| January 20, 2005 Counter-inaugural Protest |
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The January 20 , 2005 counter-inaugural protest was a large number of Demonstrations held in Washington, D.C. and other cities to Protest the second Inauguration of President George W. Bush . 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 east on H Street NW to McPherson Square . Speakers included:
Die-in A separate-but-related event, also sponsored by DAWN, was a Protest Warrior confrontation During the rally at Malcolm X Park, members of the Protest Warrior group, several rally participants, 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." Several activists assaulted Gil Kobrin, leader of the Protest Warrior contingent at the protest. According to Kobrin, "A heavy-set black man in a trench coat patted his left lapel, muttering something about a pipe. When he saw that we weren't leaving, he made a grab for one of our signs. I stepped in to get between him and the Protest Warrior, and was tripped by one of the anarchists. At that moment, all hell broke loose... As I struggled to get up in the slippery snow, two anarchists began kicking me in the back; Protest Warriors were being shoved and punched all around me." It appears that there is no evidence to support the claim that Protest Warrior "sought out" a particular faction within the DAWN rally. The fact that DAWN marshals agreed to allow the Protest Warriors to stay prior to the violent outbreak appears to indicate that Protest warrior's presence was not apparrently provocative; in Kobrin's reccolection, "I remembered at the RNC, and was not looking foward to a repeat of the violence there." 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. Protest Warriors instigate at DAWN J20 rally then spread propaganda , Mitch Potts, DC , January 20 , 2005 Black Bloc breakaway march At 16th and P Streets NW, a group of roughly 1,000 people separated from the main march. The group primarily consisted of participants in the black bloc, but also contained "drummers, , February 2005 DEMONSTRATIONS ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE , January 9 , 2005 CRITICAL MASS AT DUPONT CIRCLE At 4:00 PM, all who had participated in other demonstrations earlier in the day were invited to Dupont Circle for a "Mass Re-meet" at Dupont Circle. Hot food and drinks were provided for participants. URGENT ACTION UPDATE for Jan 20!!! , DC DEMONSTRATIONS OUTSIDE INAUGURAL BALLS As daylight turned into evening, the official inaugural celebrations were convening at the Washington Convention Center , the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, the Washington Hilton , the National Building Museum , and Union Station . 2005 Sanctioned Presidential Inaugural Balls , inauguraltickets.com Outside Union Station, where the Freedom Ball was being held, a group organized by Code Pink was outside demonstrating. The group outside Union Station was composed of many individuals seen at other counter-inaugural events earlier in the day, and the mood was initially festive. As participants in the inaugural balls arrived to enter, demonstrators would chant, "SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!" at them. Some demonstrators also shouted, "TOGA! TOGA!" at some of the participants, also making fun of the movie '' Animal House ''. There were several confrontations between ball participants and demonstrators, including one where a demonstrator and a participant got into a fight. In the end, the ball participant was admitted to the event, and the demonstrator was arrested. Inaugural Protests J-20 , Monthly Mooncharts COUNTER-INAUGURAL BALL MARCH THROUGH ADAMS MORGAN NEIGHBORHOOD Following the counter-inaugural ball, a group of self-described anarchists marched through the '', January 22 , 2005 DEMONSTRATIONS IN OTHER CITIES REFERENCES SEE ALSO
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