DC Seen

Honoring Iraqi War Dead

Passers-by stoop to read a name on one of the 2,800 flags placed on the National Mall in Washington, D. C. to honor the servicemen killed in Iraq. The display was set up by the Military Families Speak Out, a national organization of people opposed to the war in Iraq who have relatives or loved ones in the military.

Rally Against Calderon

A handful of people protested Mexican president's, Felipe Calderon, visit to the White House. They felt his election was a illigimate. The organizer, Arnoldo Borja, is with Centro de Justicia de Virginia, a legal aid justice center (centro de justicia means center of justice). "Viva la APPO" means "the APPO lives." APPO is the Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca. Other signs read: "Calderon is a Fraud" and "Lopez Obrador es mi presidente."

Gulu Walk 2006

It was a sunny, brisk day in Washington, D.C. … the kind of weather that makes the street vendors happy. My perception is that as the fall chill hits the air, visitors crowd around these sidewalk carts and can be seen munching on hot dogs as they saunter away. At the John Marshall Park. a group gathered for The GuluWalk 2006 to support “the abandoned children of northern Uganda."

The crowd poses for a photo shoot after the speeches but prior to the walk.

John Prendergast, a Senior Adviser at the International Crisis Group, was one of the speakers. Prendergast, who is working on a book on activism, also appeared the following evening on CBS's 60 Minutes in  “Searching for Jacob,” a story brought about by the genocide in Darfur. His book, being co-authored with actor Don Cheadle, is due out in April 2007.

Leaving the Park, the activists carry a sign as they march up Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House.

Rory Anderson, World Vision's senior policy adviser for Africa, joins the marchers. Her tee shirt reads, "I'm a reason for hope in northern Uganda. Are you?"

World Can't Wait

The World Can’t Wait, whose objective is to drive out the Bush regime, held a rally in Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C. The real action was across the street, in front of the White House, where shouts of "God Bless Bush" could be heard. Some were coming from Gary Livacari, chairman of the George Washington University College Republicans, whose thumbs are visible in the picture below.

Other College Republicans voicing pro-Bush chants: far left with a sign that reads "Viva Bush" is Chris Diaz, Treasurer; in the center waving the flag speaking in the bullhorn is Brand Kroeger, Vice Chairman; and far right in the red tee shirt is Sergio Gor, Director of Political Affairs.

Pro- and anti-Bush activists exchanged, at times, heated words. Livacari, right, argues with a protestor about current administration policies, while passers-by looked on.

This fellow, I believe he is Vietnam Veteran, accused the Bush supporters of being rich kids who were afraid to fight in the war. Another onlooker voiced his opinion by stating, “Bush has united the entire world against America. Louis Farrakhan warned about that five years ago.”

Livacari discussed his views with a listener, who seems to intimate, "Is he for real?" As the chairman of the College Republicans he indicated that since July their group had obtained a permit from the Park Police for, I believe he said, Farragut Park … "to defend and protect the White House from these kind of attacks … these kind of demonstrations [World Can’t Wait]." He indicated that “these signs and flags should spell out who we're affiliated with and when your University is four blocks from the White House there is a very special obligation … we’re going to continue this President’s message … promote the Presidents message in public in the DC area."

An attendee at the World Can't Wait Rally shows her support for the effort by the sign in her child's carriage.