An outstaning display of solidarity in souther Vermont occurred on Saturday
morning. Over 1,000 of the city's 12,000 residents marched the streets
waiving flags of peace messages and opposition to the US led bombing of
Iraq. A dialogue session culminated the march where protestors shared their
ideas about pursuing a more peaceful society.
PIC
http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=301732&group=webcast
Traffic comes to a stop in downtown Burlington
Over 2000 people gathered and marched in Burlington, Vermont today. The
Bread and Puppet Theater was out in full regalia with three troops of
puppeteers, including the faceless men and the Big Boat. The drum corp was
incredible.
There was a rally slated for the end of the march but most of the crowd
refused to stop marching. Several hundred people marched past the rally
site, and proceeded to block every main road and intersection in downtown
Burlington for over 3 hours. The police couldn't and didn't do much--there
were just too many people, and the people were clearly going to do what
they had come to do, cops or no cops. No arrests were noted.
There were lots of drums and dancing, sign stickering and chanting, puppets
and ranting. The crowd intermingled with and chanted to cars and SUVs stuck
for 30 minutes or more; roving packs of protesters wove in and out of traffic.
The last loop around town found the crowd on the main pedestrian mall--the
cry was loudest there: "Bombs are dropping--Stop your shopping!" The march
paused for a good long rant at the local newspaper, which, like so many
others, is full of pro-war, sappy amerikan propogandist crap and not fairly
covering the protests. THE FREE PRESS (which is the name of the paper)
ISN'T! TELL THE TRUTH.
There has been a nightime candlelight vigil at the head of Church Street
for 3 days now.
I've not heard reports of arrests in Burlington but I have also been too
busy marching to watch the local news.
http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=301730&group=webcast
