From the streets of DC. March 19th, 2008

March 19, 2008 at 7:41 am | Posted in In-House Writing, Reportbacks | 3 Comments

Good morning to all who fight injustice on this grim anniversary. My name is Richard and I will be serving as the anti-war correspondent here in Hartford, Ct. I will be calling Matt who puts together this blog “The War Stops Here”, belongs to the SDS and allies himself with Queers Without Borders. Matt will give me regular updates from his positions in Washington DC. The “Imperial Capital” as Matt calls it, and the city we all know as the business address of the big wigs who love to make war. In my house we say, “Tip them upside down, they’re all the same.” Even standing upright they are nasty. Never found, in all my days, a demonrat or a republufat that I would touch with a ten foot pole. Once there was a song by Melvina Reynolds where she sang about blood up to their elbows, well these guys and gals are covered in it. One would think that they during all these years would have cleaned up their act, but no. They still do their nasties all around this country and all around the world. Never liked this two headed monster, this big blood sucking tick, this hard thing to slay. So today I yell out, “ONWARD YOUTH OF AMERICKA! Strike a blow and set this sucker in the direction that it should be going. Let’s remember while we are at it that it isn’t only against the war we rise up, but we must sing, “Down with all of the ruling class, let the bastards live off their fat!” I have a poster on my wall of Frank Little who was a IWW member. On the poster it says “No War but Class War.” Important words to remember while we fight on. So its time for me to stop my rambling and call my comrade Matt. Let’s see what the folks in DC are up to.

*Report from the Streets of DC. Marching this Morning.*

Our comrades from Connecticut attended the War Resisters League rally at McPherson Square. According to Matt there were about 200-300 people in attendance. Banners connected the cost of the war with the cutting of vital social programs and the need for more funds to be directed to social needs in this country. The banners made by the Bread and Puppet Theater added to the festivity of the march with their bold messages and abstract art. The radical Rude Mechanical Orchestra, a marching band from New York City played all sorts of tunes and accompanied the marchers. Check them out here . The people marched to the IRS where the front entrance was blocked and there were actions at other entrances. One of our Connecticut comrades was arrested. On hand were the Metropolitan Police and Homeland Security. No misconduct by the police was reported. Lots of media were in attendance.

At 8:50 when I called Matt and the group were on the National Mall at 7th street gazing at the large erection that is the highlight of the place. Matt told me, “This place smells like manure, for some reason it always does.” I wonder if those in power spray the place to discourage the practice of democracy? (there really is no end to their tricks.)

 Next up, a march with the Veterans for Peace who are marching to several locations. Some members are planing to do direct action along the  way. The Iraq Veterans Against the War will be leading. Hopefully these women and men will get some attention as very little news coverage was done on the Winter Solider Iraq and Afghanistan sessions that were just held in DC.

I will be calling back Matt between 9:30 and 10:00 for another update. 

Standing with the Vets. “We didn’t pledge to obey.” “We pledged to defend.”

At 9:42 Washington Mall. (weather overcast but nice)

A crowd of about 200 are gathered in the middle of the mall listening to speeches and getting ready to march. The Iraq Veterans Against the War are going to lead the march followed by the Veterans for Peace and then other supporters. There are lots of youth who are marching in solidarity. The Veterans are holding upside down American flags the international sign for distress and carrying an arrest warrant for Bush and Cheney. Leaflets containing a pledge for non-violent conduct by marchers and those planning to participate in the sit-ins along the route are being passed out. 

Marching With The Vets.

A multi-generational march made up of vets from Korea, Vietnam, other recent conflicts  Iraq, active duty women and men and parents of Vets along with youth and others are now marching up Independence Ave and 3rd street. There are about 250 -300 people in the march. Lots of upside down American flags, a large Vets For Peace banner, the yellow OUT OF IRAQ signs, and signs that say, “Support the Troops Bring Them Home Now.” The march is a very solemn march that is staying on the sidewalk. At approx. 10:15 the march has paused at the American Indian Museum to hold a press conference.  The press is mostly International Media, radio stations, photo journalists. Matt doesn’t see the presences of any major media outlets. Doesn’t surprise me. Certainly the powers that be wouldn’t want the people to know that there are Vets who stand against the war. Adam Kokesh who is on the board of IVAW listed their goals. 1. Immediate Withdrawal of the troops. 2. Complete Medical and physiological support for all Vets. 3. Reparations to the Iraqi people. Kokesh also said, “The government of Iraq doesn’t represent the people of Iraq and the government of the United States doesn’t represent me.” He also stated that it is our duty to resistance because injustice is now the law of this land. Buffy St. Marie the main performer at this site performed a poem called, “War Racket” and sang “Universal Solider” I think hard in these times about the line, “without him all this killing couldn’t go on.”  What can we do to convince and support young women and men so there is a alternative to signing up for the military?  Lets try to make it real that war will end when people refuse to fight. The march continued to the National Archives where 3 Vets of the Iraq war and 1 Vet for Peace climbed over the fence and climbed up on a ledge. From the ledge they called forth, Bush, Cheney, and Rice. (people in masks stood in for the real war mongers.) The Vets delivered an indictment against the government and charged it with war crimes. The Vets also hung a large banner with a copy of the Declaration of Independence on it. There were lots of bystanders watching the action. Our Ct. group left before the police removed any of the protesters from the ledge.

FUNK THE WAR PARTY AT AN INTERSECTION

The most colorful action, the loudest and the largest that has been reported today from Matt was the SDS, high-school and college student protest at Connecticut Ave, K and 17th Street. 500 students began blocking this intersection between 12:00 and 12:30 chanting “Whose Streets, Our Streets.” The students marched to the intersection and on the way blocked the doors of corporate headquarters. Students brought desks into the middle of the intersection and locked their hands inside the desks. About 20-30 students are now locked in. There are 2 rows of students sitting around the students who are participating in the lock down. A large dance party is being held all around the lock down. On the phone the noise of chanting, drums, and music was sure got this old blood jumping. The “holding the intersection” crowd was mainly students but also a large number of adults. Everyone seems to be out at this anti-war party a nice cross section liberals, progressives, radicals and lots of high school students. “Fund Education—Not War”  and chants of ”Drop Books–Not Bombs” What I like about this action is the students have been in control of it from the very beginning. The action is theirs not being puppeted by the old folks. This intersection that is being occupied is rather a large intersection and the students are filling it. At 2:25 the police began to move in on the students but the students are holding the line firm. “Student Power Against the Empire” The police are holding long clubs and clad in black. The “man” just made an announcement that they will “not arrest the people occupying the intersection but will move them back.” “The students in the lock down will be arrested.” Chants of 2-4-6-8 This Is A Police State rose in the air and then suddenly the cops moved back around 50 feet from the protesters.  The students then advanced into the intersection to try to block more of it. At 14:30 the students were holding firm around the lock-down. Flags flying at this demo were the red and black Teamster Flag, the pink and black Queer Anarchist Flag, and Black Anarchist flags. From the buildings around the intersection people are watching from all the windows and bystanders are on the sidewalks. Do they know there is a war going on? Do they know we are trying to stop it? Won’t you come out and join us?  More later. 

3:30–”The recruiters are standing in the windows and staring at us.”

After the cops gave up and left the intersection to the students our brave young people marched on to block the street in front of the Armed Forces Recruiting Station. The students and supporters are still 500 strong. I could hear lots of chanting and shouting in the background. There is a line of supporters of the military and the war that are in the front of the recruiting station (thanks for the support in blocking the doors guys) and a line of cops in front of them keeping the two groups separate. Early in the day someone had thrown a container of red paint at the windows and it has formed a piece of beautiful political art. It was pouring down rain for awhile but now the rains are only a drizzle. Everyone is wet, and cold but spirits are still running high.  note: Next time remember pack an extra pair of socks, and some dry clothing.  Our comrade who was arrested at this time is still being processed and there is no word on when the release will happen. Matt and I had to laugh when we thought of the recruiters standing in the windows watching and not doing any work as being a wonderful form of direct action in itself. Direct Action that they are participating in and likewise the right wingers standing in front of the doors. Helping to achieve what we want. A shut down. Nobody is being recruited this afternoon to do the government’s dirty work.

4:10– Marching back to the McPherson Park

At 4:10 when I recalled Matt the students had marched back to McPherson Park. On the march back the cops kept trying to push people onto the sidewalk but no deal. The people stayed in the street going around the cops and marching on. At 15th and K street the students blocked the intersection once again and the cops pushed and pushed them back into the park. More speeches are being given (oh those speeches, on and on they go). Matt and the others will be calling to see if they can locate our comrade who was arrested in the am. I will be calling Matt one more time at 5:15. He will do an overview when he returns home. I look forward to that. I have been quite honored to be the anti-war correspondent passing on this information to all of you readers.

5:21–Getting ready to visit one of the Evil Twins.

The students left McPherson Park and met up again at the Capitol Building for a planned march on the Democratic National Headquarters. About 200-300 people have gathered and the crowd is pretty mixed as far as anti-war folks go. Gathered there are many from the 5 years too many coalition. The protest should be leaving at 6:00. Oh those demonrats. those tricksters. What a job they have. All the while maintaining the corporate agenda they must convince the people that they are their party. They must try hard to convince us that if we vote for them we will be united in beautiful capitalist americka. Lets hope that people will see that the two Capitalist parties are criminal accomplices and will not have the working class, the poor, glbtq people, people of color or anyone elses best interests at heart except others in the ruling class. So I hope that all these 5 years too many organizations will remember that when they get to the doors of the demonrats castle, and reject any and all candidates or empty pledges they have to offer. Let’s talk about real change not voting for one of the evil twins. Let us hope.

When I talked to Matt he told me he would do his overview late on Thursday afternoon. I look forward to it. So for now this is your Hartford based anti-war correspondent signing off. 

For more on what was happening today here