Plenty of Los Angeles' citizens took to the streets today for a rally and march to counter George "Dubya" Bush's InFraudulation. Current estimates of the number of participants in today's action range between 2000-3500 people. The rally at Pershing Square, which had been the staging area for the Democratic National Convention protests, featured, among others, Maxine Waters, Ed Asner, Sara Knopp of the ISO, and Kevin McKeown, a Green holding a seat in the Santa Monica City Council. LAPD was noticeable everywhere, in riot gear, on bicycles, and in the helicopter hum above us -- but they pretty much left us alone.

The march to the Federal Building had great energy. Contingents from the International Socialist Organization, the Green Party, the National Organization for Women, the Revolutionary Communist Party, the NAACP, Alienmindcontrol, and some anarchists marched with the crowd of mostly disillusioned Democrats. Chants heard during the march included "Hey, hey, ho, ho, George Bush has got to go!" "Dump George Bush" "Bush, Cheney, CIA, election fraud USA! and "What do we want? Democracy! When do we want it? NOW!"

The march went some twelve blocks up to the Federal Building, where another rally took place. Hokey folk squealers on the truck stage nearly killed all the good momentum from the march, but fortunately a few resourceful musicians and a powerful drummer in the crowd picked up the slack. Surprisingly, the LAPD didn't overeact or get their freak-on even once today. Apparently, the Democrats were running cover for us.

I thought the drummers were a little rude to hijack the event like that. They shut up after people made it plain (by their applause) that they were listening to the speaker.

I thought the drummers were a little rude to hijack the event like that. They shut up after people made it plain (by their applause) that they were listening to the speaker.

Noticed Tom used his PacBell email address. Dude -- putting aside political affiliation -- you gotta be careful about surfing at work and using your work email for non-work activities. You know they know where you go on the net?

The fact that your visiting Leftist, molotov cocktail throwing pages probably won't make your employer more sympathetic. Just guessing.

(I know, "we don't condone or support violence" -- its hyperbole.)

I was at the Counter-Coup... I'd say about 1500 people showed up. Lots of Green Party members.

More like 3000, and lots of white people of all ages. I wish there were
more minorities, but many of the left movements are in the process
of being co-opted by liberal whites. That's ok, but people of color will
not be muted (nor co-opted by the tokens who get into Bullshit's cabinet
either). I was there in downtown, watching the pigs with cameras watch me
and the other normal people in this country.

And Paul Daly needs to stop smoking that shit...

AS A PARADE MONITOR FOR J 20 & LA IMC REPORTER, I OBSERVED THE FULL PARADE UP BROADWAY FROM 6TH STREET TO 1ST STREET. THE CROWD WAS UP-BEAT, SPIRTIED, WITH MANY GREAT CHANTS SUCH "AIN'T NO POWER LIKE THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE" AND "TAKE BACK OUR DEMOCRACY". THE MASS VOICES WERE COMPLIMENTED BY THE LEAD TRUCK'S SOUND & BANNERS, ANDE EVEN MORE SO BY THE HUNDREDS OF SIGNS MADE AND HELD BY MARCHERS. AMONG THE CREATIVE SLOGANS ON THE POSTERS WERE "HAIL TO THE THIEF", "BUSHWACKED", "BUSH LEAGUE" AND "SELECTED, NOT ELECTED". A COLORFUL HAND-DRAWN FLOAT DEPECTING "KING GEORGE, THE BANNANA REPUBLICAN" WITH A BANNANA CROWN GRACED THE ROUTE.

THE ORDERLY, YET MILITANT CROWD, SOME BEATING DRUMS TO PACE THE MARCH, MADE MONITORING EASY, AS THEY FOLLOWED ORGANIZERS' DIRECTIONS TO STAY IN THE STREETS, AVOIDING POTENTIAL CONFLICT WITH HELMETED POLICE SQUADS, REMINISICIENT OF THE DNC.

THE CROWD, REPRESENTING A BROAD SPECTRUM OF POLITICAL ACTIVISTS FROM SOCIALISTS OF VARIOUS STRIPES TO DEMOCRATS TO GREENS TO BALCK-CLAD YOUNG ANARCHISTS, COMPLETELY FILLED THE SIX BLOCKS OF BROADWAY WITH CURB-TO-CURB BREADTH.

THE ONLY PROBLEMS WERE DELAYS FOR THE POLICE TO CLOSE THE INTERSECTIONS AS THE ROUTE TURNED ONTO EASTBOUND FIRST AND THEN NORTH ON LOS ANGELES STREET TO THE FEDERAL BUILDING, AND INTERMITTENT DEAD SPOTS FROM THE SOUND SYSTEM ON THE TRUCK AT THE END OF THE MARCH.

"Paul Daly needs to stop smoking that shit"??

What did I say to offend anyone here?

Touchy touchy.

Paul--I appreciate the advice, but this is my personal e-mail, not from work. Pacific Bell is an ISP for anyone with a phone service account who wants to get on the internet. No worries! :)