PROTEST CODA: September 15, 2007 Yes, that's just a hand. My own left hand, to be precise. It's holding the corner of a Code Pink banner on the Capitol Steps. Don't ask why. **** PLEASE NOTE: More photos and the two videos are in the post just before this one ... just keep scrolling down. **** I've tried to keep my anonymity in tact for these events. Sadly, it's become somewhat unravelled over time ... Medea Benjamin [Code Pink] and I exchange nods and smiles from time to time ... same goes for Cindy Sheehan and Brian Becker [ANSWER], among others. People are people, after all. Still, I've never shown an actual photo of myself on this blog and I'm going to keep that as a rule. This hand is about as close as I'll ever get. By the way, I've heard silly rumors that ANSWER is trying to claim 100,000 attendees at this protest. No way. 30,000 maybe ... 35,000 tops. I walked the march from beginning to end and from front to back. The videos I took are from various parts of the march and should be adequate testimony that there were no where near 100,000 people at this thing. That's not to say that 30,000 is anything to sneeze at ... it was a respectable showing. MySpace activity in and around DC must have nose-dived for those few hours. Here, of course, is a collection of "peace-scarf" wearers ... or, as I prefer to call it ... the "I'd Rather Be Killing Jews, But OK I'll Settle For Your Infidel Protest" scarf. QED. If you read the printing on this dude's t-shirt I think you'll agree it's somewhat less than "peaceful". Just to be clear. You can click the photo to get a higher resolution.

The shirt says "Enemy Combatant". I believe it.

And what would an ANSWER protest be without ... the Che? Sadly, these folks kept thinking I wanted a photo of them with their pre-printed signage. I finally had to insist ... just put down the signs: I want the Che! And how, I ask, could I conclude this dreary little tale without reference to Medea Benjamin and her sewing circle? That is, after all, where I began my 9/15 sojourn. Here's Medea herself at the end of the march ... at the "die-in" ... walking among the dead. Notice she is on her own two feet. And here, also, for your viewing pleasure, are other images taken that 9/15 morn as we waited for the festivities to begin. A lovely time was had by all. And, finally, just a reminder of what all this is really about ...