Getting Ready in DC for Pro-Peace March

[madame defarge]

Check here for a story on what's happening in DC to set up for this weekend's pro-peace events.
http://www.democracycellproject.net/blog/archives/2005/09/setting_up_1.html

I read that the National Park Service has set up the stage in the ONLY position where there will be NO visible monuments when photographs are taken of Cindy Sheehan and the other speakers.

No flag. No Washington Monument. No Capitol. No White House. No symbol of America at all.

This government wants the world to think that Cindy Sheehan will be speaking from a vacuum - a black hole - not on the grounds of our nation's capitol. The other lie that will be driven home mercilessly this weekend is that the people who gather here to speak about the war are not real Americans - they are a bunch of nutjobs. Let's prove them wrong!!! We are real Americans. Dissent IS patriotic!

[Ready4Change]

1. Washington Monument in one of the pics of stage under construction.

It's pretty hard to be out of sight of that one.

And from the Washington Monument grounds you have views of the new WW2 Monument, a reflecting pool and the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the Capitol.

If this gets the turnout people are expecting, there will be plenty of crowd shots with well known buildings in the photo.

[mattclearing]

2. What R4C Said.

They'd have to build a dome around the stage to keep landmarks out of view.

[Ready4Change]

5. There is a low spot there.

There is already a little stage on the Washington Monument grounds, in the SE corner. It's set in a low spot, annd the surrounding rising ground makes it into a pretty good little grassy arena. Down in there only the Washington Monument is visible, but it TOWERS over that stage. Can't handle a huge number of people, though. Maybe only 10,000 or so.

From the pic I can't tell where this temporary stage is being erected. Sorry. But it looks more open, so hopefully it can serve more people.

[madame defarge]

7. Corner of 17th & Constitution n/t

[Ready4Change]

8. That's not too bad at all.

From the audience, viewing straight at a stage there (Assuming that stage faces the Washington Monument directly) no, there's likely just trees behind the stage.

But, view the stage from audience left and you may have a view of the White House. And from behind the speakers (for photographers who can get there) you should be able to get them and the Capitol in the picture.

To get the Licoln Memorial in the shot you'll probably have to back way off. Like back to the Washington monument itself. However, you're on higher ground there, and should have a nice crowd picture.

BTW, that's the same area where the the Smithsonian Institution sets up the registration and announcing tents and tables for the DC Kite Festival.

Doesn't seem too bad to me?

[madame defarge]

3. I know...

That photo is deceiving though. Apparently, when you look straight on at the stage, all other monuments are shielded.

And it does depend on how big the crowd is... Let's hope for 10x the 100K they're estimating.

[dwahzon]

4. Here's the schedule for the Concert

http://www.opceasefire.org/

scroll halfway down for the lineup

[formernaderite]

6. I just hope it stays peaceful...

unfortunately we always manage to attract a few nutjobs, not gonna mention the anarchists by name, who manage to make us look whacky and violent.
Let's all remember....this is a PEACE demonstration.