http://dc.indymedia.org Account of protest activity at the Navy Memorial on J20 by anonymous 11:31am Mon Jan 22 '01 A recount of the conflict that occured between protestors and law enforcement at the Navy Memorial, one of the most heated sites of the day. I spent most of my day around the Navy Memorial, and as I hadn't seen any real accounts of what happened there, I thought I'd add my two cents. At around 2 o'clock, members of the Black Bloc congregated in a large group in the space along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the Navy Memorial. After burning two or three American flags, approximately four anarchists climbed onto the concrete support base of a large mast/flagpole. The protesters brought down the flags, which were promptly trampled, and strung up a black and red anarchist flag. A white male Republican ran through a crowd of nearby NOW supporters to complain to the police guarding the parade route about the "desecration" of America's symbols. Although the police already seemed aware of the action, the complaint mobilized four or five officers to surround the base of the concrete podium, attempting to drag down to anarchists who were waving an additional black flag. Immediately, Black Bloc-ers surrounded the police, and the four protesters essentially "stage-dived" over the officers into the crowd of supporters. Officers tried to grab the anarchists, but the rest of the Bloc hid those who had raised the flags. Now finding themselves surrounded, the officers called for backup, and a few dozen heavily-armed riot police came to assist. A number of protesters were viciously as the police tried to clear the square, and I saw atleast two arrests. Slowly the protesters pushed the police back to Pennsylvania Avenue, chanting, "We're non-violent, how 'bout you!" There was an interesting dynamic at this location between the NOW supporters and members of the Black Bloc. While the NOW supporters were themselves stridently opposed to the inauguration and at odds with the police, many were reluctant to cheer the anarchists. They seemed confused: pleased with the Black Bloc's vocal defiance but unwilling to support flag-burning. The Black Bloc-er's seemed to be too busy getting beaten by police to worry about the NOW supporters. Later at the same location, a Black Bloc member was jumped by four individuals, who announced that he had was weilding a knife (I never saw any knife). The four individuals claimed to be some form of plain-clothes police officers or secret service agents, but at no time showed identification or badges. Also, a tennis ball was thrown that struck a car in the presidential motorcade, though I didn't see who through it. Now if I might close with my opinion of all the action. I personally don't agree with anarchy as a political philosophy, but I applaud the ends employed by the Black Bloc in their effort to oppose the current regime. They seem the most willing to undertake actions that scream unwillingness to comply with the American political process, and even if you don't like them, you have to admit that they know how to have fun... [61]add your own comments on NOW and the Bloc by broccoli 11:47am Mon Jan 22 '01 I was with the Black Bloc and I think the NOW people deseave props. They came to our aid in mass on 14th and k, and it was after they added several hundred poeople to the our crowd that police had to let go the 50 or so anarchists that had been detained for about 40 minutes. Before NOW showed up we just didn't have the numbers to get our friends out of being surrounded, detained, and prepared to be arrested and thrown on police busses. When the police charged us down at the navy memorial, NOW started screaming "POLICE RIOT", and "the whole world is watching", and I think this is at least part of why they backed off. they also seemed to really like the radical cheer leaders. So what if some of them didn't enjoy a flag burning. Props to NOW.... thanks for the solidarity and support. NOW Support of Bloc by Smile 11:54am Mon Jan 22 '01 [62]khp@onebox.com Regarding NOW's possible feelings on the Black Bloc... One of the Bloc's concerns, after we broke through the barricade and got down to the parade route, was what would happen to us if we managed some action against the parade itself. The cops added about three more lines of themselves between the fenceline and the street after we showed up, so they certainly had the numbers to slow us up if we tried to swarm over. Plus, we'd all seen the spotters/sharpshooters stationed on the National Archives roof and others. The Bloc circled up and discussed our best plan of action. After assessing our surroundings, it was decided that the crowd of people around us were not likely to support us if the police began to attack, though their very presence might help prevent, or at least soften, such an attack. The plan created was to make our way back to the front of the line and raise as much ruckus and hell as possible to whip the people up, while trying to avoid our more extreme chants, e.g. "Smash the State!", etc, so as to get as many as possible to participate. Standing around in the rain for nearly an hour, though, starts to kill the momentum. We're clearly at our best when in motion and proactive. Plus the Police captain was trying to make conversation and goad us into saying stupid, juvenile stuff. Eventually a bloc'er arrived and told us she'd just had a talk with some of the women of NOW, stationed over by the Navy Memorial, and that they had said they'd be there to back us up if anything nasty went down. So most of us decided to change the plan and move over there. There was some complaining about how we were abandoning our previous plan, but improvisation and fluidity prevailed and we moved over to the Navy Memorial. It was shortly after we arrived over there that the liberation of the flagpole and the events described (fairly accurately) above took place. When some of the minor violence broke out (one person began spraying pepper spray...I didn't see what started that, and one (supposedly) "right winger" began attacking a bloc'er), I didn't see NOW people coming in to help, but, honestly, there wasn't much need to. So, in summation, I can't speak for the feelings of the entire NOW contingent present, but some of us Bloc'ers certainly appreciated the offer to help out. That wasn't all by sarin 11:58am Mon Jan 22 '01 [63]sarin@devo.com There were at least 2 other fights with the police there within the next hour. At one point some 6-7 people were maced by what most thought to be an undercover cop in the Black Bloc. A NOW woman who was maced by him pointed him out to the police, but the police ignored her and refused to even take her name for informaiton. Later, for some unknown reason (at least I didnt see it) after someone then hoisted an upside-down flag atop the 60-ft tall mast, the cops returned. They knocked over a NOW protester who decided to go limp. While many of us watched her get dragged away, aa new row of cops came barreling into us, knocking many about. The cops accomplished nothing and backed away. They seemed to want nothing but to hit a few people and leave before we surrounded them. About a half hour later after the Bloc left the spot and returned for the motorcade a smoke bomb was set off (many BB'ers thought it was gas at first, none of us used it), and we re-entered the Navy Memorial area, even though some Texans tried to not let us pass. (FUnny how they told us to leave the US when Texas is "like a whole other country"...) Then a fight broke out that I did not see the reason for, but it was among BB'ers resisting a lone undercover cop, who I think was trying to nab somene. Once he was soved away he came back for more. The cops that day did some of the most fool-hardy things. Since they were restricted from using gas, they could only vent their rage by picking fights. And apart from a handful of arrests - usualy by undercovers - they never won. Definitely Props to NOW by ernie 12:15pm Mon Jan 22 '01 I also marched with the Blac Bloc, and me and my affinity group definitely appreciated having the support of anti-bush activists around us. We did have some disagreement, there was one chant that got going in the NOW section calling for the anarchists on the flag poles to get down, but we promptly replied with "RISE UP!" and then they promply shut up. Regardless, if it weren't for the NOW people, police probably would have tried to load us into buses. Owned by Ben 12:22pm Mon Jan 22 '01 [64]insight@qsilver.net Three cheers for the black bloc, from my vantage poing on the fenced in bleachers ( i had the Private Party Bleachers sign) i managed to take note of what was going on, and not have to really get involved, being that I am only a 16 year old kid, with not alot of power in me. But i would have to say that the cops were very angry and also quite confused, i dont think they expected the power of the Bloc and the NOW supporters, and once they got themselves into a little trouble, they really seemed to want to get the hell out of there. But i think the strenght of the Bloc and NOW together was really amazing, and its incredible how everyone helps everyone in a situation like that. And about that ass SS guy, hes lucky he backed off, cause he could have gotten himself into some real trouble in the midst of all those people. A knive in the Black Bloc...why? by New York 12:24pm Mon Jan 22 '01 I can confirm that a person in the black bloc during the earlier march was carrying a folding knife about 4" long, which he used to cut down a traffic sign on Massachusetts Ave. I did not get a chance to ask this person how carrying a knife, during an action that he knew would result in confrontations with police, added to the effectiveness and solidarity of the black bloc. I don't know enough about the principles shared by those who use the black bloc tactic as a principal means of protest to know whether carrying a weapon is considered acceptable. It certainly seems like an unnecessary risk for one's self and others and gives the cops the evidence they want that violence is part of the plan. Even if it were part of the plan, there's always a lot of stuff around on the street that can serve as weaponry if needed. Since a group of masked and similarly dressed people gives individuals the opportunity to act on their own initiative and then disappear into the crowd, doesn't that make some agreed rules of engagement essential? If there's a fear of being misled because there is too much leadership control, shouldn't there also be a fear that someone will take advantage of the solidarity of the bloc to hurt its effectiveness? Bananas by Jen 12:31pm Mon Jan 22 '01 I was also there and I'm glad to see these comments. Did anyone see the person that was arrested for throwing bananas out into the parade? Does anyone know if s/he is still being detained? This was definitely a case of undercover cops grabbing folks. the pepper spray incident by #9 from NJ Sesame Street 12:38pm Mon Jan 22 '01 the incident involving the pepper spraying was carried out by what we assumed were two undercovers, but who may have been two bush thugs from the patriot march. it was unprovoked and random. we have video documentation of this attack. second, another attack by an undercover took place in Bloc. the undercover had water spilled on him, and enraged, attacked a member of the Bloc, ripping the hood off of his hoodie (over the front of his head) in the process. this guy was big, but other people intervened and the undercover fled after threatening several others. it was great to see how people stand together out there. thanks to all who stood by us. didnt see it by joyce 1:57pm Mon Jan 22 '01 i was also with the black bloc that day but i didnt see any banana throwing at the limo. i saw at least 3 tennis balls though. i heard apples were thrown too, but i personally didnt see it. and yes, mad props to NOW for everything, there was a chance we wouldve been forced to load the police buses at k and 14th. Throwin shit by Ben 3:02pm Mon Jan 22 '01 Things i saw thrown were.. Bannana Tenis balls (not shure how many) and a few apples. I was up higher, so i got a better few of things being thrown from down below mace/pepper spray incident by bakuninite 3:49pm Mon Jan 22 '01 I was at Navy Memorial during all of this (I was not with NOW or with the bloc -- I happened to be in black but unmasked, in 4-person affinity group). I think the guy spraying the mace or pepper spray was an undercover, not a republican, because to my recollection his hair & attire were sloppy, not conservative (but I'm not sure and would like to see photos of this guy if people have them). And I don't know what provoked the guy, but I know he hit a young woman before he started spinning 360 degrees and spraying indiscriminately. I'll get mine developed tomorrow and see if they came out OK -- if so, I'll pass them along to someone at IMC or infoshop for posting. References 1. http://dc.indymedia.org/audio/audio.php3 2. http://dc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=5378 3. http://dc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=5235 4. http://dc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=5428 5. http://clients.loudeye.com/imc/washingtondc/metafiles/INDYVOICEJ20.pdf 6. http://dc.indymedia.org/donate.php3 7. http://dc.indymedia.org/publish.php3 8. http://www.metaevents.com/i20/ 9. http://www.j20.org/ 10. http://dc.indymedia.org/about.php3 11. mailto:dc@dc.indymedia.org 12. http://lists.indymedia.org/mailman/listinfo/imc-dc/ 13. http://dc.indymedia.org/front.php3 14. http://www.indymedia.org/ 15. http://belgium.indymedia.org/ 16. http://colombia.indymedia.org/ 17. http://congo.indymedia.org/ 18. http://france.indymedia.org/ 19. http://india.indymedia.org/ 20. http://indymedia.org.il/ 21. http://italy.indymedia.org/ 22. http://mexico.indymedia.org/ 23. http://prague.indymedia.org/ 24. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/ 25. http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/ 26. http://sydney.indymedia.org/ 27. http://calgary.indymedia.org/ 28. http://hamilton.indymedia.org/ 29. http://ontario.indymedia.org/ 30. http://quebec.indymedia.org/ 31. http://vancouver.indymedia.org/ 32. http://windsor.indymedia.org/ 33. http://arizona.indymedia.org/ 34. http://atlanta.indymedia.org/ 35. http://austin.indymedia.org/ 36. http://boston.indymedia.org/ 37. http://buffalo.indymedia.org/ 38. http://chicago.indymedia.org/ 39. http://cleveland.indymedia.org/ 40. http://la.indymedia.org/ 41. http://madison.indymedia.org/ 42. http://minneapolis.indymedia.org/ 43. http://nyc.indymedia.org/ 44. http://ohiovalleyimc.org/ 45. http://www.phillyimc.org/ 46. http://portland.indymedia.org/ 47. http://richmond.indymedia.org/ 48. http://rockymountain.indymedia.org/ 49. http://www.indybay.org/ 50. http://seattle.indymedia.org/ 51. http://dc2.indymedia.org/ 52. http://process.indymedia.org/ 53. http://global.indymedia.org.au/ 54. http://garr.indymedia.org/ 55. http://tech.indymedia.org/ 56. http://lists.indymedia.org/ 57. http://climate.indymedia.org/ 58. http://www.cat.org.au/ 59. http://dc.indymedia.org/publish.php3?group=webcast 60. http://dc.indymedia.org/display.php3?group=webcast&led=y 61. http://dc.indymedia.org/comment.php3?publishtype=webcast%E2%8A%A4_id=5985 62. mailto:khp@onebox.com 63. mailto:sarin@devo.com 64. mailto:insight@qsilver.net