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Anti-War Rally in Washington D.C.
Posted By Matt On 25th September 2005 @ 22:19 In Politics, War in Iraq, Protest, Washington D.C., War | 23 Comments
We emerged from the Metro station in view of the Washington Monument. Moving from the space-age architecture of the DC subway system into the daylight is always a shock, but yesterday the jolt was multiplied by the sight of an enormous peace flag lying on the grass. It was adorned by a skull.
The crowd flowed down 15th Street towards Constitution Avenue, and we followed. So many people, moving in every direction.
As we approached the ellipse, where speakers such as Cindy Sheehan and Jesse Jackson addressed the crowd before the march, protesters choked off the streets. People were everywhere — on the pavement, on the grass. On the lips of fountains, on the pedestals of statues. Lining up in groups, listening to speakers in front of the stage. Handing out stickers, selling buttons, passing along flyers and postcards. Waving flags, holding up signs, chanting in unison. Smiling, singing, shouting, dancing, ranting. And marching.
The crowd seemed a microcosm of a better, if somewhat more wacky, world:
I saw the young
and the young-at-heart.
I saw veterans of past wars
and veterans of current wars.
The fallen were remembered . . .
in more ways than one.
Even the President made an appearance
or two.
Protesters asked some good questions
and even the road signs seemed heavy with import
Yes, it was one for the ages
We did not stop the war yesterday.
But I have no doubt that we will.
This rally was an important building block, marking a seismic shift in American attitudes towards the War in Iraq. As speaker Jello Biafra said during the post-rally concert, this day, and the huge number of people that turned out to protest the war, marks the mainstreaming of the anti-war movement in the United States.
Welcome to the new world order.
Get up and shout.
The full set of my photos is available on Flickr. Unfortunately, my camera battery died soon after after the march started, and I had no backup.
Other friends who were there, and have described their experiences, include Neddie, Richard, somegirl, and Albert. I will post more on the march, and my impressions of it, as the week progresses.
23 Comments To "Anti-War Rally in Washington D.C."
#1 Trackback By All Spin Zone On 25th September 2005 @ 22:43
Saturday in the Park
I don’t think we saw the sun all day - maybe a peek or two here and there, but it was mostly cloudy, mild, and at one point the skies threatened to open up. The gray drabness of late September…
#2 Comment By Agi T. Prop On 25th September 2005 @ 23:15
Wonderful Matt.
I’m a huge DK/Jello fan so I would have loved to see Jello speak.
#3 Comment By NeddieJingo On 25th September 2005 @ 23:22
Oh, and I’m sure you had some totally awesome reason not to tell your Uncle Ned where you would be — or even that you were coming to DC at all — so we could hook up and Zelig the crowd together…
#4 Comment By frenchy lamour On 26th September 2005 @ 00:24
i couldn’t go, daddy duties. first one I’ve missed.
I read that it was awesome, thanks for everything.
-sigh- if only he was a year or two older.
the washington post said 300,000, so it may have been more.
#5 Comment By somegirl On 26th September 2005 @ 00:31
just beautiful, matt.
#6 Comment By jillian On 26th September 2005 @ 00:48
Great photos!
#7 Pingback By expostulation » Blog Archive » the rally On 26th September 2005 @ 09:01
[…] Brad Blog 1 Brad Blog 2 (videos) AfterDowningStreet Kos diary w/pics “The people just keep coming…” & Matt @ TatteredCoat has great pics […]
#8 Comment By Suzy Shedd On 26th September 2005 @ 09:17
Thanks, Matt — even the MSM noticed the protest. Critical mass accomplished!
#9 Comment By Kate On 26th September 2005 @ 10:40
You rock, Matt!!
#10 Trackback By AGITPROP: News, Politics, Culture and Propaganda — Live and Direct From The American Empire On 26th September 2005 @ 11:43
Thoughts On The Los Angeles Peace March
Saturday’s peace march in Los Angeles was a great experience. The aftermath, however, left me with several questions. What happens next? Will the marches make a difference for the peace movement? How many more marches will need to occur for
#11 Comment By Steven On 26th September 2005 @ 13:16
What shitty photos of a bunch of Liberal jerkoffs. George W. Bush is the MAN! You should all come back to the real world and stop living in LA LA land.
FUCK YOU ALL!
#12 Comment By Rod On 26th September 2005 @ 13:36
Oh, Steven.
#13 Pingback By the smedley log » Blog Archive » Documenting the peace rally On 26th September 2005 @ 17:05
[…] Two members of my local blogosphere, Matt and Albert, attended the March for Peace in Washington, D.C., over the weekend, and were kind enough to provide documentation (including pictures). […]
#14 Comment By howard On 26th September 2005 @ 17:30
I’m amazed you managed to post this and only get one raving warhawk to respond so far — and not even an articulate one, at that. Nice work, Matt.
#15 Comment By Jed On 26th September 2005 @ 17:32
Good to see the Tattered Coat was representin’ in DC this weekend. You can add my voice (and feet) to the list of fellow bloggers in attendance. I’ve recapped my thoughts over at DAYS.
Keep up the fight everyone. Every voice counts.
(oh, and FU Steven… you’re a moron)
#16 Comment By cookie On 26th September 2005 @ 18:20
great pics, Matt!
#17 Trackback By The Heretik On 26th September 2005 @ 20:52
NO McKRAP AT LEFTY’S LOUNGE
EVERYBODY CAN GET SOME AT LEFTY’S LOUNGE TONIGHT where we serve no McKrap TM. . . . .GREAT PIX from TATTERED COAT in DC . . . LIBERAL CRAP? Get it from ROXANNE . . . MAHA serves up
#18 Comment By Roxanne On 26th September 2005 @ 21:04
I don’t think you were too far away from us at that rally. I recognize some of the folks in your photos.
#19 Comment By Pepper On 27th September 2005 @ 00:59
Swell photos! It’s so heartening to see so many different types who are angry. No one can say “it’s just a liberal thing” or “it’s just a tree-hugger thing anymore.”
Maybe I’ll make a sign for the next West Coast protest that says “Take this latte, and shove it!”
#20 Trackback By SkaroffBlog On 27th September 2005 @ 13:38
March on DC (part 1): Photos
Some day I’ll get on the ball with this whole Flickr thing, but for now here are a couple of my shots from this weekend:
Also, check out Matt’s excellent post and photoset from the day as well as Albert’s photoset which…
#21 Comment By Tantor On 30th September 2005 @ 11:51
I had an alternate take on the protest, which I photoblogged and posted here:
http://conprotantor.blogspot.com/2005/09/marching-with-moonbats-in-dc.html
Cheers!
Tantor
#22 Comment By Stephanie Mortimer/Meyer On 5th October 2005 @ 16:36
To Tantor (Steve) regarding your photos of the September 24th March.
This is not the march I went to. Sure, my march had its share of loonies but most of us were sober citizens exercising our right to protest the war. If the march was an elephant, the part you saw was the bit under the tail.
I have to add, though, that your photo editing has improved considerably since “steveswildride”.
Stephanie
#23 Comment By Tantor On 6th October 2005 @ 17:36
Stephanie,
Glad you liked the photos but am confused about the march you were in. Quite clearly, the lunatics were running the march. And there weren’t just a few of them. I have hundreds of photos of lefty lunacy.
I sweeten up my photos now with Photoshop Elements. Hitting the autofix button on each one makes even the best picture even better. For example, it heightens the contrast between “Communist Party” on those red banners so you can see it really well and of course, it makes Bush’s head on a stick show up better against an overcast sky. I recommend it.
See ya at the next march!
Tantor
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