Report from New York City

[barbara100 at jps.net]

Glad you shared.
One thing I've noticed watching TV news lately is how the protesters are
seen juxtaposed to the "support our troops" crowds. I'm pleased to see
demonstrators reported on at all on TV news, but when the war protesters are
shown they're usually the more rowdy crowds that look like they're fighting
with cops, though police brutality isn't even hinted at; then immediately
after we're shown the "support out troops" crowd, and it's all blue eyes and
smiles and red white and blue.  Who looks peaceful and who look like war
mongers? They're pretty clever the media.



----- Original Message -----
From: <Mutualcode at aol.com>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 22, 2003 4:55 PM
Subject: Report from New York City


> Just got back... from the largest anti-war  demonstration I have
> ever seen in New York City The crowd spanned the entire stretch
> from well above 42nd street to Washington square. I marched
> from 26th street (on the senior circuit now, after all : ) and could
> see no end in either direction. There were people of all ages. It
> was very heartening, especially given the fact that the war has
> already started, and, the unending barrage of pro-war propaganda
> reigning down from the major commercial media outlets, so
> enchanted, "shocked and awed," by the militarists and their robot
> war- supplemented by the poor, with little opportunity for social
> advancement other than enlistment- not much better than minimum
> wage.
>
> I was marching between two "Uncle Sams" on stilts and a young
> lady with "Another Jew for Peace" sign. It was a beautiful day- sunny
> and warm- at least four choppers motionless overhead, but scanty
> police at each intersection, completely outnumbered by us; there
> was a festive air, until we hit Washington Square: too many people
> too little space. By the time I arrived, about half way through the
> march, the park was already packed, and the police were programmed
> to keep pushing everyone, as they arrived, into it. Clearly they had
> underestimated the turnout.
>
> Thirty years ago, when I was young enough to be deluded into
> engaging in such behavior, I discovered, first hand, the futility of
> fighting with stressed-out, edgy police. So, seeing the writing on
> the wall, I circled back to 23rd street- about 17 blocks- and was
> astounded to see the marchers still coming. I got a cup o' joe,
> and a police sergeant, about my vintage, struck up a conversation
> with me. I mentioned that it must be pretty boring standing around
> on a Saturday watching tens of thousands of people walk by. He
> said: "It's a long day," but confirmed that he was getting over-
> time, and mentioned that the crowd was about twice that of Feb.
> 15. I finished my coffee and headed for the 38th street pier, and
> the ferry back to New Jersey, feeling a little like Siegel in MMV.
>
> respectfully
>
>