DC Protest Photos and narrative - dial up warning

[demnan]

DC Protest Photos
When we arrived at the Mall there on the edge where our protest was to begin were the Veterans for Peace. They had crosses indicating the dead soldiers fallen, as well as (what to me was more effective, the pictures of the dead soldiers. All through the protest these pictures were reverently brought with us. We brought our dead with us and honored them.





People were still filing in at that time. People were marching around the National Monument, interspersed with tourists and people taking their morning exercise. I snapped this picture and then we headed for the Ellipse, where the action was.

If you've never been to a protest march you have to go, just once, just for the people watching and enjoying the homemade signs, which were a blast.

The events of the protest march were delayed. The announcer said that we were waiting for trains from the Northeast to arrive. Evidently there was an electrical problem on the Northeastern corridor train tracks. How convenient, considering that Treasury Secretary Frank Snow used to head up CSX who owns the train tracks, I'm suspicious. The protest march opened with a rousing song from the raging grannies. I snapped this picture after their performance.

When the speakers got started I managed to get close enough to snap these pictures of Jesse Jackson and Cindy Sheehan.


The images in our minds of the Hurricane Katrina victims were constantly brought to mind and speech. One ringing phrase was "Bring the Guard home from the Gulf War to the Gulf states. I snapped this picture of a protester from New Orleans.

We eventually did start marching. I managed to find the cool folks around the Democratic Underground banner. I said hi but my friend was already starting to run out of steam so we went along our way. Once we got to the White House I took this picture. (It was pretty hard to snap pictures and march at the same time.) Notice the Secret Service snipers on the roof.

Everybody has a website, but I'm going to check out this one. Clearly one of the funniest costumed duo at the march.

And then there were the not so funny protestors

Finally by around 3:30 the march was winding down. Time for one last picture before heading to the metro.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Great pics! Thanks for sharing!!!

[deutsey]

2. Great pictures. People were still coming off the march route after 5 pm

It was an amazing turnout. The Operation Ceasefire concert was a huge success too, from what I saw of it.

[demnan]

3. That's great

both my friend and I were running out of steam by that time. Glad you corrected me. Actually with so many people I'm sure the march went on for hours!

Just a note. Those code pink ladies were great. I got to meet one on the train and she was telling me about their organization. Everyone on the metro was going to the protest march!

[NV Whino]

4. Thanks for posting!

[intheflow]

5. The march was not winding down at 3:30.

We left the Washington Moument around 5:30 and the march was still going. I have to format (shrink) my photos before I post them, but I'll pm you when I do (probably tomorrow morning). I have a photo taken by the crosses that shows people still marching in the distance. Amazing!

But thanks for sharing your photos, too. We marched in two very different places in the flow of things, I have photos of completely different signs. :)

[EstimatedProphet]

6. Hey, we met the woman in the red hat (sitting down) on the Metro!

Talked to her a bit-she was really cool! It was great to see such a diverse crowd!

[Griffy]

7. and why the "not so funny" .. the billionaires are great!

and I also agree it was not winding down... the march was done but the protest went on!

but great pics.. thx :)

[demnan]

8. I was commenting on the lady with the hat

as not being "funny". I posted comments then showed the pictures. I'm glad the march went on till 5:00. From my perspective 3:30 was the end of my march. There were so many people there it is hard to grasp the perspective.

Glad you liked the pictures.