Protest, march, demonstration..whatever you want to call it..
It all took place on saturday and I was right there in the middle of it.
Of course Patti with her still mending leg (hey! she got her cast off Monday!) couldn't come with me, but we stayed in touch with the cell phone throughout the day.
It was an interesting day. I left the apartment and walked to the subway (about 4 blocks) around 11 o'clock. I have never seen the Metro so packed with human bodies before, many carrying home made protest signs..standing room only, rubbing up against one another, holding onto the railings above heads.
3 or 4 more blocks walk to where the action was.. then immersing myself into it.
Estimates on the number of folks participating have ranged between 100,000 (from the conservative folks) to a generous 300,000 (from the protest organizers). My own highly subjective estimate was somewhere inbetween, perhaps around 200 thousand filling the streets.
By all accounts the event was well participated.
Also participating was a small contingent of the anti-protester protesters. They had their own special location cordoned off by police bodies along the side of the march route.
I did hang around this area for maybe a half hour, sat on a large concrete flower pot not only to give my bones and feet a rest, but to wait and see if anything would transpire between these two contrary energies.
I didn't have long to wait. A nice little shouting match broke out between a few from both sides.. which after a while degenerated to middle finger salutes to one another. .. and then they moved on down the avenue.
Nothing more than that transpired on my own journey. Nothing as radical or destructive occurred throughout the day as the essentially same march I participated in during the early 70's protests against Viet Nam and Nixon, with it tear gas and shattering plate glass and police batons swinging.
There were several little 'islands' of the Jesus people among the marchers, using bullhorns to get their message across to the masses. I have to admit that there was 'something' about this guy (and his partner to the right) that was genuinely scary.
I quick snapped a photo and moved on my way.
The thing that stood out for me about this massive protest was the broad age range of protesters. It wasn't all radical youth making their displeasures known, but as well, little old ladies and little old men (um, do I fit in that category yet? god I hope not!) and everything inbetween. I saw plenty of baby strollers being pushed by young parents right along with the loud drum beaters and chanters.
The message & sign making creativeness elicited many a chuckle from me throughout the afternoon. I have to admit, I enjoyed the whole day. The clouds sprinkled a little bit for about 3 minutes, but not nearly enough to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd.
It was late afternoon when I decided that I had had enough. I certainly had enough photos (about 90 pics to edit when I got home). Joan Biaz was blazing out her music from the stage, and I remembered that she was right here 35 years ago doing the same thing (probably singing the same songs) as was I here, and that made me feel good.. in spite of my now achy legs and hip bones. (sigh) :-)
Video of protesters who were arrested
QuickTime
DSL | 56K
Windows Media DSL | 56K
Hey guys.. Angelina Jolie is definitely not
in this group.. so don't get your hopes up..
(or anything else for that matter)