Leaderless organizing took a decidedly mainstream turn across the country today, as Trust The People demonstrations took place in dozens of different cities across the country, including one at the Westwood Federal Building.



There were more folks with grey hair than magenta, and it was hard to see any significant difference between the crowd of demonstrators and any other similarly-sized group of people you might find on LA's Westside. The one thing you couldn't find was somebody in charge.

Organized almost entirely over the internet (I know there were some cell phone calls!) Trust The People turned out a crowd that easily topped 300 people for several hours, and may have reached 400 to 500 at its peak. The crowd was extremely spirited and mobile, with people constantly circulating aroud the four corners of Wilshire & Veteran. Cars honked their horns constantly, less than a dozen police stood off to the side chatting amongst themselves, and people sported a bewildering array of handmade signs.

Some examples of what they said:

"Let My Zedeh Vote"

"No G.O.P. Coup"

"Read My Lips: No New Rutherfords"

"Leave No Vote Behind"

"Got Democracy?"

"The Truth Is Worth The Wait"

"Bush Bros Banana Republicans"

"The Truth Counts -- Count The Truth"

"My Dog Pisses on Bush"

(The last was carried by a woman with a border collie in tow.)

There were a few stray signs of more radical sentiments, a sign that said, "Nobody For President," a Robbie Conal "It Can't Happen Here" T-Shirt featuring Bush Sr., and even some George Carlin words here and there. But for the most part it was almost innocuous. A demonstration for fair elections in America.

I forgot to explain that the link provided with this story is to a whole series of pictures taken at the demonstration.

>There were more folks with grey

>hair than magenta

I'm detecting a real undercurrent of ageism in the anti-globalization movement. It's a fact of life that a lot of people who come out are going to be 50 and over, because they were radicalized in the Viet Nam era and never forgot it. They should be welcomed, not just for experience but because this way the generation that was seduced by Ray Gun/George I is surrounded and can't turn it into another generation gap.

I know it's fun to put youthful rebellion onto politics, and talk about a generation rising up. I wouldn't stop anyone from doing that. It's cool. I just hope nobody gets excluded.

Hey I got some turntables for the cause. My weapons of choice. I love this entire situation. I have never been this happy because I seen it comin, I wanted it to happen. This is so hilarious. I laugh about every 10 minutes uncontrollibly. Different Scenarios keep running through my mind. And they make me laugh. I essentially won by voting Nader. I wanted it to happen. I assume that the 300+ thousand members of this site in LA are the same 347+thousand in LA that voted Nader. Where is our party? I know the LAPD will not fight fair. Obviosly. What now? Drugs? movies? music? I think we have gotten past that shit. I hate to be thinking about that. Essentially I am happy that I made Gore and Busch fight it out. How come flooridians do not get shot at with tear gas and rubber bullets when they protest?

I hope that the federal building next week is filled with unhappy people. I will be unhappy no matter who gets to be president. Stinky politcs piss me off.



Oh yeah, the tipper thing. I wonder how hillary clinton can call for Ralph nader to be "killed"? I aslo wonder how John McCain, and lynne Cheney joined joe leiberman and tipper gore in the "battle of los angeles"? What does that say? An obvious threat huh? Well haha we won no matter what! You cannot silence the voiceless. They will shout back. (haha 10 minutes past by).

Tipper Gore obviously cost her husband the election by pissing on the people she needed most to help her husband beat the "retard". Many people who did not want tipper to fuck with their DOOM64, Ozzy, Schwarzeneger, matrix, Eminem, NWA, ect.ect. voted for the "retard" as well. Not NADER. So Tipper cost the demacrats the Election by picking a fight with the people they are supposed to defend.

I can tell you this, (10 minutes are comin up........ I type slow) that Tipper was the first politican aside from the president, I ever heard of. At about 12 or so she tried to take my music away cause my mommy could not! Bit her in the ass Did'nt it ?

That is true.

That won't be the issue.

of course.

Riot time.

In the words of Zack de la Rocha, "So raise your fist and march around, just go take what cha need!"

I totally agree with the age thing.

I am a Rave dj and we deal with that all the time. Raving is not a age thing. It is a people thing.

Same goes for the movement.

Young people should be proud for participating and essentially changing the world.

Older folks should be thankfull(that you can read a ballot) that the young people ARE involved. That we made a difference together.

We all are never going to get any where by dividing the group that needs each other.

The 60's are alive again! The yuppies that sold out, hate that. You older folks have been reminded of your way. The young are responsible for doing so.

We did it nicely though, don't cha think?

We young people failed at getting out to vote. We did better but not good enough.

My comment about grey hair vs. magenta was a dig at the superficiallity of the media that went on and on about protesters with magenta hair at the N30 & A16 demos, as well as a shorthand way of saying that this crowd was more representative of the American mainstream, which DOES have a lot more elders than anti-globalization movement does--at least so far.

The term "politically correct" was *originally* a term used on the left for people who obsessed over minutia like this in preference to doing anything substantive. I'm sure that there is some ageism in the anti-globalization movement, just as there are traces of everything else that ails our society. But the proper way to deal with it is to deal with the *substance* of ageism when it appears, not to jump all over shadows & spooks.

In short: lighten up!

>My comment about grey hair vs. magenta was a dig at the >superficiallity of the media that went on and on about >protesters with magenta hair at the N30 & A16 demos



Oh, they dissed us in the media about magenta hair? All I remember is the media being somehow outraged that nobody at A14-16 had corporate logos all over their clothes like good Amurrkan consumers are supposed to. Presumably if such a terrible thing catches on, it hurts their advertising.

What's wrong with magenta hair anyway? I'm kind of glad it's back.

Sorry I missed the context, Paul. You do a great job with the IMC. I'm not PC either, because I don't want to give the right wing such an easy thing to dis me on. They'll have to earn that.