 | January 20 2005 counter-inaugural protest: Encyclopedia II - January 20 2005 counter-inaugural protest - Rally at Malcolm X Park
January 20 2005 counter-inaugural protest - Rally at Malcolm X Park
The DC Anti-War Network (DAWN) sponsored a mass rally and march at Malcolm X Park (Meridian Hill Park) to protest the inauguration of President George W. Bush. Following a number of speeches, the group marched south on 16th Street NW and west on H Street NW to McPherson Square.
Speakers included:
- Amy Goodman - Democracy Now
- Father Gerard Jean-Juste - former Haitian political prisoner
- Reverend Graylan Hagler - Civil Rights leader, Plymouth Congregational Church
- Stan Goff - Military Families Speak Out
- Shujaa Graham - exonerated death row inmate
- Medea Benjamin - Code Pink, Global Exchange
- Michael Ratner - International Human Rights lawyer, Center for Constitutional Rights
- David Cobb - 2004 Green Party Presidential Candidate
- Zach Lown - International Socialist Organization
- Aidan Delgado - Iraqi War Vet
- Andy Shallal - Iraqi American Activist
- Mark Lance - Palestinian Rights Activist
- Ellen Thomas - anti-nuclear activist
- David Rovics - folk singer
- Son Of Nun - political rapper [1]
January 20 2005 counter-inaugural protest - Die-In
A separate-but-related event, also sponsored by DAWN, was a civil disobedience "die-in". Waiting thirty minutes after the last participants in the main march had left Malcolm X Park, a smaller group marched from Malcolm X Park to Lafayette Square. There, a security perimeter inhibited further southbound progress. With the intention of being quickly arrested, 17 people laid down on the street in front of Lafayette Square. Police did not arrest the die-in participants, leaving them to lay on the street for three and a half hours until they left on their own. [2] [3]
January 20 2005 counter-inaugural protest - Protest Warrior Confrontation
During the rally at Malcolm X Park, members of the Protest Warrior group, the Black Bloc, and DAWN marshals got into a confrontation. According to Indymedia sources, "Toward the end of the rally, when there were at least 10,000 people in the park, a Protest Warrior led a few 20-something conservative college kids into, (in their own words) 'the belly of the beast' to systematically seek out 'black-block' anarchists among the mass of peaceful demonstrators and flaunt their pro-Bush war signs in order to instigate a conflict."
Reacting to the perceived attempts at instigating a conflict, members of a black bloc assaulted Gil Kobrin, leader of the Protest Warrior contingent at the protest. Mitch Potts, one of the DAWN marshals, attempted to mediate the conflict and seek a peaceful resolution. Another DAWN marshal told the Protest Warriors that DAWN had a permit to peacefully assemble in the park, and that the Protest Warriors could not stay if they were going to disrupt that peace. Potts then offered to safely escort the Protest Warriors out of the park, and arranged a place for them on 16th Street along the march route. [4] [5]
January 20 2005 counter-inaugural protest - Black Bloc Breakaway March
Other related archives16th Street NW, 2001 Afghanistan War, 2003 Iraq War, 2005, ANSWER Coalition, Adams Morgan, Afghanistan War Protests, Aidan Delgado, Amy Goodman, Anti-War Coalition, Anti-imperialism, Black Bloc, Black bloc, Books, Cairo Conference, Chants and slogans, Code Pink, Conscientious objector, Critical Mass, DC Anti-War Network, David Cobb, David Rovics, Ellen Thomas, Films, George W. Bush, Green Party, H Street, Indymedia, Iraq War Protests, January 20, Lafayette Square, List of protest marches on Washington, DC, Malcolm X Park, McPherson Square, Medea Benjamin, Michael Ratner, Not in Our Name, Pacifism, Peace churches, Peace movement, Peace symbol, President, Protest Warrior, Protest song, Protests against the 2003 Iraq war, Stan Goff, Stop the War Coalition, Veterans for Peace, Vietnam War, Vietnam War Protests, War on Terrorism, Washington, D.C., anarchist, civil disobedience, demonstrations, inauguration, protest
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Rally at Malcolm X Park", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
