(Cross-posted at My Left Wing, Street Prophets, Daily Kos, ePluribus Media, and my blog.)
I am entirely too tired to do any kind of serious analysis piece on the march today. I have no more insight to add other than that I thought it was awesome. It was wall-to-wall people of all ages and walks of life and the message was anti-Bush and anti-war with almost no exception.
Yes, there were moments of disorganization and frustration but given that it was about 500,000 people, I think it went wonderfully.
What follows after the fold is my photo journal with a few comments about each picture. Enjoy.
Like all good radical anti-war protestors, we started our day at Starbucks. I had coffee and a cinnamon scone – armed for marching.
Carne Asada Burrito introduces himself at Starbucks.
Damnit Janet and Carne Asada Burrito at the Starbucks.
On the way to the rally we saw this protestor and really dug her sign.
PastorDan tries to straighten the bloggers’ marching banner.
When asked to pose “like a married couple”, this is what PastorDan and MrsPastor chose as representative.
MrsPastor distributes the cookies.
The bloggers start to arrive – represented were Kossacks, MyLeftWingers, BooTribbers, ePMers, and Street Propheteers.
We get our shit together long enough to pose for a group picture – thanks to ElizabethD for ensuring this happened.
Crowd shots at the outer edges of the rally. This doesn’t approach giving an appreciation as to how many people were there – people were everywhere.
We make our way to the corner of 15th and Constitution and line up to march.
One of the signs in our delegation.
Another sign seen while waiting to start the march – the picture doesn’t it do it justice – it was a great glossy poster of the Administration modelled after a Godfather-like movie promotion.
We pass some college students protesting the war, using their signs to cover the signs of the very small wingnut contra-protest contingent.
We saw this guy about 1/3 of the way into the march route.
The dignitaries, including Cindy Sheehan and Jesse Jackson, marched right along with us.
Not sure what this was about, but love the suit.
Even babies know the war has to end.
And finally, this gentleman reminds us something that’s important.
Hope y’all enjoy it.
Rena, it was so great to meet you and everyone
What struck me was the diversity of people. I sat listening to the Coup next to an elderly man, with a family behind me, two older women on the otherside of me and then a young couple…
IT was America all around 🙂
I engaged at the end of the march with those… 18 -20 types telling me I was a terrorist.. I said shut up or suit up… then noticed I was the only one in front of them – BostonJoe ane Ryan came and then… tons of people came around the corner and started hollering “suit up or shut up” – it shut them up. There was only about a dozen of them left by that time.
Anywhoo… I’m crashing hard. Take care 🙂
and it was great to meet you too. Thanks for the room. I scared the crap of Tracy, but she needed it after the long drive.
Was fantastic to meet you 🙂 and Tracy told me of the surprise LOL Morning was a bit of a clustermuck… but the entire day was a bit like that and then you found yourself floating along – being carried away with it like a tide.
Tonight me and Ry went back to the Brewery to EAT 🙂 and rest our legs, feet and vocal cords. What a day!
Shycat was there in spirit with us. I couldn’t get ahold of Chocolate Ink. I’ll try tomorrow from the wall.
It was so easy to turn around and people were gone… lost touch with Brofeldspar was scary. Finally caught up with Cabin Girl at the concert.
Can barely speak and the cell phone is recharging — I just thank you all and all of DC and America. We SAW America the diverse and free today.
Be well Booman! xoxo
DJanet, I am going to be gone tomorrow…one of the few days I’ll be getting out of my apt….my sister is taking me to Bakersfield for a birthday lunch…or you could try calling her cell number? if you’re reading this check your email and I’ll send you her cell phone number.
I didn’t put the picture of you chewing in the diary… 😀 Hehe. Great meeting all of you, too.
Thanks so much for all of you being there!
And Re: The Bloggers group photo
What a Gorgeous group of folks! My gosh you all are an attractive group of empowered, righteous protesters!!!
Truly awesome.
Thanks again, for the pics, the time and your dedication to putting your money where your mouth. . .er. ..keyboard is!
Big hugs to all!
Shirl
.
… for show of force in Washington and beauty & quality of photos.
Impressed by sheer number of participants in Grand Coalition March On Washington 9/24 in ’05!
Spirited Washington anti-war rally one of largest of Iraq conflict
The rally stretched through the day and into the night, a marathon of music, speechmaking and dissent on the National Mall. Police Chief Charles Ramsey, noting organizers had hoped to draw 100,000 people, said: “I think they probably hit that.”
In the crowd: young activists, nuns whose anti-war activism dates to Vietnam, parents mourning their children’ in uniform lost in Iraq, and uncountable families motivated for the first time to protest.
Connie McCroskey, 58, came from Des Moines, Iowa, with two of her daughters, both in their 20s, for the family’s first demonstration. McCroskey, whose father fought in the Second World War, said she never would have dared protest during the Vietnam War. “Today, I had some courage,” she said.
While united against the war, political beliefs varied. Paul Rutherford, 60, of Vandalia, Mich., said he is a Republican who supported Bush in the last election and still does – except for the war.
“President Bush needs to admit he made a mistake in the war and bring the troops home, and let’s move on,” Rutherford said.
His wife, Judy, 58, called the removal of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein “a noble mission” but said U.S. troops should have left when claims Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction proved unfounded. “We found that there were none and yet we still stay there and innocent people are dying daily,” she said.
Bush Lied, Thousands Died, read one sign. End the Occupation, said another.
Vietnam War veteran Lennie Vucci of Long Beach, Calif., takes part in a massive protest against U.S. involvement in Iraq, in downtown Los Angeles today. Drums pounded, voices boomed, whistles shrieked as demonstrators, some 15,000 by police estimates, marched in the shadows of downtown skyscrapers, one of several California demonstrations on a day of protests across the country. AP Photo/Reed SaxonRamsey said the day’s protest unfolded peacefully under the heavy police presence. “They’re vocal but not violent,” he said. By early evening, police reported three arrests, all for minor offences.
Arthur Pollock, 47, of Cecil County, Md., said he was against the war from the beginning. He wants the soldiers out but not all at once. “They’ve got to leave slowly,” said Pollock, attending his first protest. “It will be utter chaos in that country if we pull them out all at once.”
Folk singer Joan Baez marched with the protesters and later serenaded them at a concert at the foot of the Washington Monument. An icon of the 1960s Vietnam War protests, she said Iraq is already a mess and the troops need to come home immediately.
“There is chaos. There’s bloodshed. There’s carnage.”
“Shame on you,” Cindy Sheehan admonished, directing that portion of her remarks to members of Congress who backed Bush on the war. “How many more of other people’s children are you willing to sacrifice?
She led the crowd in chanting: “Not one more.”
More than 1,900 members of the U.S. armed forces have died since the beginning of the war in March 2003.
Thousands of people attended smaller rallies in cities on the U.S. West Coast, including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Franciso and Seattle.
Protests were also held in Canadian cities.
In Ottawa, about 200 anti-war advocates hit the streets, calling for Canada and the U.S. to end their “occupations” in Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti. At one point, the marchers paused at Parliament Hill where several speakers denounced Canada’s complicity in U.S.-led wars. The march began at Confederation Park and finished at the U.S. Embassy.
“We love our troops, bring them home,” said Federico Carvajal of Together Against War.
“We don’t want to be responsible for those human rights violations that we are currently responsible for.”
In Toronto, several hundred people waved banners and anti-war signs in front of the U.S. Consulate before marching to the Ontario Liberal party offices.
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Yep,I was right behind you all the way!!How did breakfast work out??
Great pictures, thanks!
In the group picture of Tribbers and Kossacks, et al., the edge of the poster someone is holding is obscured, so it says “Sham on Bush.” A pretty good description of the BushCo presidency.
If people see themselves in that picture, perhaps they’ll self-identify? There’s a real feeling of connecting to be able to put a face with a name.
And I love the T-shirt on Carne Asada Burrito: “It is not Morally Wrong, and affront to God, or a threat to Homeland Security to question George W. Bush’s destructive policies.”
Where, oh where, is it from? I want one!