Jun 14

Jun 14 Refuse Fascism

Donald Trump, Performances, Protest, Public Declarations, Signs and Posters, The Age of Trump

Those who organized today’s No Kings rallies, which were held in 2,000 cities and towns throughout the country, purposely excluded Washington, D.C. The organizers, wanting to send a clear message to Donald J. Trump, envisioned empty city D.C. streets. Those living in the D.C. area headed to the Virginia and Maryland suburbs for No Kings rallies, or they took Amtrak to Philadelphia, where a gigantic No Kings rally had been scheduled.

When I booked my flight to D.C., I knew there would not be a No Kings rally on the National Mall, but I was confident that there would counter-demonstrations. The target demographic for the No Kings rallies included middle-class urban dwellers and upscale suburbanites. The events tear gas free, with no melees between the police and masked demonstrators. The No Kings rallies offered safe spaces for people who do not regularly take to the streets.

Today’s D.C. counter-demonstration was held in Logan Circle, located in one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods. Serving as a magnet for young people, the area surrounding Logan Circle has many restaurant and bar options, as well as upscale fashion boutiques and shops. Walking down Q Street, I encountered restored Victorian mansions. Hanging on bannisters and over windows were rainbow-colored flags, evidence that the neighborhood surrounding Logan Circle has attracted many from the LGBQT community.

Given the many No Kings alternatives in D.C.’s surrounding suburbs, I assumed that those opting for Logan Circle would project a more militant attitude. My expectations were correct, but mixed into the crowd were plenty of seemingly upscale folk who must reside in the nearby single-family Victorians. To be clear, my reference to militancy refers to attitude. I didn’t see anyone looking for a confrontation with police.

As regular readers know, I have covered countless demonstrations in Chicago. For variety’s sake, I enjoy traveling to demonstrations outside the Chicago area. While the backdrop for today’s demonstration differed from Chicago’s Daley Plaza and the Magnificent Mile, the rally and subsequent march largely followed the Chicago script. The banners and signage were identical. I assume there is a repository on the web of graphics that people are free to use. The speakers said nothing I hadn’t heard countless times before.

The rally did deviate from the Chicago script on three counts: First, only three or four people spoke as opposed to the ten or more speakers that usually take the mic in Chicago. Consequently, the program’s length was much shorter. Thankfully!

Second, I heard far fewer chants. It is possible that i no longer register the chants. “This is what democracy looks like.”

Third, and for me, most importantly, a group of musicians banded together, providing a much-needed soundtrack. I have long argued that the Chicago organizers should incorporate music into their formula. Today’s ad hoc aggregation of musicians brought a tuba, trombones, a trumpet, at least one saxophone, and plenty of percussion. While Donald J. Trump is an existential threat to our democracy, demonstrations against Trump need not be dour affairs. People should have a little fun when heading to a New Orleans graveyard, or participating in an anti-Trump march.

Shortly after 2:00 PM, the speeches ended, with the 400 or 500 demonstrators assembling behind several banners. Within minutes, the group was headed west on Rhode Island until it reached 14th Street. After marching six or seven blocks, the group turned west onto K Street, passing my hotel. After two blocks, the marchers turned south on 16th street, passing over what was once Black Lives Matter Plaza. Within minutes, everyone arrived at Lafayette Square, just north of the White House.

Prior to Trump’s return to the presidency, demonstrators had greater access to the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue extending from 15th Street to 17th Street. Last year, I covered an anti-war march ending in front of the White House. Even with Secret Service agents positioned on the street and snipers lying wait on the White House roof, the marchers pressed their faces against the reinforced fencing that kept them from breaching the White House grounds.

Since Trump’s inauguration, the ugly anti-scaling fencing has become a permanent fixture in Lafayette Square, bisecting the park. Doors have been built into the fencing, permitting the Secret Service to open Lafayette Square and Pennsylvania Avenue to tourists, but permitting them to deny demonstrators access on a case-by-case basis. Not surprisingly, when the marchers reached Lafayette Square, the doors were bolted shut. Technically, the demonstrators were within “sight and sound” of the White House, but Pennsylvania Avenue was inaccessible to them, as well as the portion of the square abutting the avenue.

Call me a cynic, but I suspect that Donald J. Trump’s tiny hands are behind the increased security. As someone who recognizes the importance of visuals, Trump has good reason to deny demonstrators the “money shot',” that being hundreds of demonstrators with colorful signs and pickets standing in front of the White House fencing. Despite being some distance from the White House, I could nevertheless see the signature white columns as I stood behind the anti-scaling fencing. The trick was how to frame the shot so that I captured some of the demonstrators with the White House in the background. As I stood half-listening to the speaker standing on utility box in front of the anti-scaling fencing, all I thought about was getting the money shot.

Soon after I captured it, the demonstration broke up. I went back to my hotel to cool off before heading back out to Trump’s controversial military parade.

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]