Saturday the 24th was the march and rally. C and I met with CodePink, NOW and Feminist Majority in a plaza at 14th and Independence where we set up a stage, blew up balloons and got our pink gear on. Everyone milled around for a bit and took pictures, but before we knew it, it was time to get moving. The CP women (Medea, Gael, Jody, etc) talked about the events, and we went through some of the songs and chants for the march. There were several other speakers including Camilo Mejeda, Cindy Sheehan, Rep. Lynn Woolsey, and Margot Kidder. After they were done, Joan Baez came forward and sang several songs for us. That was great. Seeing and hearing her up close like that was fabu....she's beautiful too....one of those people who just gets better with age.
Then we were OFF to the march....
so we thought....
Actually we were off to stand it the street for a bit. Between the fact that the main rally was still going on, and that there were so many people there feeding into the march, we stood there for three hours before we moved. We certainly moved amongst ourselves though. It was interesting to look around and see al the different groups in attendance and to read their signs. People were young and old, black and white, and everything inbetween. Some of the signs were a play on words from the Vietnam war (make levees, not war!). Some were funny. Others were hopeful. In that last photo you can see a segement of the string made by UPJ with photos of all the Americans that have died in this war. It was a very powerful visual because it was just so freaking long....it took forever to pass through the crowd. We listened (and laughed) as the Raging Grannies serenaded us. (buddhist monks to the left of us and raging grannies to the right....I was in good company.) It was a great opportunity to talk to others who'd made this same trip to speak out for peace and and to oppose the administration's foreign policy. Many stopped to ask about CodePink. It was tiring standing around like that, but finally we marched through the streets of Washington. The route was 1.4 miles, but it took us hours to snake through the streets where we sang and shouted and chanted.
More later....
Then we were OFF to the march....
so we thought....
Actually we were off to stand it the street for a bit. Between the fact that the main rally was still going on, and that there were so many people there feeding into the march, we stood there for three hours before we moved. We certainly moved amongst ourselves though. It was interesting to look around and see al the different groups in attendance and to read their signs. People were young and old, black and white, and everything inbetween. Some of the signs were a play on words from the Vietnam war (make levees, not war!). Some were funny. Others were hopeful. In that last photo you can see a segement of the string made by UPJ with photos of all the Americans that have died in this war. It was a very powerful visual because it was just so freaking long....it took forever to pass through the crowd. We listened (and laughed) as the Raging Grannies serenaded us. (buddhist monks to the left of us and raging grannies to the right....I was in good company.) It was a great opportunity to talk to others who'd made this same trip to speak out for peace and and to oppose the administration's foreign policy. Many stopped to ask about CodePink. It was tiring standing around like that, but finally we marched through the streets of Washington. The route was 1.4 miles, but it took us hours to snake through the streets where we sang and shouted and chanted.
More later....
posted by Terry at 8:56 AM
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