Who says protest marches aren't glamorous?
A photo essay and commentary by Tim "Timroff" Smith
My wife Dani and I spent Saturday at the back of the Ellipse in Washington D.C., listening to speeches and watching as more than 250,000 gathered to voice thier opposition to the Iraq War and thieir displeasure regarding the Bush Administration.
dial-up users warning: many photos below the fold. Also, a couple hundred people took our picture. Did you? please post a comment if you did...
A wish for peace.
Dani and I came to Washington DC on Saturday with 1,000 origami peace cranes to bring a wish for Peace to Congress.
Our group, Artists For Peace, had spent the last few weeks folding the cranes, which we will be giving to Cleveland-area congressman Dennis Kucinich. We had spoken with his aide on Thursday, and while he was unable to be there -- from what I understand not a single congresscritter was seen at the march -- his aide expressed a great interest in the cranes and said he would put them to good use. Not sure what that means, but we'll deliver them to his local office this week.
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The most dramatic moment for me during the march was when I waded into the middle of a column of flag draped "coffins" that extended for more than a block.
I asked one man in the procession what group he was with and he said, "I dunno. Someone asked if I wanter to help, and I said, 'sure.' It seemed more meaningful than just carrying a a sign or shouting slogans."
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I've been to a number of marches in my life. This was easily the largest.
As we stood at the back of the Ellipsen near Constitution Ave, I was struck by the never-ending straem of people passing by.
People of all shapes, sizes and colors, with clearly different political philosophies, yet equally clearly united in thier opposition to the Iraq war and the Bush Administration.
Young and old, some healthy and some not-so, all walking to the beats of their internal drummers -- a chaotic corps of individuals untied under a thousand banners.
There were a lot of people, yo.
Here's the best part: 250,000 people. Only 3 arrests, all for minor infractions.
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First, all I could do was hear them. But then they appeared on the horizon...
Their marching determined, their chanting loud and organized...
Oh when the socialists come marching in...
Oh I want to be in that number...
when the socialists come marching in... (sung to the tune of "When the Saints come marching in"
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Your choices: Liberty or Death...
We had cranes, they had Doves...
These guys were simply Fabulous. A group of "bright, pleasant, festive, cheery sunny, jocund, jolly, merry, mirthful" men from NYC
Bread and Puppets made an appearance.
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Who says the MSM wasn't there.... oh, it's only Reuters.
I think Europe saw better coverage of the Rally and March than Americans did.