Posted by aubin on Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 11:09 PM (EDT)
A recent article in the Washington Post describes the scene at yesterday's Operation: Ceasefire performance at the National Mall in Washington D.C.
The Anti-war protest includes an estimated 300,000 person march and included an estimate 20,000 concert attendees at a performance featuring Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, The Evens, Bouncing Souls, Wayne Kramer of the MC5, LeTigre, as well as Thievery Corporation, Steve Earle, The Coup, Headroc and the Bellrays. Jello Biafra hosted the event which is part of a three day action by the United for Peace organization. Between musical performances speakers including host Jello Biafra, Anti-Flag drummer Pat Thetic, Cindy Sheehan and many others spoke about the anti-war movement. The Evens' Ian MacKaye spoke before the band began their performance, saying: "As discouraging as it is that this administration got in not once, but twice, they're gonna leave. Get strong and get ready to go to work!." The article described the Bouncing Souls performance as "living up to their name with a blast of energy." A pro-war demonstration also took place today, with as many as 400 people attending. Politics (118 comments)
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colin (September 25, 2005)
this made page A10 in the fucking oregonian (portland's paper) A10 how disgusting. i get the fact there's some major disasters, but they're trying to bury every possible aspect of public display against the administration. 3+ Replies
Someone (September 25, 2005)
Great blog (or whatever the fuck it's called) about the protest: http://www.theagitator.com/archives/001285.php#001285 3+ Replies
Someone (September 25, 2005)
The SECOND the Souls hit the stage to a good 10 minutes after, it was a celebration of everything the event was for. All the good energy came together to form one word repeated over and over.. "OLAY" Jello was unable to speak after their set cause the crowd sang OLAY for a good 10 minutes and most of it involved dancing and clapping with no Souls on stage. Best show of my life 1+ Reply
maverick (scott) (September 26, 2005)
Are there pictures anywhere of this? It sounds totally awesome. -Scott 3+ Replies
notfeelingcreative (September 26, 2005)
A pro-war demonstration also took place today, with as many as 400 people attending. I don't see a demonstration voicing support for the troops as 'pro-war', no one likes war! The people who support the troops are just supporting the soldiers and they agree that the war is not completely pointless, but I doubt their saying 'woo hoo we love war, let's go start another one!!!" I'm against war completely, but I don't think it's right to portray people whose opinions differ from ours as 'pro-war'. 14+ Replies
SenorRefresco (September 26, 2005)
How can anyone that has even a vague understanding of the US's relationship with Sadam in the 80's support this war? Come on people, put 2 and 2 together. 3+ Replies
Someone (September 26, 2005)
the 400 figure is correct but I saw in an AP article that there were up to 100,000 there, not 300,000....but whatever
BrandonSideleau (September 26, 2005)
anyone "pro-war" shouldn't be demonstrating- THEY SHOULD BE ENLISTING! Oh wait....they want YOU to do it for them. Fucking hypocrites......that's only the beginning of my beef with these rednecks. As for this show.....sounds cool.....Bouncing Souls were always a good band. 8+ Replies
BrandonSideleau (September 26, 2005)
QUESTION- This is merely out of curiosity- is Michael Graves the only Misfits Repub......or are Jerry Only & pals over there as well? What about Glenn? He seems to have some "odd" (to say the least) political views. 4+ Replies
Someone (September 26, 2005)
Anyone have at least a partial setlist for the Souls' performance? And what's this about a PRO-WAR demonstration? Goddamn liberal media making red-blooded Americans look bad, that's for sure. I'm gonna go listen to some Michael Savage and beat up a fag. 1+ Reply
sickboi (chris) (September 26, 2005)
I read that pro-war article, and you know what cracks me up? These people actually think that we hate the soldiers. I have no problem with the troops, well not all of them. Some of them are young kids, who are egotistical and critical of anyone not involved in the military that is of the same age bracket. In fact, a couple months ago, some friends and I were out shooting pool when this group of maybe 6 guys (prolly ages 19-22) came in to shoot pool and start talking smack to us. We could tell that had just gotten back from Iraq by the things they said.
So we weren't even discussing the war, or even politics, and these kids are saying that we hate America and we don't have the balls to go to war. I calmly explained to them that my response to jump is not "how high" but "why?" This seemed to annoy the boys further. Just as 2 of them started towards me, their CO ca show rest of comment 5+ Replies
Someone (September 26, 2005)
These numbers are a little off. Now Im pretty left leaning however I hate when news is baised and this is. First off there where not 300,000 almost all news ops and the dc police estimated around 100,000. And I have no idea where they got the figure of 400. There are AP reports of around 25,000 people there for the "pro-war" rally 2+ Replies
Someone (September 26, 2005)
I'm all for people's right to protest the war, but a lot of times people need to be careful about these sort of things. Most of these protests are fund rasiers and outtings for some pretty scary groups. And another thing, nothing will ever get accomplished by these groups aslong as they are lead by people like Cindy Sheehan. If you've followed even a tenth of what she's said over the past several weeks, you'd stay far far far away from her. She recently came out and said, Bush needs to remove the troops from occupied New Orleans. Get a spokesperson who can hold put up an intelligent arguement and maybe a rally like this will change some people's minds, until then, it's just a bunch of crazy people to me.
MrStabone (September 26, 2005)
while the war on Iraq still wages on, the people who protested at Operation Ceasefire did do an excellent job of causing major problems with the traffic in DC on Saturday way to go! that'll show em. 1+ Reply
Someone (September 26, 2005)
Many of these same liberals supported action in Afghanistan, yet they did not enlist in the army? Chickenhawk much? 2+ Replies
Someone (September 26, 2005)
I just want everyone to know that i wernt to both demonstrations and found that the refreshments at the pro-war rally were better, but the pretzels at the anti-war rally were good. Thank you In case anyone is interested, I have naked pictures of cindy sheehan. Because I care...
Someone (September 26, 2005)
how come no one has said anything about the evens!? It was great to see Ian MacKaye sitting down, singing, and still unable to contain his passion. I still would rather of heard Fugazi but it was still an amazing performance, especially that new song about politicians leaving office.
As for the rest of the march and concert, I thought it was a very moving show of protest even though it was not always the best organized. Reports ranged from 100,000 to 300,000 people and it felt like it with all the energy and conviction from all of the different anti-war organizations present. It was also the biggest anti-war protest since Vietnam. It would have been even bigger if trains hadn't broken down coming from the east.
As for the speakers, I thought that Cindy Sheehan was a very weak speaker, which makes it all the more impressive that she had the courage to help lead a mo
show rest of comment
sallyjesse (September 26, 2005)
my roomates went to this. though they mentioned nothing of the music. they listen to 80's metal.
Someone (September 26, 2005)
Saying that this war is solely for oil is a kind of ignorant. There are a number of reasons as to why the Bush admin. invaded Iraq. Controll of Iraq's natural resources could be one of them, but I don't think it's as simple as that. Just going out and saying that this war is for oil is almost as ignorant as saying this war is for Iraq's freedom. 2+ Replies
Someone (September 26, 2005)
I was there and I know it's probably bullshit, but around 3:00pm Jello announced C-Span was reporting about 1 million people were there I doubt it was that much but the entire place was packed...........the march started at 1230 and around 4pm there were still people in line to just start moving | Features
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400? That's not cool.