I am trying to piece it together after 20 years but I believe it was “Voter’s March” or something like that. We started at Dupont Circle. We had an approved march path and limited access to the parade route (to flip George off and all). The police somewhere decided to block the approved route and I believe we got stuck at the park with a statue of Commodore John Barry on I street. I bet there were thousands there. The DC police surrounded the park to prevent us and several other groups from going anywhere.
Some guy with a megaphone let everyone know it might get a bit rough as they were going to go thru the police barricades. He let everyone know if they did not want to be a part of the rushing of the barricades to leave in the direction they came from. He indicated they had medics just in case any one was hurt and where they were at. And he told the cops to “be a man about it and don’t hit in the face or head.” Nothing was said about harming any one. After about about 45 minutes, they launched an assault on the barricades, which were easily breached with that many determined people. As far as I recall, no one and I mean no one actually attacked a police officer.
After going thru the barricades, I remember walking past Ford theater and some younger person threw a rock and broke a window. I remember telling him to knock that off. Most of us just followed the crowd. Eventually we ended up at the Penn Quarter/Navy Memorial with the two buildings with a quarter circle cut out. I think across from the Museum of Art. Someone came back on the megaphone and stated we weren't supposed to be there (we had went thru a check point that was overrun) and they were going to just gather everyone (“clean sweep”?) and to spread out quickly. Which we were already doing.
We ended standing near the NOW protests. Someone climbed that memorial there and lit a flag on fire. The cops dragged him away with no interference from the crowd (all protesters). I remember it seemed tense but no one seemed inclined to violence. At one point, the cops came up in horses in front of us and some started a chant “get those animals off that horse”. Even the cops thought it was funny. Many more cops showed up. The parade was delayed by an hour because of that checkpoint. Helicopters and snipers everywhere. goprs up in the buildings partying away.
Eventually bush drove by as SS thought to unsafe to walk. The protesters were screaming at Bush the whole way. And yet no violence. No attacking the cops. I remember at night hearing gop partiers saying they hadn't seen any protesters at the Metro stations even while standing next to obvious protesters. Protest signs littered the whole town (waste baskets too full to accept another one). At night a few heavy protests occurred, but nothing of substance. I remember driving home and listening to some famous RW whack job for the first time on the radio talking about only 7 protesters arrested so not that big of a deal. Despite more than 300k protesters. I started to think we should have thrown more rocks but not seriously. Then Ted Rall wrote an op-ed titled “Smashing Windows for a Better World”. No one suggested bashing police officers head in with a flag pole or a crutch or a fire extinguisher. Not even the Black Boc, who I found to be rather normal people who like to raise a ruckus at the time.
We actually went back in 2004. A friend threw a snowball at the presidential limo. Nothing happened. A quick question and nada.
this is a video of 2001. at about 2:06 was where I was at. notice the police are not being pummeled by protesters.
now compare that with Jan 6th. 2001 was definitely stolen in a state run by bush’s brother and installed by his father’s corrupt court. we had a beef. the votes were never counted at all. Brooks Brother rebellion. gop lawyers arguing counting the votes would be bad for democracy.
and yet, nothing like what happened on Jan 6th. Jan 6th was an attempt to overthrow the government. the gop is a cult and needs to be ended.
I just felt like I needed to say this. prosecute these people hard. maybe latter I will feel more generous but not right now.