Live Blogging from Pro-Peace March!

Suz just called... the whole group that assembled at Karen & Dick's this morning is on their way to the train station now. The group includes Suz, Dick, Karen, Matt, Barry, Marietta, JR, Jimmy, Miso, Stephanie, Larry, Mike, Marcie and David. Suz and the documentary filmmaker, Miso, were out earlier today and talked with some people at the train station.

Suz met a group from the Unitarian Universalist church. They along with a Presbyterian church group put on a seminar this morning at 9 am on Stopping Torture and the Geneva Convention. Tomorrow the same group is going to be presenting a mock trial.

I found this notice on the web about it:

Sunday, Sept. 25: 1:30-6:30 p.m. A Citizens' Mock Trial of high-level U.S. officials responsible for the current U.S. torture practices (Holiday Inn on the Hill, 415 New Jersey Avenue NW--Red line to Union Station)

More later from Suz and the others.

Posted by: dwahzon at September 24, 2005 10:45 AM

Phone call from Karen...

Just emerged from metro and have joined a teeming throng of people moving towards the ellipse. Just passed a group of aging Unitarians with canes who are standing up for Peace & Justice, actually hobbling for Peace & Justice with great spirit and smiles on their faces.

Every metro train is packed. We’re not sure we’re going to make it to the corner to meet our other DCP friends.

Names in the current group that DCP'ers will recognize... Mark Brisky, Matt Carnicelli, Barry Schwartz, Suz Krueger, Dick Bell, Karen Bradley, Mike Kahn. Going to connect up with DavefromPrincton, MarjorieG, EllenBeth, Carol and Veritas.

Dick and Karen got up early this morning and set up a table with a banner and lots of DCP materials. It’s located SW of the corner of Constitution and 17th Street, halfway between Constitution & Independence and fairly close to the 17th street side.

More later...

Posted by: dwahzon at September 24, 2005 11:01 AM

Call from Suz who is near the White House right now, lining up to march.

She said it's a sea of people, shoulder to shoulder on both sides of the sidewalk for blocks and they're starting to move into the streets (because there are so many people) to get to the starting point of the march.

Nothing but positive attitudes & non-violent people...except for the 5 pro-war people she has seen who were shouting "Repent! Don't worry about Iraq! Worry about your own souls!"

Behind her was a group from Iraq & Palestine who are against racism & genocide. Their sign:
Bush - sure you can hide but you must stop the genocide!

More later.

Posted by: madame defarge at September 24, 2005 11:17 AM

From a very choked up Suz...

She's near Camp Casey in DC and is getting close to the beginning of the march. It's a sea to sea of people, at least 100K and probably more.

At Camp Casey, they've removed the crosses and replaced them with nine rows of string that have edge-to-edge laminated shadow outlines of the soldiers who have died with their names, where they’re from, and the date they died...

Watching on CSPAN right now, the crowd looks like it could be huge by midday.

Some of the sign in the crowd are priceless...

"Smart Bombs Don't Make Up For Dumb Leaders"

"You've Stopped The Economy, Now Stop the War!"

"BUSH LIED!"

On CSPAN - Raging Grannies ROCK!!!

CINDY SHEEHAN ON CSPAN NOW!!!

Cindy seemed choked up as well... here is the prepared speech.. the one she didn't give..

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/24/85619/4714

If you want to whip that crowd into a frenzy..

Read them this...

http://rebellenation.blogspot.com/2005/09/do-you-hear-them-starving-in-your_09.html

Cindy will be addressing the rally at 4:30, I believe with that prepared speech.

Thanks monkey.. I sit corrected, tho I liked the emotion she just showed

If you're watching the march on CSPAN1, join us in the IRC / Live chat to discuss what's happening.

http://www.democracycellproject.net/chat/index.php

Please post photos ASAP.

Thanks...

Ramsey Clark, former attorney general from Johnson administration:
"Bush has to go!"

IMPEACH IMPEACH IMPEACH

Update from Karen:

It's great there. They're making their way over to the press tent where they'll be able to upload photos and log onto blog. Look for something in a half hour or so.

Huge crowd!

From Suz:

They're standing behind the ANSWER stage, by Camp Casey, waiting to start the march. She said that the strings of photos of soldiers is probably the length of a football field, and it only includes soldiers who died before Sept. 11, 2005... They're pulling up the string and she's pretty sure they're going to use it at the front of the march.

USA ( SELF-PORTRATE ) - 30 X 60 2001

SURROUND the

WHITE millionair HOUSE

See U in DC TODAY... In Paint

http://www.RogerART.com

( Scroll Down 2 15 PATRIOT PAINTINGS )

Thank you, And JAIL the BU$H GANGSTERS... NOW

This is so neat!

Wash. Post reporting "tens of thousands are streaming onto the ellipse near the White House to protest the war in Iraq."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/24/AR2005092400735.html

Washington Post reports on the March

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/24/AR2005092400735.html

The numbers grow! Our voices will be heard!

And today, our president is hiding out in a bunker in Colorado...

In Democracy There Is No King; In Diplomacy There Is No War

There was a PEACE CANDIDATE of high reputation, but the media didn't tell the public his platforms, which included BRING THE TROOPS HOME and END THE WAR IN IRAQ (6 months with neutral U.N. troops to end the oil marination of the U.S. and allow Iraqi Self Rule). How pathetic that it is easier to find Ralph Nader's public offering in WHO's WHO and The WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA and now realize the media offered only status quo money and greed and corporate policies, not good affirmative democracy with a majority of public interests and this country as the proper merit for President. Protest? The public should demand it. Today and at the ballot box. Can't have Ralph Nader? Do you VOTE YOUR PRIORITIES?

Suz called...

She said they all found one another, and that they are yelling "What do we want? Peace
When do we want it? Now!"

They can't really hear the speakers on the stage very well if at all. There are wall to wall people as far as the eye can see and they found the other DCPers.

Karen just called and said they're in the press tent. Just got a spot and are getting ready to log on and upload pics and their reports.

Bush in a bunker while choppers fly over D.C.,when the people in perile in the gulf need them,shows them up for who they are!!
Be safe e1 as we walk and pray with you.

THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!

Who would have ever thought a year ago the peace movement would have grown to this? And, this is JUST THE BEGINNING!!!

Sign seen at march, held by two young women:

Mr. President, If We Are the Future, Why Are You Killing Us???

CSPAN just reported at least 300,000 people!!!

Suz just called!

They are standing shoulder to shoulder at the Washington Monument! They were able to inch forward, but now are not moving!

The crowd is electric!!! The energy and passion is very, very strong.

She put the phone out to the crowd, and I could hear a huge throng of people chanting:

"LIBERATE THE U.S.A....!" "IMPEACH BUSH!"

"WE ARE WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE, AND BUSH IS WHAT HYPOCRISY LOOKS LIKE!"

"WE ARE AMERICA! WE WANT CHANGE! WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW!!! WHAT DO WE WANT? PEACE!!!!!"

FROM SUZ IN D.C. MARCH TODAY,

JUST IN.....

Suz is standing next to a woman named Carol, who is 40 yrs. old, and a long time activist. She is furious. She wants to see the anti-war movement organize, and GET US OUT!!!

Here are Carol's reasons for becoming involved:

"It's a good way to alleviate the feeling of powerless, and to bring about change."

Another man marching near Suz is Jason, 31, and it's his first time ever protesting anything!!
He's not sure that we can immediately pull out, but wants change.

THE CROWD IS CHANTING, MARCH, MARCH, MARCH!!

Where oh where is the DLC?? If we want to win the next election cycle,they need to "BE THERE"!! As good as this is,we need LEADERSHIP to get there!!

Someone,anyone, please make a sign...."DRUNK ON POWER"!!

Closer to Free
by The Bodeans

Everybody wants to live
How they wanna live
And everybody wants to love
Like they wanna love
And everybody wants to be
Closer to Free

Everybody wants respect
Just a little bit
And everybody needs a chance
Once in a while
Everybody wants to be
Closer to Free

Everybody one
Everybody two
Everybody free

Everybody needs to touch
You know now and then
And everybody wants a good good friend
Everybody wants to be
Closer to Free

Everybody wants to live
How they want to live
And everybody wants to love
Who they want to love
And everybody wants to be
Closer to Free

SUZ AGAIN -

The DCP group is just to the right of a HUGE
funky puppet with the words FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY
on the front of the puppet.

She says, if we can see that puppet on C-Span, that's where they are.

Ok, if monkey is going to sing, so am I (along with Patti Smith)...

People Have the Power

I was dreaming in my dreaming
of an aspect bright and fair
and my sleeping it was broken
but my dream it lingered near
in the form of shining valleys
where the pure air recognized
and my senses newly opened
I awakened to the cry
that the people / have the power
to redeem / the work of fools
upon the meek / the graces shower
it's decreed / the people rule

The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power

Vengeful aspects became suspect
and bending low as if to hear
and the armies ceased advancing
because the people had their ear
and the shepherds and the soldiers
lay beneath the stars
exchanging visions
and laying arms
to waste / in the dust
in the form of / shining valleys
where the pure air / recognized
and my senses / newly opened
I awakened / to the cry

The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power

Where there were deserts
I saw fountains
like cream the waters rise
and we strolled there together
with none to laugh or criticize
and the leopard
and the lamb
lay together truly bound
I was hoping in my hoping
to recall what I had found
I was dreaming in my dreaming
god knows / a purer view
as I surrender to my sleeping
I commit my dream to you

The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power
The people have the power

The power to dream / to rule
to wrestle the world from fools
it's decreed the people rule
it's decreed the people rule
LISTEN
I believe everything we dream
can come to pass through our union
we can turn the world around
we can turn the earth's revolution
we have the power
People have the power ...

Larry and I are in the press tent--the energy is fantastic!

Dick went out to take more photos.

This is the most amazing and positive energy yet...

We ran into Deb from the Blog AND Beth is here too--we will see her later.

We found Veritas and she is VERY COOL!

You are all with us marching...

Posted by: Truth Shall Prevail at September 24, 2005 01:55 PM

So many puppets on CSPAN at any given time... it'll be hard to tell the difference.

Charlie McCarthyism

FROM SUZ,

They WERE moving (and stopped again - must be SWARMS of people!!) and now have stopped, but are now by the Department of Commerce.

THE CROWD IS CHANTING -

"IMPEACH GEORGE BUSH!!!"

"HEY HEY, HO HO, GEORGE BUSH, HAS GOT TO GO!!"

Suz says "We've got people of all ages, all generations here. Grams and Grandpas walking with canes. Little babies sleeping on their moms and dads."

Suz, as a roving reporter, asked little Eva, 4 years old, what she thought of the march.
Eva said: "This is FUN!"

Patti, I asked them to get someone, if possible, to make a sign saying "Drunk on Power". Suz put it out to the crowd.

Suz told the crowd that they are being heard. She told them that we are posting and blogswarming. They were yelling their comments and chats into her phone!!!

wow i wish i could be there! keep the pictures coming!

"What we owe the dead is an end to the killing!" - Jessica Lange

THEY are now near the White House, at 15th and Pennsylvania Avenue.

People are remaining peaceful.

They marched past a few pro-war demonstrators on a corner, and only one or two people in the anti-war march noticed them.

Save a Soldier

Impeach A President

Refresh if you haven't lately and scroll to the top to check out the newest batch of pictures..

Come into the LIVE CHAT to talk to someone who is at the march right now!!!

http://www.democracycellproject.net/chat/index.php

There sure are a lot of wet LIBERAL panties out there. You are accomplishing NOTHING! You were losers in 2000, you were losers in 2004, you will be losers in 2006 and 2008.
People are tired of your assocaition with communist groups and your hate of America.You are getting NO coverage, why? because people have more important things to do. The war will continue and the troops will come home when the job is done. This is not the 60's. You no longer have control of the MSM and peoples televisions.You lose, again.

Posted by: LJS at September 24, 2005 02:26 PM

As I understand it the primary form of government in the United States of America is democracy. One which every person at DCP is very proud to support in our communities and in our government. And in fact, that's what we're doing here today.

Did you say you wanted to live with communists? I suggest you try elsewhere. Don't have any of them here.

Right, okay, so, 300,000+ people are here, not accomplishing anything. Naturally. By the way, communism died around the same time as the 60s, so why are you bringing them into this? Are you a communist LJS? I bet you are.

LJS,losers you say? WE WON BOTH ELECTIONS and we're going to make certain you and your ilk don't STEAL the next one. Bug off you f'er

why are they not getting coverage gee i dont know..

WHY WOULDNT the media cover a gathering of oh a couple of HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE...

I mean not like they have a PARTICULAR job to do or anything..

CNN estimating the crowd at 600,000!

Christy,MSM is too busy covering the drama of hurricanes,rather than reporting "real" news,and the reality of why these tragedies happen.

Amy Goodman is standing two feet away--she says HI!

What is the direct server/channel information to get into chat? I hate Java interfaces and have a real IRC client. I really feel like discussing this but I can't if I don't know where to go. Please let me know what's up, thanks!

Sit In at the Washington Post

Press join the PEOPLE!!!

hey ms geek

you're looking for irc.winbeta.org

join channel #dcp.lounge

This thread at dailykos is being updated with pictures from the DC traffic cams... keep scrolling down...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/24/142248/079

Maxine Waters just walked by...

Update from Suz,

"We are almost to the White House! I can see the roof of the White House, and the flag.

There are so many people that I have hold of someone's shirt so I don't get separated from my group."

She said there are now people marching on the sidewalks, to help the crowd move a bit faster. They haven't seen too many pro-war demonstrators.

Cars are honking and giving them the thumbs up, and onlookers are cheering and giving them the peace sign and thumbs up.

Such a huge crowd that they are only able to take baby steps.

Saw a "Republican for Impeachment" sign.

Maxine ripping Bush and the crowd goes WILD

!

Feel like writing an LTE about the march today and the way it's been covered by the MSM (mainstream media)?

Here's a link to the email addresses for national organizations you may want to include...

http://www.democracycellproject.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=469&view=findpost&p=1638

And here's the link to alternate indymedia type sites:

http://www.democracycellproject.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=247

Thanks, Dwahzon. I am going to hit every media address I have, and hit other blogs as well, and ask them to do the same....

Cover the massive peace march on Washington, D.C.

Anyone else?

Joan Baez is singing "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" now--just beautiful

AL SHarpton here--I shook his hand

Karen just called me and let me listen to Joan Baez live... so amazing... Now she's singing "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" ...WHEN WILL THEY EVER LEARN???

"Joe Hill" now..and I just saw Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton together! Good times, good times

"PROJECT for a NEW AMERICAN CENTURY" Handout Sheets>>>
Just got back from my local Sept 24th peace rally (not DC) and got an outstanding idea from a man who gave handouts on 4" X 5-1/2" papers (type four of 'em on an 8"x11" sheet and cut 'em into 4 handouts per sheet). Of course, keep handing these out AFTER the rally and march too! PLEASE FORMAT THESE BETTER ON ACTUAL HANDOUT SHEETS. Content>>>

"PROJECT for a NEW AMERICAN CENTURY".

The people who brought us:
> War without end
> Shock and Awe
> Abu Graibh
> War-mongering and war-profiteering
> and on and on.

For a brief introduction, please visit:

http://www.crisispapers.org/Editorials/PNAC-Primer.htm

Just gave Maxine Waters a DCP card...

Bradblog has links to streaming media of 4 of the speakers who talked prior to the march

http://www.bradblog.com/

Live video of Joan Baez singing at Operation Ceasefire concert...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4872943

Cindy Sheehan, the California mother who drew thousands of demonstrators to her 26-day vigil outside Bush's Texas ranch last month, won a roar of approval when she took the stage in Washington. Her 24-year-old son, Casey, was killed in Iraq last year.

"Shame on you," Sheehan admonished, directing that portion of her remarks to members of Congress who backed Bush on the war. "How many more of other people's children are you willing to sacrifice?

She led the crowd in chanting, "Not one more."

Separately, hundreds of opponents of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund danced to the beat of drums in the Dupont Circle part of the city before marching toward the White House to join the anti-war protesters.

Supporters of Bush's policy in Iraq assembled in smaller numbers to get their voice heard in the day's anti-war din. About 150 of them rallied at the U.S. Navy Memorial.

Gary Qualls, 48, of Temple, Texas, whose Marine reservist son, Louis, died last year in the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, asked: "If you bring them home now, who's going to be responsible for all the atrocities that are fixing to happen over there? Cindy Sheehan?"

---

Associated Press writer Elizabeth White contributed to this report.

There were without a doubt, well over 100,000 participants in the march. Plus, there were thousands of people like me who stood on the sidelines to cheer them on and to take pictures.

When the march started just after 12:30, I walked ahead to stake out my perch. I walked past Cindy Sheehan, who was marching next to Rev. Jessie Jackson. In front of them and along the sides of the road were dozens of media people trying to take their pictures. I raised my camera, pointed it in their direction, clicked away and hoped I aimed correctly.

Because of train delays and late arrivals, there were hundreds of people walking against the direction of the March trying to get to the starting point. This caused the beginning of the march to slow to a crawl as they waited for the "wrong way people" to either move to the side or turn around and join in the march from where they were.

I walked ahead to the first turn and found a ledge four feet off the ground to stand on. That's where I stood for the next three hours taking pictures. When it was over, I had takes almost 200 pictures on my digital camera!

Does anyone know a good website where I can post them? The following site has already posted over 300 photos:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/3093

The Rethugs had their anti-antiwar demonstration at 10AM. But it was blocks away from where we were. Their presence was as significant as a pesty fly buzzing around your head. I only saw two of their stupid signs before the march.

Of course, there were no incidents involving police intervention. Although the cops were plentiful, they mostly stood around talking to one another.

From beginning to end the crowded and densely packed march lasted for over three hours. People were walking past me at a rate of about ten per second. there was so much to see that it was impossible to take it all in. At 10 people per second, my estimate is 108,000 marchers.

There were groups who represented labor unions, political causes, cities and states. People carried signs, banners, flag covered coffins, giant white doves and a huge peace sign made out of pink helium filled balloons!

One of the most vocal groups was the one who had earlier protested at the IMF meeting. There were also several drum groups and megaphone lead slogan shouting.

Back on the Mall, there were many tents and tables set up for people to sell their buttons, stickers, magnet ribbons, tee shirts, etc. Many groups asked for donations and had petitions for us to sign.

Of course, the most moving display on the mall were the 1900 little white crosses perfectly lined up in row after row, followed by the empty soldiers' boots and flag covered coffins, also lined up in rows. When I saw it, I thought it looked like Bush/Cheney's conveyor belt of slaughter.

Still, with all of those people protesting the war, there were a few missing from the event... namely, Democratic politicians who were AWOL doing their invertebrate impressions, again. Pity, and I thought the decision to attend or not attend was a no brainer. They really blew an amazing opportunity for themselves.

I know that I wasn't the only one to notice the gaps left by the Democrats because the Green, Libertarian and other minority parties showed up and were happy to take their place.

Tomorrow, the Peace Gathering continues...

Great report, Kevin. We'd love to see some of your best shots! Send them to info@democracycellproject.net