possible, to bring everyone together, but one thing that the last twenty years should have taught us is - "DON'T GO OFF MESSAGE". If you want to make your voice heard, have a single clear message and deliver that. The protest organizers in Philadelphia obviously forgot that yesterday.
Despite the Mumia rhetoric, we decided to stay, and march down Broad Street to City Hall. By the time the march started it was 1:15 and the marchers were at my estimation 1200 to 1500 strong. There were a couple of obvious groups, one from ANSWER, some Green Party supporters, a fair few Kucinich people and only one shirt from ImpeachBush.org. Almost everyone else was carrying handmade signs.
Two of the local TV news crews showed up as did KYW radio. They took a lot of video and then showed about 10 seconds on the 11P 'news' show. The impending implosion of Veterans Stadium this morning got more coverage than the protest.
We moved along at a fairly brisk pace, with the occasional chant starting up. Lots of honks of support from cars going the other way up Broad Street. There was on pro Bush protester with a sign that said 'These colors don't run'. He was wearing fatigues, but I doubt that he was a veteran of any armed conflict (no facts to back this as I didn't speak to him. just a feeling). He was the only 'pro' person we saw during the whole thing.
As we approached City Hall we were joined by a contingent of protesters who were more concerned with Palestine and Sharon than Iraq. The chant of 'Sharon says yes, we say no.' was taken up by very few people in the crowd.
Our final destination was the Constitution Center at 5th and Arch Streets at the end of Independence Mall. There were to be more speeches, and a final silent vigil. We first had to go by the Federal Courthouse near the Liberty Bell. This was very weird as the Federal Protection Service was out in full riot gear. There was one guy posted in the parking garage across the street, a FedCop carrying a rubber bullet riot control gun and wearing full body armor. There were also about 7 or 8 FedCops taking video footage and digital pictures of the crowd. And watching them do it were 3 ACLU Legal Observers.This was the only time the 'authorities' put on a show of force. Though I must say if the FedCops had to chase anyone down, they would have had a difficult time of it. The majority of them are pretty fat.
This is the point at which we left the march. The Palestinian contingent seemed to have taken over the chanting and we were increasingly uncomfortable with the direction the march seemed to have taken.

[diamond14]

146. welcome to DU, there are LOTS of PHOTOS that counter your comments

and of course, there is a certain 'tiny' group that doesn't want any discussion of the American-funded WALL or the $20 BILLION dollars that bush* spends on Israel every year....because it is OUR taxes that pay for this, WE must discuss it and overcome the censorship on this subject, and no longer allow the silence or the media spin or the 'hiding' of what OUR taxes are used for....the photos prove that the WALL was not the ONLY bush* crime being discussed...there are many many crimes....if you are offended by just one bush* crime, you can certainly find others to be horrified by....

[GoneOffShore]

149. Excuse me?

I will grant your point. However, I'm still not convinced that the Israeli/Palestinian problem is, as many would have, wholly the fault of Israel. (This is not flame bait, merely my opinion)
In addition, in the above post I was reporting 1) my own feeings about what was going on and 2) what I did indeed observe in reactions of people around me.
There were and are people of good will who disagree with both the tactics and objectives of the Palestinians, just as there are those who disagree with the Israeli's.
The point that I was trying to make was that the protest in Philadelphia, did, in true Philadelphia fashion, GO OFF MESSAGE!
And by ringing in Mumia (who I personally believe did kill that policeman) and starting up on Sharon, the organizers allowed this protest to lose focus.
Thanks for the welcome, by the way, but I have been here for over a year. I just don't post alot.

[goodhue]

148. St. Paul

[GoneOffShore]

150. Bump

Kick

[Hell Hath No Fury]

151. Finally awake!

Tahoe Mom and I were in San Francisco for the day.

Hooked up with GrandaBear and Jack Rabbit and spent the morning setting up the new Bush Wall of Shame at Civic Center.

It was a gorgeous day -- sunny with a light wind.

The Wall had a great response -- handed out 300+ business cards and talked and talked and talked with everyone I could. I didn't get to see much of the rest of the event 'cause I was stationed at the Wall but, from what I saw and heard, it was a good turnout. Was very inspired/encouraged by the many folks who stopped and thanked me for the good job, and asked that I keep going with the Wall. Folks also had some great suggestions for me on how to further advertise the site and get the info out.

Finally wrapped up around 4:15. Poor Tahoe Mom almost got caught up in a Black Block skirmish. Got to TJs to find a few DUers left, unfortunately didn't get to see many of my buds (hey Cally, Proud Patriot! :hi:), but did get to spend a few minutes with GB, JR, Arcane, Willy, and Terwillger.

Today I am sunburned, very tired, and thinking about ways I can get the Wall to the conventions. :)

Thanks to all who showed up all over the world to remind Bush we think he sucks!

Will try to post a few pictures tomorrow --

Hell

[proud patriot]

154. Ack ...We went through the civic center one last time

to see if you were there but missed you ..

sorry to have missed you and Tahoe Mom ..

However I recruited a new DUer ...

:hi:

[prolesunited]

155. Here's links to more DUer's accounts

of the protest:

slackdude, 3:20 Protest SF video
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x6562

DenverDem, 3/21 Denver Peace Vigil
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x6561

G_j, 3-20 protests: news articles
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x6558

rivertext, Portland, OR m-20 photo essay
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x6553

joefree1, Pictures from Los Angeles protest march
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x6546

Roon, Denver
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x6528

bif, Pictures from the Ann Arbor march
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x6521

jsmacdonald, NYC
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1264304

anarchy1999, Crawford
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1264247

[rocktivity]

157. My NYC pics

Many thanks to the photog standing on top of one of speaker stands who took the panoramic shot. And I'm so terribly proud that I managed to get a halfway decent picture of Dennis Kucinich! Just click on the very insighful young lady below.



:headbang:
rocknation

[diamond14]

176. thanks rocknation...beautiful work !

These Pro-Peace events give us hope....there can be a different course for America...we all need to keep on doing our own 'little' part...and it will happen....

[derby378]

159. Crawford, TX - photos and report

Approximately 1,000 protestors down in Crawford, Texas on March 20, staging a rally in Bush's own adopted backyard. Some great speakers, signs, activities, etc. Here's some photos:









More pics to come, including Code Pink! We got plenty!

[prolesunited]

160. Would love to see more pics of this one!

I love taking it to them on their own turf. What was the reaction of the townspeople? The local police?

[truthspeaker]

161. except Crawford ISN'T shrub's home turf

He bought his "ranch" there in 2000.

[prolesunited]

164. Well, I did say "own"

turf, not home turf. :-) I know he bought his pig farm prior to the selection in hopes of gaining that "Reaganesque appeal." He's afraid of horses and drives around in a truck talking to cows.

I just meant I think the venue is great because of its symbolic value. Although WE know better, a lot of people don't. It just irritates me to no end when they call his pig sty the "Western White House."

Says who? If the next president wanted to live in Alaska, would we have the "Frigid White House"? Since it is a so-called satellite White House, do we get to keep it when we boot him out in November?

[anarchy1999]

162. More pics are coming.

The cops were very helpful and non-confrontational. Our groups worked very hard to make sure this was a peaceful event. I did not have the opportunity to talk with many locals. Not very positive, support Bush, think he is doing well. Please keep in mind this area is very conservative. Waco is the home of Baylor University, right down the road is Killeen and Fort Hood. I will also add that the Waco Tribune gave good coverage on the event and I will look for the link.

[ChickMagic]

165. Waco-Tribune link

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/2004/03/21/1079857064.26609.1110.6530.html

[ChickMagic]

166. The Lone Star Iconoclast

has several articles and pictures from the Crawford rally. You have to scroll down the page to find them all, but it's worthwhile.

Link:

http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/pics.asp#pic1

[derby378]

167. Crawford says yes to Pink!

As in Code Pink, that is - ginbarn's on the right:

[derby378]

168. Where credit is due

Massive respect to SoniaS, Velma, Sherry, PDiddy, BlueCollar, and all the other DUers that ginbarn and I met out at the rally.

Also, respect is due to the Deanocrats from Houston, Austin, Denton, and anywhere else you came from - can't wait to see the photos!

[derby378]

169. "Bush's Lies"

I intended to sing this at the secondary stage, but that never materialized (I sang part of it during the march). For your enjoyment:

Bush's Lies
(c)2004 by Daniel R. Barnett

(To the tune of The Mary Ellen Carter)

It was a year ago in Baghdad and the missiles fell like rain
But safely half a globe away, our President felt no pain
He let his staffer preen his hair and he never would explain
The truth behind the rationale for war

But he warned us all of nerve gas and of bioweapon hell
He scared us with uranium that Niger tried to sell
Bush spoke of "liberation" until even Kerry fell
For the latest round of White House lies again

CHORUS
Lies again, lies again
Let the Neo-Cons fight us until the bitter end
Those who know them best know they are lying, crooked men
And will deceive us all with Bush's lies again

Then our Leader took on Medicare prescription drug reform
His own projected estimates on cost would cause a storm
So the Medicare financial whiz was pulled aside and warned
"If you tell the truth, we'll have to let you go"

Now we're staring at a hundred-fifty-billion dollar hole
That would have sunk reform if only Congress were to know
Our Greatest Generation has been hung out on the pole
To dry because of White House lies again

CHORUS

Bush campaigned on balanced budgets, but the deficit has boomed
He spoke of cleaner air, but now we choke on toxic fumes
He lied about abortion and apparently assumed
That none would dare ask questions anymore

Now we're shouting from the rooftops, we are putting out the call
For Democrats, Republicans, and independents all
To stand at last united and declare this coming fall
That we'll never fall for Bush's lies again

CHORUS

CODA
Lies again, lies again
If your patience is spent and your hope about to end
Come cast your vote for Kerry and we'll count you as a friend
And we'll muzzle Bush before he lies again!

[diamond14]

163. NY City.. 'Pink GUYS !!!" pic +video w. Raging Grannies and more

video and comments from Mike Flugennock at
http://www.sinkers.org

Ah, springtime comes to New York City -- the deep cloudless blue sky, the warming sunshine, the crocuses sprouting in the parks, the cops backing off on the pens, the ANSWER speakers keeping it short and sweet, the chants of over 100,000 ringing in the concrete canyon reminding pResident Bush and the Coalition Of The Killing that New York City -- and Planet Earth -- continue to demand "No War!" What better time, place, and way for us to rise up and put the fear of God into the likes of Bush, Cheney, and Kerry?

http://flow.mediavac.com/ramgen/sinkers/2004/NYCMar2004.rm
See also:
http://flow.mediavac.com/ramgen/sinkers/2004/NYCMar2004.rm

[Name removed]

170. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[prolesunited]

171. First, please resize your pic

That is way too large.

Second, why would you say such a thing? What do you mean?

[I m With Stupid]

172. You're right

and I apologize to the group for the size. But I couldn't figure out how to resize it with HTML tags, and I liked this pic so much I wanted to post it anyway.

Can you point me in the right direction to avoid this in the future? I looked in the 'HTML lookup table' link, but I couldn't work out how to resize pics. Do you have to physically resize them, or can you do it by HTML?

I got this off of some right-winger's page (this was the only pic), so that made me want to post it even more.:headbang:

[prolesunited]

173. You have to physically resize it

Repost it to your host or a free site (you shouldn't be stealing someone else's bandwidth anyway.

Meanwhile, are you going to answer the questions? Also, do you think this sign was representative of the protesters?

[I m With Stupid]

174. Dude, let's not get

huffy here. In future, I'll download pics, resize them and put them somewhere I can control them. You're correct that the sizing was a problem, and I've apologized.

As far as stealing someone else's bandwidth, a buddy of mine pointed me to this "site" (it looks like only one pic with no links, unless I'm missing something), and I don't see the problem with linking to it.

But if you're asking me aplogize for the content, I can't help you.

[prolesunited]

175. Hmm...

Let's see. Would that site be FreeRepublic or littlegreenfootballs.

And whether it has one picture or 500, you're NOT paying for the bandwidth you are stealing since you don't own the image or the host site.

I didn't ask you to apologize for the content, which I do find extremist and highly offensive and VERY uncharacteristic of the MILLIONS of people who were out there.

I asked you a number of questions that you never responded to and I'm still waiting for answers.

[graphixtech]

177. new photos from Kansas Ctiy

posted at this web photo album site:
http://kcsnapshots.graphicswithstyle.com/

There is a bug about a third of the way through the pics which I need to fix later. Just go back to home and find the last photo you viewed to start again.
The National AFSC will probably be using a picture or two from this photo album.

[diamond14]

178. new: NYC...pink guys ....LOL....gorgeous guys in pink....

[diamond14]

179. more NYC and link to many more.....

more photos here...
http://www.horriblemonster.com/things/20040320/protest/