On Friday, March 28th, some 60 people gathered for a festive march in
opposition to the invasion of Iraq.
The rally began around 4:30pm at One Shell Square in the business
district, with kazoos, drumming, signs, and banners. Some protestors had
faces painted like skeletons and some wore bandanas around their faces. A
small number of police were on hand, some taking photos of the
demonstrators.
One lane of Poydras St. was blocked as people waved signs to passing
motorists. A possibly deranged man in an orange shirt became extremely
beligerent, yelling obscenities at everyone passing by and banging on car
windows screaming "You are supporting a dictator[Saddam]. F---
You!" The police brought the man to the other side of the street and
he was later seen in hand-cuffs. Some demonstrators speculated on whether
he was crazy or an agent-provacator, as he was even screaming obscenities
at people passing in the streetcar.
After this incident, at around 5:10pm, the march took off down Poydras
St., blocking all riverbound lanes of traffic. Chants such as "Drop
Bush, Not Bombs" echoed off of the tall buildings, and banners
reading "Overthrow Bush and Saddam! For a Worldwide Anarchist
Revolution" and "War Only Benefits the Rich" led the
march. Protesters approached the Texaco office building after marching 2
blocks with chants of "Hell no we won't go! We won't fight for
Texaco!" With protestors apparently deciding the march route
spontaneously, they made a U-turn after passing the Texaco building and
marched up to O'Keefe St., tying up rush hour traffic on one of the
city's main roads through the business district.
The march proceeded down O'Keefe to Canal St., running into groups of
supporters and angry business people along the way. As the march passed
an upscale steakhouse filled with dining business people in a gated
outdoor courtyard, the customers stood up and became very angry,
screaming and jumping up and down. At the same time, two steakhouse
employees stood on the balcony overlooking the cusotmers and the march,
showing the thumbs up and peace signs.
The march then proceeded down a mostly supportive Canal St., where a
cheering 15 person critical mass bike ride met up with the rest of the
march. Taking a left on Decatur St., tourists heckled the now-larger
march from the balcony of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant. There
were also many supporters along Decatur St.
As the crowd entered Jackson Square, tourists watching an acrobatic
street show booed and began a "USA-USA" chant, while the
performers were supportive at first, but later realized if they wanted to
make tips they better not disagree with the camera-toting tourist crowd
gathered to watch them perform. Some in the crowd gave peace signs and
small displays of support to the demonstrators, though, as they marched
along waving big "NO WAR" flags, drumming and chanting.
The march ended with cheering anti-war protesters dispersing from Jackson
Square, having held the streets the whole way with little police
prescence and no interference. Some in the crowd discussed further plans
to keep the anti-war message loud and clear during a time when it is
blacked-out by the mainstream press.
Hopefully some of the many photographers present at the march will post
pictures from it on NOLA IMC soon.
Link:
http://indymedia.23rdward.org
