This is a great analysis of this particular demo and the ufpj/answer protests in general. when are we going to have a demo on a monday? when on a congressional voting day..etc etc. I was with the group who broke the police lines and got to the capital; you're rightabout the bad slogans, but, just as the president speaks for few, so does each anarchist. individuals will do what they do. In defense however, it wasn't quite the situation to spray a 10-line list of grievances ;) . We will be here, waiting for the rest. When it becomes dangerous for the government to act as it does, then we will see change. there is nothing to worry about in people who carry their pre-printed ufpj signs to their pre-decided march route in the police-guarded empty streets. I wonder why when the anarchists take the streets, take the non-approved routes, block the traffic, actually put something on the line, the bystanders remain as such, cheering and waiving us on, never considering stepping from the sidewalk to join - taking pictures to show friends what could have been.

because it's a cute circus show. all these hot young anarchists and punks, dressed in black. they might also have something better to do, knowing that there is more to life than politics.

Oh please. I think we are all well aware that there is much more to life than politics, and anarchists know this more than most in the movement.

But this is not the reason people don't break out of their comfort zones and join us. It's not that they know something we don't -- that there is more to life than politics, duh -- it is that they are AFRAID.

And it's not so much fear of being beaten by police. They're just afraid of what their oh-so-cool-and-successful yuppie friends will think about them.

Have you noticed the vehement animosity toward anarchists expressed by the right? They are fucking jealous is what they are. Jealous because we are more free than they are, and they know it.

Video footage from the rush to the Capitolbr
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Video footage from the rush to the Capitol

Remember that the crowd was a diverse as the nation, because these are the views of the vast majority of Americans. Using childish labels only exposes your true intentions.

Great article. All concerned should take notes, and perhaps think about partaking in plans for a permanent Peace Camp outside the Capitol, as well as outreach groups, who will venture into the city to inform and recruit people.

Thanks for posting this. Joann got it exactly right.

After a few years of no major march/rally against the war and all the other ills associated with it i found it refreshing. i agree with all the criticism of ufpj and the saturday march/rally and the empty buildings etc. but it is good to come together and see you are not alone and more importantly to see how the antiwar movement has become "mainstream". all the polls show people against the war and for bringing the troops home sooner than later. the challenge now is to translate this or cultivate this into something that resonates and grows. if that means a permanent encampment somewhere significant or more aggressive actions like storming and even occupying the capitol building then lets do it. i would really love it though that people who want to associate with black bloc groups do independant actions. i personally believe black bloc groups should not use the mass rallies and marches as covers. if you have the courage to be a part of black bloc do an action out in the open. storm the capitol building on a weekday. don't wait for a march/rally with senior citizens, children, and others you think might give you cover. do it by yourself. show them who you are.

"but it is good to come together and see you are not alone and more importantly to see how the antiwar movement has become "mainstream""

Just because the mainstream of America opposes the war does not make that a "movement." A real movement would offer an alternative to the whole system of imperialist war. Movements blockade economies, they sabotage their enemy, They make gains and they win. Name one gain this "anti war movement has made." Getting America to realize maybe the war isn't going as well as we'd hoped? Hardly.

I'll be organizing a movement, sitting in 4 hour meetings until we figure out how to take the capitol, preparing to organize student and worker general strikes, to stop any corporation who is making billions off this madness. WHAT WILL YOU DO?

Even as you comment on the demo, you pretend it away.

There is much talk of a permanent Peace Camp, with rotating members, of course, outside the Capitol. Members would also venture out into the city, to inform people and hopefully recruit them for actions aimed at Congress.

Activists should also work very hard at establishing contacts within the media and Congress itself, and demand constant updates from their representatives.

Congresspeople who are hostile to any action which seeks to stall the warmaking plans of the Neo-Fascists, and hold them accountable for their crimes, should be noted and recored, in light of next year's election.

JoAnn Wypijewski:

I agree with your analysis of the march (although, unfortunately, I was unable to attend). I like the Counterpunch website and enjoy reading your articles. I respect Alexander Cockburn's views and agree with him on many subjects. However, please tell him that he has discredited anarchists in the past, especially by equating Luigi Galleani--the late 19th century insurrectionary anarchist who was involved in propaganda by the deed which killed SOME people-- to Osama bin Laden--the radical right wing Islamic fundamentalist who is responsible for the deaths of THOUSANDS of people.

I went to the supersized March on Washington last Saturday and it was FABULOUS! I posted my commentary and many photos here:

conprotantor.blogspot.com/2007/01/ufpj-march-on-washington-jan-27-2007.html

I just hope you enjoy my blog post as much as I enjoyed your demonstration!

No jingoist, conservative propaganda for me, thanks. I get enough of that bullshit from the corporate media. By the way, I still can't believe some people have such limited brain cells to continue to support an illegal imperialist war without end.

Yes, the January 27 UFPJ march on Washington was a "risk averse" march. I agree that there needs to be a more radical approach, but that doesn't mean that there is not a need for a risk averse, permitted march as well. Hundreds if not thousands of the people who come to these these large marches would not come to an un-permitted civil resistance action on a Monday, and the police and park service would be unlikely to issue a permit for a large march like this that would require closing down the number of streets for marchers on a weekday.

I'm not saying that should preclude such an action, or that such an action would be unworthy, just that it would not attract the large numbers of ordinary people who are risk averse. It is important to attract large numbers to these things if only for mainstream coverage and morale-boosting, as well as exposing these ordinary folks to organizations that DO organize riskier actions.

But yes, there need to be more occupations of Congressional and Senatorial ofice, more occupations of the Capitol, more interruptions of Congressional hearings and administrations speeches and fund-raisers, more occupations of Pentagon and White House property, more actions against recruiting centers, more demos at war criminals' houses, more people willing to risk their freedom to end this war and protect all of our rights. I don't believe there need to be more broken windows and slogans spray painted on buildings, a belief for which I'm sure I'll be scorned, and in the end only a tactical concern: I don't really have a problem with spray painting, but I think it gives everyone here a bad name without doing much real good. The thought of labelling the Capitol, or better yet, the White House, as the home of a war criminal does have a lot of appeal!

I also want to note that there have been scores of more radical, conscientious nonviolent actions on weekdays, like the ones by CodePink, Witness Against Torture, Iraq Pledge of Resistance/National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, and like-minded groups.

I'm not trying to build walls here, god knows we need more unity against this war (and the quickly approaching next war), not more feuds, so sorry if someone disagrees with me. Just trying to spark some rational rather than emotional, self- righteous discussion. Maybe we should try that.

I think this condemnation of the march was a little flippant. It's like one organizer-type from Counterpunch criticizing others from UPJ--get over it.
I found the march refreshing, and look forward to marching on the pentagon on March 19.
Baltimore Indymedia coverage of the march:
baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/14519/index.php

Now that Barack Obama has officially embraced a 'redeploy from Iraq' position in an effort to mobilize antiwar support for his Presidential bid, [ www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Sen._Obama_offers_plan_to_stop_0130.html ] how long will it take before NOW, PDA, Rainbow Push and other liberal sponsors of the Jan. 27th march walk away from the demand for immediate withdrawal?

Meanwhile, another US naval battle group just crossed the Suez Canal headed for the Persian Gulf.

These are limited occasions for nonviolent direct action with no element of surprise and a "come one come one all" constituency. Such events are usually run by the moderate/NGO and authoritarian left primarily for recruitment, brand enhancement and marketing purposes. There is very little will from these quarters to seriously directly engage the war machine. For those of us who wish to resist the war, energies expended in trying to democratise or liven up these occasions are best spent elsewhere and at another time.

I have spent the last 4 years on bail. on trial three times and have been recently acquitted on $US 2.5 million disarmament of a U.S. war plane en route to the invasion of Iraq www.peaceontrial.com While 100,000 marched in the capital we were in prison...no call for solidarity from the platform came from the authoritarian and moderate left running the Feb 15th 03 march. I attended a recent event in London and the same again...they see practioners of NVDA as competitors in a shrinking market!

As this war escalates and expands, nonviolent resistance and proactive solidarity with those undertaking it, before the civilian and military courts, in brigs and prisons is the relevant activity. If 1% of those who marched against this war on Feb 15th '03 had gone in to serious nonviolent resistance to it and the other 99% had proactively supported the resistance.......it would have been a war very difficut to wage.

The resistance continues at the SOA, Faslane, those refusing to deploy, if we aren't doing it we should be searching out those who are and offering our solidarity. No time for them to be feeling ioslated and us feeling uncomfortable.

The point was never to take the capitol. As Radical Anarchists we believe in the necessity of a majority of the working class supporting any insurrection. This is essential to understand. I am frustrated by the disrespect that people give Anarchists and the Black Bloc, when I at least am willing to support others in their methods of protest.

I hear all about the young anarchist punk thing. And how it is all for show. I can say quite honestly that I do not enjoy militant action. I am scared of injury and incarceration, and I detest the need to use any kind of force no matter how much I view it as necessary. And I know there is more to life than that. I have a job and school (no my parents do not pay for it) and a family to think about. I dont want to risk these things. But I believe the risk is worth it.

Let's stop nit picking at each other. If you dont agree with us, show up and we will support your right to choose a different path, and maybe even defend you from a riot cop when he disrespects your noble efforts. (No sacrcasm meant! I have deep respect for the bravery it takes to face the state without the use of force or the threat of it, I do not know if I could do it.)

And if you think the demo was not enough but did not go, stop preaching until you show up stand with me and make it something better.

But I will not give in to pretending we could have somehow won the struggle on the 27th. It is an incidental piece of the struggle these militant protests, a way to push conflict. The real work I do everyday in union organzing, community centers etc etc

lets not be pretensive. protests now and in the past have always been organized by authority figures, freemasons, communists and other establishment types. look this stuff up. the only difference is now, they dont ask very man young people to speak. its all a sham deal. its always a revolutionary illusion.