Battle of Richmond.

[professor rat]

Pouring rain didn’t keep angered individuals from assembling downtown today in an emergency response to the war on Iraq. More than 100 people gathered at the federal courthouse and rallied for an hour when about 40 people left the rally, took it to the streets and marched throughout the business district of downtown for an additional hour.
Larry Syverson, 54, participated in the noon demonstration. The Chesterfield man carried a sign bearing photos of his sons, soldiers who are set to fight in Iraq, that read “Not my sons’ blood for oil.”
“I wished it wouldn’t have come to this. Innocent people in Iraq are going to die along with american soldiers, “ Syverson said.
A heavy police presence attempted to control the crowd but its numbers grew as people from nearby office places joined. The protest filled the sidewalk on tenth and Main streets as soaked people energetically screamed, “Bush, Cheney better start shakin’, today’s pig is tomorrow’s bacon.”
The crowd also chanted various anti capitalist slogans like, “They make money, people bleed, no war for capitalist greed,” and “Resist, resist, raise a fist, revolution will persist,” as a small counter demonstration of three men gathered across the street. One held a sign that read “Hippies go home.”
Protester Jean Jearman responded by shouting across the street, “I’ve got hippie for you. I’m a veteran; I served in the air force in Vietnam.” The 57-year-old woman from Richmond said the invasion of Iraq was a war crime. Other protesters shouted, “You want a war chicken hawk, you go fight it.”
After 1 p.m. people stepped off the sidewalk and began to march up Main street but were quickly confined to the sidewalk by police on horses. The group of 40 attempted to enter the streets at other times but rough handling by police kept the march on the sidewalk.
Nonetheless, the fierce march of resistance continued downtown as the group snaked through the city, circled city hall and paused at the richmond times-dispatch building, screaming “Shame” and “LIES.” The sopping wet group eventually broke up and a small remnant held vigil at the intersection of Broad and Belvidere for several minutes.
The anti-war movement now has a new mission to oppose the illegal occupation of Iraq and to fight for a future without government oppression and war. Resistance will continue to grow and we will move forward, but we need to invest much time and thought into what direction the movement will go. That said, all are invited to attend Richmond’s RECLAIM!, a conference on community, war and oppression this weekend. The conference serves as a time for reflection, planning and movement building
The weekend includes workshops, discussion, speaking events, a spokescouncil, a keynote address and a HUGE demonstration on Sunday.


Link: http://richmond.indymedia.org