Update for the end of September

WASHINGTON D.C.— So much for writing often.

In my defense, these first couple several weeks have been…well, transitional to say the least—plus our internet connection here at home really sucks.

But enough with the excuses.

Tackling the city is an everyday adventure, but I’ve got some knowledge under my belt now. The Metro is no longer an obstacle, nor is the city grid.

I took a day to be a tourist and walk the Mall, which is the area between the Capitol and the Lincoln Monument. I saw most of the Smithsonian museums, the Botanical Gardens, the war memorials and monuments and the White House. In a word: “spectacular.” Hopefully I’ll have a photo gallery of that soon.

RFK Stadium is almost out of commission, but I got to see the Nationals play the Phillies there a few days ago. And, in a couple of weeks we’re taking a trip down to the International Spy Museum.

On the home front, I’ve finally settled into my little apartment on the Hill. My roommate is awesome and, despite living in close quarters with so many girls, no fights have broken out (knock on wood). There’s been drama, but no bloodshed—yet.

Classes are kicking into gear. While I’m not a fan of economics, I’m really diggin’ the Econ class I’m in now. I mean, when your professor walks in and says “Governments are slave institutions. They are evil, and the only reason public policy exists is to try to lessen that evil,” you either love the class or hate it. Of course, with a speech like that, I love it.

Street Sense is working out well, too. The vendors are awesome. Everybody has a story that puts my privileged and sheltered past to shame. Plus, they’re all very decent people doing what they can to earn their way. I’m learning a lot, A LOT, from these individuals. I’ve also got a partner in crime there—another intern named Matt. If nothing else, I love working with these people.

Unfortunately, most of my days are spent in the office updating the website www.streetsense.org. Battling code gets pretty tiresome, but seeing the finished web pages makes for a nice sense of accomplishment.

It’s not such a bad gig. And I am getting pretty handy with InDesign. Still, I’ve yet to have any of my submitted stories published, which is disappointing.

On the other hand, I’ve had so many exciting days here that it makes up for writing html all day.

On Sept. 15, I covered the march on Washington to end the Iraq war. Walking up and down Pennsylvania Avenue (Penn Ave), I met and had some good conversations with some pretty intense people on both sides of the issue.

I got to see anti-war protesters run out of the area with threats like “Get the hell out Commies!” hurtled after them. I rode the press truck that drove down the middle of Penn Ave, just in front of the swarm of yellow-clad protesters. Once at the Capitol, several people were forcibly arrested feet away from me by cops in full riot gear.

It was enlightening to say the least. It was also exciting. I mean, I’m a reporter for RCC; I don’t get to cover events like this everyday, because it’s just not normal for hundreds of thousands of people to take to the streets of Riverside in protest. In D.C. it’s a little more common than that.

People have been protesting issues that range from the racially charged Jena 6 case to the need for universal health care.

In fact, today I went to the first SICKO candlelight vigil. Members of the organization, as well as people that appeared in the film showed up to speak about health care reform and to remember their loved ones. Their stories were incredible; some were downright disgusting.

After the vigil, I hitched a ride with the Iraq Veterans Against the War. There were about 30 of us on the bus, but everyone was friendly. Young radicals were discussing politics with aged reporters and weathered veterans—a perfect end to the night, if I do say so myself.

So there you have it: over three weeks of not-so-action-packed life in DC crammed into one fairly long blog.

Until next time…

Power to the people

WASHINGTON D.C.— Tensions over the war in Iraq came to a head on Sept. 15. On that day, demonstrators on both sides of the issue faced off in the streets of the District of Columbia.


Setting the scene

Protesters against the war, largely members and supporters of the ANSWER Coalition, retained permits for a march on Washington. In reaction to the anti-war measure, the Gathering of Eagles group sponsored a counter demonstration along the same route during the protest.

Members supporting the Gathering of Eagles admitted their turnout was much smaller than that of the ANSWER groups. “The ANSWER crowd will definitely have more people,” Kristinn Taylor, D.C. coordinator for the Gathering of Eagles, said.

“Liberals will go march for everything,” he continued. “If it’s not an anti-war march it’s an animal rights march, if it’s not animal rights it’s abortion rights… And it goes on and on. It’s in their culture…Conservatives generally don’t come out and do rallies and all that.”

“The majority sentiment is now anti-war” Brian Becker of ANSWER Coalition said in response to the Eagles’ smaller numbers. “I think the Bush administration supporters are mobilizing to give the media a quick photo op. to show that there’s two sides, when if fact we represent the overwhelming majority.”

While recent Gallup polls do conclude that more Americans believe the war in Iraq was a mistake, the majority is far from overwhelming. Even so, supporters of the war expressed concern over the declining support.

“It’s import that people know we are winning the war in Iraq,” Corporal Mark Finelli said. Finelli is an inactive, non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. “We are losing here at home, but this is our fist line of defense in that war. And if we can just garner some American support at home, and I know it’s difficult…but we need the American people to support us.”

The march, largely publicized by the ANSWER Coalition, was sparked by a long series of events. The most recent issues to incite opposition include the surge in Iraq, General Petraeus’ testimony and, finally, President Bush’s approval of a long term withdrawal plan for troops in Iraq.

“Today begins what will be a sustained level of activity against the war,” Becker said. “So far, in the last week, General Petraeus and the politicians have spoken. This is when the people start to speak, when they come in to the streets.”

Taking to the streets

The ANSWER rally was scheduled to begin at 12 P.M. EST. At 8 A.M., however, uniformed men could be seen patrolling the roof of the White House. Speeches began around noon. By 3 P.M., the march snaked down Pennsylvania Avenue, from the White House to the Capitol building.

Demonstrators against the war marched down the middle of the street. The permitted demonstration zones for the Gathering of Eagles ran from 10th Street to 7th Street along Pennsylvania Avenue.

Anti-war protesters had also allegedly planned to gather at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. In response, members of the opposing group assembled at the memorial in order to protect it from defacement.

Upon reaching the lawn of the Capitol, the anti-war demonstrators held a mass “die-in” for which they did not have a permit.

“[The die in is] a symbolic funeral representing the nearly 4,000 US soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have died, and that will be led by Iraq war veterans,” Becker said.

While ANSWER did not have a permit to hold the die in, that aspect of the demonstration did not evoke strong reactions from police.

Police retaliated aggressively, however, once the protest became confrontational rather than peaceful.

Young protesters could be seen hurtling coins and even yogurt across the police barricade. Two young black protesters who refused to give their names consistently heckled the nearest black police officers with racial slurs.

Confusion over where the police barricade actually began also led to a large number of arrests.

A fence was set up approximately two feet inside a waist-high wall surrounding the steps of the Capitol. Demonstrators were permitted to sit on top of the wall with their legs hanging over. Still, protesters who crossed over the wall yet remained outside the police fence were forced to the ground and arrested.

When protesters refused to comply, they were forcibly detained. Often, demonstrators who refused to adhere to police demands were lifted up and carried away by the officers.

Police treatment often relied on the protester’s gender and attitude.

Officers were less physically aggressive to female protesters. One female demonstrator who crossed the barricade was given the chance to go back over without incident.

Male protesters, however, were often treated with more hostility. One male protester, who simply placed his feet on the ground on the other side of the blockade wall, was dragged to the ground by his T-shirt, ripping it at the neck.

Soon, protesters were intentionally crossing the police barricade as a rebellion against police forces. A group of elderly veterans crossed the wall together, causing a scene as their numerous members were led away up the steps of the Capitol.

By the end of the day, nearly 200 anti-war protesters were arrested.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets on Sep. 15 to support their side of the issue. Still, the majority of citizens—and even D.C. residents—treated the day as if it was any other Saturday.