The situation in Westwood is very tense at 7 o'clock as the police have moved in with an aggressive show of force against thousands of anti-war demonstrators.

Around 6 o'clock, there were roughly 10,000 people at the intersection of Veteran and Wilshire. Demonstrators had been marching through the crosswalks of Wilshire, and staying in them blocking traffic, but getting up after a minute or two.

At about 5:50PM, Veteran was closed down but Wilshire was still open in both directions.

At 5:50, around 250 demonstrators flooded into the intersection and blocked the eastbound lane of Wilshire. They stayed there for about 5 to 7 minutes, at which point the police started to move back the crowd with force. People who objected to the force were treated with greater force. It took about 5 minutes for the police to beat back the crowd, but 20 to 25 people remained seated in the intersection.

The National Lawyer's Guild intervened and established a dialogue with the police. Shortly thereafter, the remaining protesters were allowed to join again with the crowd.

At that moment, the police and sherriff departments closed down the intersection, to keep demonstrators on the corners of the intersection. They were not allowed to cross the street. A tense standoff ensued, and eventually, the demonstrators moved into Wilshire about 25 yards west of the intersection, and they still remain there at this time. There are approximately 300 demonstrators sitting and standing.

Many people left once the situation got tense, and the crowd is down to around 5000 people. Until 6 o'clock people had continued to pour in, and the spirit of the crowd was serious, but upbeat. However, now, at 7PM, the situation is tense, due to the aggression of the police.

Four young demonstrators were just arrested (at 7:14) for staging a die-in. These are the first known arrests of this demonstration.

Leave the roads for those who earn a living, losers

It seems to me that "abe lincoln" who posted above is a fair weather friend of free speech. Free speech isn't just for ordering big macs you dumb ass.

I would love to point out that most of the people in opposition to the war are employed, but were made too ill by the war to go to work today.

:-) :-) :-) from Israel

HEY WORK BOY, I'LL SHOOT YOUR ASS IF YOU DON'T SHUT IT.

BUSH SAID IT'S OK TO DO PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKES NOW AND I HAVE THIS FEELING YOU MIGHT BE VIOLENT TOWARDS ME AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE , SO SHOULD I GET A SHOTGUN AND GO DOWN YOUR STREET?

YOUR BUSH BOY SAID ITS ALRITE NOW ...YEEE HAAA!

Nonviolent protest is a time honored tradition of noble people, who speak their conscience against state violence. Please treat its participants with respect. Yes we have jobs, we are doctors, computer programers, truck drivers, stay t home moms and probably some of your friends. Yes we work on social justice issues every day, every week, every month, every year. We only yell in the streets like crazy people when our government drives us to such insanity with internationally condemned invasions. Some day, we may be the front lines protecting you from totalitarianism. So be nice! Peace.

CALL TO ARMS!!!
Rise up people of america, take up arms against your
oppressive nazi regime. Time for second revolution!
Don't take any shit from police or army. They WILL kill you if they are told to.
Arm yourselves for defence and march wherever the fuck you want!

can someone there give a fresh update on the westwood rally? is it still happening?

Don't engage the people that come out of the woodwork and make Bushoid like noises. A third of them are provos or net cops, another third just like to read flames, and the rest have far too much time on their hands.

Point being, they want you to engage, so it will eat up all our bandwidth. If you feed them, they will grow, ang probably multiply, so don't.

The b/w you save may be your own.

Update please?

I can really see the violence inhereted in the system. I love this country and freedom of speech. I dont like police brutality and the racism this war is bringing out in people. So if you are pro-war please educate yourself listen/read different media outlets. Stop the right wing rhetoric that people who are for the war spill out like diaharia. Think for yourself and free your mind like the rest of us have.

I left the rally at around 8:15. At that point, the man on the mic had just announced that when the crowd left they would all leave together (yes, the organizers seemed to like to tell everyone what to do, and no, i didn't listen to the squealing piggy who told me the street where my friend parked the car he drove us to the rally in was closed, either) and consider the action a success, so i assumed that it was almost over that point.

A few corrections to the original post: first, the first arrests came at about 6:20 after a hundred or two protesters took the crosswalk and refused to move when the light changed. The folks who sat-in and were arrested (at least some of the dozen or so of them were just kids) deserve a big thanks, as, intentionally or not, their action allowed a lot of other people to take to the street while the cops were busy dealing with them. second, i think 10,000 is too high as a crowd estimate. I've covered lots of gatherings, from neighborhood anti-police brutality marches of a few dozen to the 80,000-strong Battle of Seattle, and i''d put this one at 2-3,000. It might have been as big as 5,000 or so, but not 10K. Of course, guessing crowd size just by looking at it from ground level is no science, and the fact that the crowd was split up on all four corners made it even harder. I just can't imagine it was that big.

Look for video of the action tomorrow on this site.

well, well, well. i saw the kids detained, but i didn't see them rejoin the crowd. nor did i read the above post very carefully before i chimed in with my asinine 'correction.' boy is my face red! i still don't think the crowd was 10,000, though.

always check your facts, folks. even when it's just a comment.

around 10:15 there was a seemingly spontaneous march into westwood of about 50-70 people with bike cops all around, mostly younger folks, and someone at the front with a mic yelling 'no war but the class war'. yeah! re-joining the smaller group left the federal building, the protest seems to be winding down but still getting a ton of enthusiastic honks from cars going down wilshire. the cops have disabled the light at veteran so there is nopossibility of a red light/walk sign lit up for people to use to cross from the south side of wilshire to the north side. there were maybe 5 people at the northeast corner of wilshire & veteran and sure enough, two cops standing right in front of them, batons held in their hands.. ridiculous.

i also saw those kids get plasti-handcuffed & led away but then i saw at least one of them, the boy with the dyed blonde hair, walking around later so i think maybe they were all released.

at one point when the police first started pushing us all back off the street, i guess around 6 something, i saw one cop grab a man in a wheelchair by the handles of his chair and then pushed hard & sent him down veteran until the guy got control of his whellchair again-- i was so pissed off, that was so disrespectful, what an asshole that cop was..

How long are we going to be governed by club wielding cavemen?

I am totally against this war and have been to many many protests. I don't understand the point of blocking streets or trying to instigate our police officers. We're marching FOR PEACE here right? So why would we diliberately try to piss off the cops creating hostility? Obey the police they are allowing us to protest. nowhere in the constitution does it say we should be allowed to disrupt society when we disagree with our president. If you want him impeached sitting in the streets is not the answer either. Misdirected energy is just wasted energy.

i'm sorry katie k. but it's messed up how you say "Obey the police they are allowing us to protest"..

what the crap is that? seriously, they are *allowing* us to protest? no, that's our right!

in fact, we were doing a find job tonight of protesting & yeah staying in the crosswalk a little longer then legal but then moving out of the way onto the sidewalk & then doing it over again. so yeah we slowed down traffic a bit.

but who actually *blocked* traffic, prevented it from going down wilshire? the police, obviously.

THAT is when people came out into the street en masse. IN SUPPORT of those the police had corralled in the middle of wilshre and ANGER that the police would be so aggressive (and they were, and so unprovoked-- i'm sorry but staying in the intersection a little long is NOT violent and does not necessitate bully clubs)..

so please think about "Obey the police they are allowing us to protest".

Disruptions of this nature are necessary, the fundamental point being to make an impact on as many levels as possible. These protests around the world bring a certain awareness to those who might not even think about it. protests are a call to those with ideals to speak up. and OBEY the police? especially when they would beat those who ARE being peaceful. Need i remind u of protests in the sixties and seventies. water hoses and dogs? FUCK THE POLICE!

hi. i am one of the people who got arrested. we were walking away when at least 10 cops ran after me, grabbed me and led me quietly away. i kept asking them what i was getting arrested for and they either said "we dont know yet" or "shut up". they then took us in the back where they video taped us, took our mug shot, serched us about a million times, threw us in the back of a police van, then car for at least an hour. they then came and took us to the station where they got more info, treated me like complete shit and jsut seemed to get kicks out of the whole situation. they took a gas mask and a book to hold against me. my trial is may 29th and if anyone has any advise or anything, go ahead and contact me! thanks

what book was it?

Being part of the group of around 100 who marched from the rally point at whilshire and veteran, i will be the first to admit that the police, for the most part, were acting somewhat decent and respectfull. there was pretty much no intervention by the police, except for a few kids walking in the bikelane who were threatened. ill admit, i was surprised by thier restraint, but REGARDLESS, they should not be commended or rewarded for simply not beating the shit out of us, or not hosing us. the only realistic reason they DIDNT beat us or arrest us was that we were marching in highly visible, busy public streets. the LAPD allready has enough negative stigma attached to them, so allowing them to take out thier aggression on a bunch of 'commies' or 'lefties' or 'fucking hippies' would simply be a bad PR decision. As far as the public reaction to the spontaneious march, people in cars and pedestrians were extremely receptive. i only witnessed two instances of negative reaction: a woman holding an american flag flipped us off, and a drunk guy yelled 'go home hippies'. The question that comes to my mind is , if out of the hundreds of people in downtown L.A. who witnessed the march and supported us, who exactly is being polled when you see U.S. support for the war on major media news outlets?

The concept of actually blocking traffic and temporarily disrupting the ordinary social contract is not particularly Constitutional, but it is implicit in the Declaration of Independence, which is the original document of our freedom.

Anyone who chooses that path of patriotism will be called a traitor in the act, and a hero honored for ages in success in establishing 'new guards for our security.'

This is not intended as an endorsement of violence, nor do I particularly choose this form of protest. I directly confront racists, and it is dangerous enough.

As for the police, tonight I went down their line and pointed my finger at them shouted, "We are your neighbors! Don't forget!" This went on until one of them said, "Right on, brother."

But that was LAPD. The Sheriffs were nasty, impersonal, screw-you Westsiders jerks. They certainly seemed to be making a political statement, where the LAPD seems mostly concerned with maintaining some control over the situation.

I earnestly hope and intensely wish that as little human damage as possible will occur in this transition. But I salute those who know who they are, know what they're doing, and have hearts that drive them to do it. You are our future, all of you. Try to stay calm out there, no matter what your manifestation. The whole human race is our heart.

The racists are taking a dinosaur right turn, and WE the People are heading LEFT. Peace be upon you, and thank you.

I'd have to agree that the crowd en masse was in the 1-5k range. However, up until 9 o'clock there were people still coming and going as there were at 5 o'clock when I arrived. So, it's possible that the total number of people at the protest was around 10k, just not all at the same time. I must admit that for the most part, the police and deputies weren't anywhere near as totalitarian/abusive as they "could" be. I even got one to crack a smile. I will say this, though; standing a few feet away from a row of armed sheriff’s deputies in full riot gear caused me to shake. Now, I'm no wuss. I've protested before, and I've been held hostage in my own home. But, the riot gear is designed to freak me out, and it did. I think it's an experience every pro-war person should have, standing in front of that row of cops. It's better than reading a definition of totalitarianism in the dictionary. You can actually know what it feels like here in the good ole US of A. See y'all on Saturday!

It is easy to grow frustrated and angry with the lack of coverage and the drones who seem to be feeding the polls and news. And want a reaction, any reaction, to validate that we are here and our voices are raised. But antagonizing or frightening the cops to get that reaction is a waste of energy and hurts more than it helps. Because it is fear really-- cops don't get non-violent action and what is not understood is often feared. At some level they would be less afraid if they can get into a confrontaion or fight-- that is something they are comfortable with. But that's their game. Not mine/ours.

I'm no fan of the police and their tactics; I get angry too. But they are afraid, our culture is steeped in fear to the point people will accept a brutal and unjust war for some illusion of less fear. People are afraid of dissent because of fear they might have to think if others do. I truly believe that fear and violence go hand-in-hand and we have to see and heal the fear. And where brutality or injustice is, witness it.

I was at the protest on Wednesday and they did similar to me and the black bloc group I was in. The entire time we were peaceful attending the protest, but dressed in all black and wearing bandanna's concealing our faces, they had a group of 8-10 cops constantly monitoring us and keeping near us for the duration of our 4 hour stay. As soon as we walked towards the 405 freeway, the group followed. They caught up to me and my four friends at the freeway entrance and stopped us as four squad cars full of more riot gear cops and the helicopter circled over us. They threw us against the fence and searched us excessively and desperately. They took 25 riot gear cops just to hassle 5 teenagers. They were obviously making it clear that Black Bloc in any form was not welcomed there. One of my friends was arrested for possessing a sling-shot he not knowingly had in his backpack but was released early the morning after. If anyone was there for the 19th, I was the one in black that had the snare drum rallying the people near the intersection. Be weary, the cops are out to intimidate any revolutionary looking people. DO NOT let them scare you out of standing up.

Fear and violence go hand in hand, no doubt, but racism is more than being afraid. It is a state of ignorance as well. The more ignorant someone is about the 'other,' the more likely there is going to be racism, since the illusion of the mirror of self makes the ignorant project their hatred onto the 'other.'

This ignorance cannot be healed on with love, because first it has to be exposed. Exposing the racism of the American people is difficult work...there is much denial. After all, this culture has never admitted to the genocide of the original natives. It is still an almost completely euphemised act.

Blocking traffic is a violation of the social contract. Exhorting one's neighbors in the cause of peace is also a violation of the social contract. Protest must counter the expectation of the culture or it is not protest. As long as this activity stays benign toward the population (the protestors don't attack the People), it is a choice that some may make, and others applaud even if it isn't always the most graceful affair. It is courageous, and it is righteous. Just keep the violence to a minimum is all many of us ask.

I was among those arrested. At 6 or so. There were 8 of us. Me, four other males, and three females. None of us knew each other but we bonded a lot from the experience.

Out of the 8 of us, I was the only one that had been arrested at a protest before. It's awesome to see this expanding and deepening movement. (I'd love to see a national convergence to shut down Capitol Hill. imagine that...)

We bonded a lot, spent hours on the bus chanting and chatting while waiting to be processed.

It was awesome watching the continuing action from the cop bus, seeing people occupy the streets. We heard from the detective that some other arrestees--the 7 o'clock ones?--were taken by the Sheriffs. Apparently that whole intersection is on the border of several jurisdictions--LAPD, Sheriffs, and, of course, Feds. I also heard that there were probably 200 sheriffs and 200 lapd there. The SWAT team ('Metro') was also in the wings, apparently.
First we went to the West LA station. Tons of cops--like 30--were waiting there in the parking lot at a special station they'd set up just for the protesters. They joked at the fact there were only 8 of us; they'd all been on alert in anticipation of a whole bunch more arrests. We hung out there for a while as they debated what to do with us--wait for potentially more arrivals or shuttle us off to Van Nuys? (I gather Van Nuys was chosen cuz they have female facilities that West LA doesn't, and they wanted to keep us together.)

Then they drove us to Van Nuys for the final part. (Fingerprints and stuff...)

Finally released O.R. at 1:30.

Our court date is April 10 @ 8:30 am. Charge: refusal to disperse.

after crying and feeling anxious alot yesterday, I felt very alive today. It felt good. The more action I take, the more free I become of the Matrix.


Shawn

Is there going to be another protest in Westwood on Saturday?

The next protest is Saturday at noon at Hollywood and Vine.

You people for "peace" for the Iraqi people are morons. Here's is your proof. And it will ONLY GET BIGGER. Are you starting to feel stupid yet?

"No Saddam Hussein!" one young man in headscarf told Gurfein. "Bush!"


U.S. Marines Rip Down Saddam Portraits
1 hour, 5 minutes ago

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER, Associated Press Writer

Milling crowds of men and boys watched as the Marines attached ropes on the front of their Jeeps to one portrait and then backed up, peeling the Iraqi leader's black-and-white metal image off a frame. Some locals briefly joined Maj. David "Bull" Gurfein in a new cheer.


"Iraqis! Iraqis! Iraqis!" Gurfein yelled, pumping his fist in the air.


"We wanted to send a message that Saddam is done," said Gurfein, a New York native in the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. "People are scared to show a lot of emotion. That's why we wanted to show them this time we're here, and Saddam is done."


The Marines arrived in Safwan, just across the Kuwait border, after Cobra attack helicopters, attack jets, tanks, 155 mm howitzers and sharpshooters cleared the way along Route 80, the main road into Iraq (news - web sites).


Safwan, 375 miles south of Baghdad, is a poor, dirty, wrecked town pocked by shrapnel from the last Gulf war (news - web sites). Iraqi forces in the area sporadically fired mortars and guns for hours Thursday and Friday. Most townspeople hid, although residents brought forth a wounded little girl, her palm bleeding after the new fighting. Another man said his wife was shot in the leg by the Americans.


A few men and boys ventured out, putting makeshift white flags on their pickup trucks or waving white T-shirts out truck windows.


"Americans very good," Ali Khemy said. "Iraq wants to be free."


Some chanted, "Ameriki! Ameriki!"


Many others in the starving town just patted their stomachs and raised their hands, begging for food.


A man identifying himself only as Abdullah welcomed the arrival of the U.S. troops: "Saddam Hussein is no good. Saddam Hussein a butcher."


An old woman shrouded in black — one of the very few women outside — knelt toward the feet of Americans, embracing an American woman. A younger man with her pulled her away, giving her a warning sign by sliding his finger across his throat.


In 1991, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis died after prematurely celebrating what they believed was their liberation from Saddam after the Gulf War. Some even pulled down a few pictures of Saddam then — only to be killed by Iraqi forces.


Gurfein playfully traded pats with a disabled man and turned down a dinner invitation from townspeople.


"Friend, friend," he told them in Arabic learned in the first Gulf War.


"We stopped in Kuwait that time," he said. "We were all ready to come up there then, and we never did."


The townspeople seemed grateful this time.


"No Saddam Hussein!" one young man in headscarf told Gurfein. "Bush!"

The New X
by The New X • Thursday March 20, 2003 Thut 04:33 PM



the fear that Saddam will attack the US with WMD shows how PARANOID americans are.

they don't really know why he will attack
they just know he will

"we don't know what a nigger is, but we're just gonna hate 'em anyway"

AMERICAN HYPOCRISY

TO ANY PRO-WAR ADVOCATE
I DARE YOU TO REPLY TO THIS:

The US government supported Saddam during his most murderous years. They supplied him with WMD and the technology to make his own WMD. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A KNOWN TYRANT. Why? So that he would use them on the Iranians. Even after Halabja in 1988, the US government CONTINUED to support him.

Now in the year 2003 (whether it is morally just or not), Saddam no longer wishes to play into US global strategy. So he is ALL OF A SUDDEN branded a TYRANT ------ EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A MURDEROUS TYRANT ALL THE YEARS THE US SUPPORTED HIM!

Isn't it hypocritical that although he was even more murderous back then, he was considered an ALLY and FRIEND OF AMERICA simply because he was killing Iranians (if 5,000 kurds happened to be gassed in a single attack thats no big deal). Now he's still murderous but now the US actually acknowledges that he is a tyrant. Imagine if he was still following US wishes by fighting with Iraq, would the US be calling him a TYRANT? I DON'T THINK SO.

HYPOCRISY HYPOCRISY HYPOCRISY.

Until the US apologizes to the victims of Saddam terror DURING THE YEARS THAT THEY SUPPORTED HIM, this war will only be about US PARANOIA and its attempts at gaining a FALSE sense of security.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

war advocates only want to see sand nigger blood being spilled. they try to improve the body count
2,500 Americans (WTC) < 100,000 Sand Niggers.

So they can feel better about themselves and feel as if they "won" the overall battle. Their oh so precious American pride was hurt on 9/11 and now they seek to get it back by killing sand niggers left rite and center

(basically this is the whole starship troopers scenario)

go here http://www.outwar.com/page.php?x=490159 for anti-war protests

I don't understand the point of trying to close down the streets. What does that accomplish, besides punish those of us who try to make an honest living, and who are trying to start the commute home to our families right when you decide to lay down in the streets?

What could this possibly accomplish? Just because you don't have the luxury of walking out/not working/protesting doesn't mean you're pro-war.

I don't understand the point of trying to close down the streets. What does that accomplish, besides punish those of us who try to make an honest living, and who are trying to start the commute home to our families right when you decide to lay down in the streets?

What could this possibly accomplish? Just because we don't have the luxury of walking out/not working/protesting doesn't mean you're pro-war. Some of us have to make a living.

yeah i work too -- BUT i showed up to protest after work, straight from work in fact. left the office the minute the clock struck five & went straight to westwood, listening to all the anti-war protest coverage on the radio (from kpfk to kpcc to kfa to kabc) & smiling the whole time. this morning i felt exhausted & ache-y from walking all night but yup i'm back at work, sneaking in a minute or two to look at indymedia & feel that same excitement i felt last night.. yeah people, we did great stuff last night, don't forget: "this is what democracy looks like"!

solidarity forever

Of course you don't understand - the point is to bring the U.S. war offensive to a grinding halt, or at least slow it down as much as the people can. And yes, that job you might have as an accountant for a military contractor or as a secretary for Occidental Petroleum does make *YOU* part of Bush's war machine - the one protesters are trying to stop.

This GET A JOB guy shows me why protest and CD is needed. He says, yeah the machine is killing people, but my job keeping cog 32145 greased and you people are gumming up the whole works. Exactly.

His words show he already has the seeds of change sprouting. Good work people, keep it up.

I am a long-time activist and I have been participating in many of the demonstrations in opposition of unjust social, economic and foreign policies for quite a while.

As far as the "take the streets" activity, while I personally enjoy the street theatre element of these displays of courage, I am concerned that these actions are a miscalculation of a serious visibility problem that demonstrators currently face.

It is easy to forget that views of the majority of demonstrators are informed by deeper education about world events than the propaganda which passes for news. When we stand on the street corners or in the street with our often genuinely clever and legitimately angry slogans to define us, we still are a long way from bridging the information gulf which stands between us and many others.

If we stop and consider, it is easy to understand why our opposition to this invasion or our concerns about many other related issues can appear to be "ignorant" or maladjusted to people who do not have the knowledge base we have acquired on the subjects at issue.

For this reason - civil disobedience ... while it may have been effective at a time when there was some independent ownership of media (when it might have resulted in some investigative attention getting paid to our concerns) instead plays into the hands of those who want to marginalize us. It also seems to justify harsher methods being used to subdue all protest.

I would like to see our collective energy directed at bridging this information impasse. If the LAPD and/or the sheriffs knew what many of us know about the issues... they would not be able to regard us as "The Enemy" . This perception that we are necessarily enemies of one another has been one of the greatest successes of those who own the multinational corporations which are being served by this strife.

Even KPFK does not educate new listeners of the background of our views, the same views which are distorted by mainstream media. Alternative explanations and resources for information need to be broadcast as a campaign to penetrate the disinformation block we are up against. Education is the single most powerful tool of the disenfranchised ... facts... not opinions, presented with respect for those who currently (and understandably) hold different views with as much passion and conviction as we have for our own. We have to be willing to listen and hear the basis for the views of people we don't agree with... and to respond with respect, kindness, and facts. More than anything... relevant facts presented in a coherent and if possible entertaining format... are the best tools we have for bridging the understanding gap which keeps us polarized against those with whom we need to make common cause.

if a black person tells me i am part of the problem of racism, i will listen carefully. i am not black. my ancestors were oppressed by the USA, but they were not slaves.

if a woman tells me i am part of the problem of sexism, i will listen carefully. i am not a woman. patriarchy may distort my own mind, but i benefit from the privilege of being a man in a sexist society.

but if an anti-war protester tells me i am part of the problem of war, i will stop listening. i am not benefitting from the war. i am on a crowded city bus, wishing i had dental insurance. i know the war is unjust. i could even be convinced to sign a petition or protest at a governemnt building or oil company headquarters. but if you ask me to pit myself against all the other working people around me, if you ask me to disrupt their lives and you ask me to accuse them of being part of the problem, i am likely to shake my head in disbelief and go home wondering where i can find a movement that will respect me and my situation.

when do we talk about us and when do we talk about them? the victims of global warming are, in some sense, everyone. the victims of the legacy of US slavery, on the other hand, are black people. the victims of discrimination against the handicapped are only the handicapped themselves. the victims of this war are primarily the iraqi people, but a vast spectrum of people have come to understand that the iraqis are not the only victims. the destruction of the WTC is coming to be understood by many people as one lost battle in a long long US military campaign for US power and access to resources in the middle east. some of the costs of this war are understood and felt by normal working people in the USA as they suffer the budget shortfalls that are epidemic across the country, as they suffer overcorwding on too few city buses, as they lose their sons and daughters to military recruiters, as their schools fall apart and run out of books and their friends go to jail and their future goes down the tube.

i think almost all normal people disagree with the idea that average working people should be the target of diruptions, direct actions, etc. if the goal is to stop this war.

positioning yourself in opposition to the vast majority of normal people is not going to raise consciousness about war.

movements that position small groups in opposition to the majority CAN be effective. movements against oppression of certain minority groups, for example, like the movements for gay rights.

in cases like that, small groups can often be effective as they position themselves against the majority while at the same time trying to educate the majority about specific oppressions that the majority may be very ignorant about.

but the anti-war movement is about as far from that as any movement could be. in the anti-war movement, like the environmental movement, probably tens of millions of people around the world understand that they are in danger. this gives anti-war movements the ability to grow many many times faster than the movements of the Dalits in India, or the black farmers' movements or the movements against slective deportation or political imprisonment.

as we become involved in more and more different kinds of movements, activists have to begin to think about these distinctions more carefully.

who the hell do u think u are wanna be abe, these ppl dont want war so they stand up in what they belive in, unlike u who r a sheep and would jump of a cliff if everybody else did, now go clean bush'stoilet if u love him so much.

I was thinking about planning a march but i dont kno if ppl would come to a protest planned by a kid if u would come to one email me.

you can have empire or republic, but not both. we, the american people, need to protect and treasure our constitution, and protest strongly against this military industrial adventurism. Thousands of tons of steel, explosive, rock and concrete hurtling about in the desert is not what we want, and not what we need. pre-emptive death tirades undermine our own democracy. get a life - turn off the TV and think!!!!

I went to work yesterday by bus, because I knew that to get home would be a challenge by car. When our bus go to Wilshire/Westwood - I was so happy to see all of the people who had flooded the streets. My heart was warm!

I, for one, am very happy that people are taking to the street. For each individual out there who thinks that protesting is wrong and won't do anything - there are five people who are actually standing up for what is right and are speaking out about this unjust war!

My boyfriend and I joined the group at the federal building at about 10:00. Even though many people had been there for hours - people's spirits were strong and the mood was a mix of sadness, but also of one of hope.

This morning on my way to work, there was a young man standing out at Wilshire and Veteran. He wore all white, and was holding a sign that said: Register Green.

Warmed my heart.

Sorry, but the LAPD is also out of control. I participated in the demonstration on Wednesday, the 19th, and I witnessed an LAPD motorcycle officer jump off his motorcycle which was stopped on Wilshire just west of the VA hospital, rush to the center of the street and with both of his hands roughly push a teen-aged female from behind. He hit her blind-side and with no cause. She was speaking to another officer. How about some of the photos from this same anti-war demonstration? In particular, notice the one of the black officer holding the riot gun pointed at the people (who were later arrested) sitting near the corner of Gayley and Wilshire. This was disgusting. At this same place and time, they arrested an older female in a wheelchair who was in the street and would not move. They tried several times to talk her out of being arrested. The reason? They had no facilities to deal with her wheelchair. Her answer to the LAPD: "That's your problem." In particular, the LAPD has used unreasonable force with the "elderly" (i.e., people who appear to be over the age of 50 years).

ALL law enforcement has engaged in ridiculous shows of power and force. I am ashamed watching supposedly grown men and women with the name of "Los Angeles" or "California" on their uniforms looking like a group of nothing more or less than immature high school bullies. Too bad that the news coverage is so biased that they have not shown some of the outrageous conduct by those who swear they are there only to "protect and serve."

Hi everybody,

I was also at the intersection of Wilshire and Veteran last Thursday. I felt very proud of America and Americans saying NO to this irresponsable administration.

An a foreign student who had lived 20 years under a communist dictatorship I think I understand the people of Iraq. Nobody likes Saddam, I am sure about it.

Yet I cannot aprove a war of aggression that disregards all international conventions, the United Nations Charter and the international consensus and which brings us back to the law of the jungle.

The proof: if US can do whatever it pleases,
the same does Turkey, enterinig Iraq against UN
and against American opposition.

Alex

PS If anybody took photos on March 20, would you be kind to post them here, or e-mail them to me ?(allecs13@hotmail.com)
I'd love to send them back to my friends back in Eastern Europe, to show them America is not Bush.
Thank you.

Alex

sorry if this was very late. i was one of the black bloc who radomly was arrested and harrased but then later let out. the book that they are going to try and use against me that they took with my gas mask and flag pole is "days of war, nights of love"

One of the young protesters arrested and charged is my son, Andrei. We are looking for anyone with a video sequence of the moments directly preceeding his arrest or anyone with info on police actions immediately before and while arresting him.
Please respond to bzgorbis@msn.com. or fax 323-651-1600
Thank you, Proud father.

that crimethinc book is great & *very* dangerous ;)

thanks for posting

go black bloc!

hah. yes!! when they were taking my mugshot some cops put that with all the "weapons" under a big light on a table looking at it. i told them " yeah, the most harmfull weapon on that table is that book!" they seemed to take the book very seriously.

reply on the "simple Jew"

Yeah shit head; let's see how sarcastic you get when we send your papi and protector *bush out of the white house in 2004. (next year. Yeah!)
But we'll sent him with a consolation gift:
A TEXAS SIZED, FU**ING, BOOT!!!!!!!

then all F****** Israelies will shit bricks!.

they are the cause of all this f****** mess!!