I’m a disappointed DC Protester!

[KerryOn]

I arrived in DC early Friday morning on the red eye, and got home late last night, and I’m here to rant about the lack of mainstream media coverage of the protest.

Saturday night back in my motel I franticly switched channels to get the local news coverage of the days events. CNN had nothing and ABC had about 2 minutes coverage of interviews from those on the left and right. They simply stated that a few thousand had gathered. Not one single clip of the 100’s of thousands of protesters.

I got home last night and was very disappointed again. Shocked actually that our local paper only had a small bit saying there were a few thousand. A few thousand my ass!

When I left my motel on Saturday, I did not know how many people to expect when I got to the Ellipse. I decided to walk up Constitution Ave so I could go past the Navy Memorial to see the gathering for the pro-war protestors since it was on the way. I would say a fair estimate of the numbers was about two hundred.

As I walked further west up to 15th street toward the Ellipse my jaw dropped to the ground when I saw he crowd gathered at the Ellipse. It took me a long time to just get reasonably close to the speakers. Looking up 15th street to the north form Constitution Ave, the street was jammed with people as far as the eye could see! People were still walking in on 15th street from the North as the march was trying to get underway from the south, causing the world’s largest traffic jam of protesters. My own estimate put the crowd at 300,000 easy! As the first marchers arrived west of the Washington Monument, protesters at the end of the march had still not left the Ellipse area three and a half hours later!

Where was the main steam media?

Then last night on CNN and MSNBC all they had of yesterday’s events was a 30 second clips of Cindy being carried away. And all they said was that Cindy and a FEW others were arrested for refusing to leave.

I estimate that the crowd yesterday was probably in the neighborhood of 2,000. I did not see one single news clip of yesterdays event showing the overall size of the crowd.

They did not show one single clip of the Metro Buses hauling away the hundreds that were arrested.

They did not show one single clip of the crowd chanting things like "Arrest Bush! or "The Whole World Is Watching", “Hell No Our Kids Wont Go!.

They did not show one single clip of the police on horseback that wedged between the protesters on the sidewalk and those of us in the street. (I think we made the police nervous for a few minutes.)

The fact is that there was an event, a very large event that shows that the people of this country are fed up. The event should have made history in my opinion, and because the media does not do their job and report what they see, it will just be another protest and nothing more.

I’m a right, or was their mainstream news coverage somewhere that I missed? Someone please answer me!

[goddess40]

1. The republicans learned how vital it was to control the media..

after Watergate. Very little gets out that they don't want to get out.

[kansasblue]

2. I can only offer you this....

each time the press does that there are those the were involved and look at the press and see that they are just puppets of the administration. Their credibility take a hit each time. More and more people are learning that "free" press has fallen.

Get your news off the internet. Tell others.

spread the word that DU, Rawstory and other are the place to be.

[Cha]

56. And I have to add Buzzflash, too!

I know you were just giving short examples but I love buzzflash!

[Mari333]

3. There was nothing on the news, abc, nbc, cbs or the cable channels

a blurb here and there. I didnt attend the march, and sadly, I do not believe most of America knows how large it was. Many dont even know there was a march.

[KerryOn]

5. Thank you...

I thought maybe I had just missed the coverage or something.

Thanks!
KerryOn

[TallahasseeGrannie]

4. Control the message, control the world

The media is the third political party and their platform is completely commercial.

[HughBeaumont]

6. Well, when you have crime bosses like

Pigshit Rove, Roger Ailes, Summer Redstone, Bill Gates, Jack Welch, GE, Michael Eisner, Ken Tomlinson, Rupert Murdoch, The whole ChinaMart family, Leslie Moonves, Diebold, ESS and Sun Myung Moon in bed with you, you're given license to create the reality you desire.

You're against * and all that he believes? Not on OUR news channels, hippies. You LOCK step behind Der Fuhrer or get erased. There's money to be made, and you don't have enough to satisfy our jones. Didn't happen on TV, it didn't happen at all.

And until some Dems with buckage start buying their way on TV to create a truly independent non-partisan media, you're going to see the same shit happen over . . . and over . . .. and over . . . again.

[marions ghost]

20. right

we are living in a Dark Ages, a time of blatant media manipulation and limited access. It is a time of starving and contraction, even in the midst of an information explosion. We must accept this and find ways around it.

There is opportunity in this. I am waiting for these 'independent non-partisan' responsible media outlets to appear, esp re. television. There is a huge pent-up demand for honest coverage and diverse opinion. Whoever does it right will have a ready-made audience. Meanwhile I am supporting anyone who speaks directly to the Big Lie about 'The News' in America.

[SmokingJacket]

7. I think you're right.

I had family business to attend to so couldn't make the march, and was also away from the computer. When I got back Monday morning, there was hardly any evidence that a march had taken place -- in fact, my stupid local Gannett paper actually had a story about the COUNTERPROTEST, but no story about the real march. (I don't have TV, so I don't know what was going on there -- I get my news from newspapers, radio, and internet.)

Have these news organizations been told not to cover antiwar protests, or are they back to their usual ass-kissing (after a temporary show of cojones post-Katrina)?

The AP story on the counterprotest was actually kind of interesting, because the main thrust was that the turnout was very disappointing compared to Saturday's. Almost as if they *weren't allowed* to cover the antiwar one, so slipped comment on it into an article on the prowar protest.

[titoresque]

8. Thanks for being part of history!

and as the saying goes "the revolution will not be televised"

Sorry, you didnt miss anything....we, those of us who were not able to go didnt see any coverage either.

You know what though, the MSM thinks they are being so damn clever and that if they dont televise the anti-war movement then it doesnt really exist.......but you saw it didnt you? And so did everyone else there and so did Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world where solidarity protests were held. And the ones who only passed by and some of them are pro-war, some of them may just be complacent.......they saw us too!

The world was watching! So, don't be discouraged the tide is turning with or without the MSM!!!

You're a true patriot! Stand Proud! :patriot:

[electropop]

12. I was overwhelmed by the scale of it.

I've been working near the Mall for 4-1/2 years now, and I have never seen anything remotely similar to this protest. It looked like the whole city was filled with a sea of people.

The MSM is terrified. It's clear they were bypassed in the organizing of this march. We're all on the internets now and the corporate media have lost control of the information. The movement will continue to spread until it drowns out their stories about missing blondes, just the way it drowned out Laura Bush's pathetic little Book Fair. Did you even notice that was on the Mall on Saturday?

:evilgrin:

[KerryOn]

19. Actually I did notice the Book Fair.

Went by there on Friday, but of course I wasn't by their on Saturday. Didn't know that that was Laura's Book Fair though! (Been out of touch with the real news the last few days Ha!) Maybe they thought they could draw attention away from the protest.

[KerryOn]

17. But how can the world watch if their is nothing to watch?

I'm thinking of all the stupid repugs that I work with that live in a dark closet, and have yet to open their eyes. The ones that don't get their news for the internet. The ones that watch the six o'clock news or from Rush.

When I go back to work, I will certainly show them the pictures, but I know they will not believe the numbers. They will not get a sense of the crowd from the pictures, because I could not get on high enough ground.

But yes you are correct. I was their I saw it, and the hell with them!

Thanks for your kind words, you have lifted my spirits some.

KerryOn

[SouthernDem2004]

9. They lacked a hurricane. :)

[rman]

10. No mention whatsoever in the Dutch media

in case anyone cares.

[goodhue]

11. MSM doesn't do protests.

Sad but true.

[raccoon]

31. They would if people were getting beat up by the cops or

were getting pepper sprayed.

I'm not ADVOCATING these things, you understand. That's just how the MSM is.

[kath]

62. yep, they only cover violence. Peaceful protest gets NO coverage.

[buff2]

13. I can't understand why all those "reporters" are there with their cameras

Why do they film something they know they are not going to show? Could it be they have no film in those cameras and they are there to make us think they are doing their jobs? When you have cameras out the ass at these demonstrations,exactly what is the purpose for them? Inquiring minds want to know. It's as plain as day that we never see what they are supposed to be "filming".

[KerryOn]

21. Yea, lots of cameras...

They were all over the figging place. I think that is what has made me so disappointed. I got my hopes up because it looked like things would be different this time due to all the press, and then nothing.

Maybe that is why they estimated the crowd at only 100 thousand, the rest were reporters. HA!

[SOS]

22. Some reporters still

want to do their jobs, but the corporate paymasters now decide what is aired and what isn't.
Dan Rather just called this the New Journalism Order.
Since corporations now control Congress, the Executive branch and the media, the "news" can be fully controlled at the corporate level without risking any charge of government cencorship.

"Fascism should rightly be called corporatism as it is a merger of state and corporate power" -- Benito Mussolini

[raccoon]

33. See msg. 31. Maybe that's why those "reporters" are there.

In case there's any violence, or pepper spray.

[KyndCulture]

14. Kerryon, lemme tell you, those of us who stayed behind...

were EXTREMELY angry in your stead on saturday. DU was one big flame war after another. Nerves were raw, all of us were on edge. TONS of letters went out to the media in disgust. If you can flip through and find some of Saturday's threads about the media you'll see what we tried to do.

We had your backs, and we knew you guys were there and tried our damndest to spread the word around.

[KerryOn]

24. Its good to be back at DU...

You are starting to lift my spirits some. I was wondering what went on here at the DU while I was gone, as there was no way for me to access the internet. I logged on late last night and was disappointed with RITA, Katrina, FEMA etc.

I will try to find something in the old threads, but if you can I would appreciate a few links if you have them.

Thanks!
KerryOn

[bostonbabs]

15. after the bombing in Madrid ...11 million people

took to the streets.....all over the country. It could not be ignored.When a majority get out in the streets there will be coverage.I am mad as hell that there was not coverage but the next rally ...I will be there.

[azndndude]

16. Watch "Orwell rolls in his Grave" Explains it all

I watched Orwell rolls in Grave last nite on Free Speech TV. Very Scary, explains all about current media situation. available at www.orwellrollsinhisgrave.com Getit.

[KerryOn]

27. That is scary...

I don't think I get that channel, but will get the video. I love 1984, just read it again recently.

Thanks for the info.
KerryOn

[kansasblue]

18. Topeka paper had coverage page 3...

crowd size over 100,000.

turnout for pro-war crowd, small, below expectations.

[Blue_In_AK]

23. The Anchorage Daily News had good coverage

although they misunderestimated the number of participants. And please don't think that because the corporate media didn't give us coverage that people don't know it happened. Keep the faith and keep on fighting.

[KerryOn]

25. I meet several people from Anchorage...

... at the protest, but don't remember their names. That's one hell of a trip from Alaska!

The women I meet yesterday at the civil disobedience protest had talked to her husband at home several times, and she said they had good news paper coverage, but the TV news was very slim.

Thanks
KarryOn

[DaytonOHDem]

30. I was there on Saturday and I could not believe all the people

that were there. I was in the back of the march and we stood for 2 1/2 to 3 hours before we even started walking. Just from that I figured there had to be at least over 100,000 people there. I do not know exactly how long the route was but we started at 12:30 p.m. and did not finish until 5:30 p.m. I am pissed off about the non- coverage also but I am also not surprised. But I am so glad I went. It was my first march and it was amazing.

[KerryOn]

35. I'm surprised I didn't see you there.. Ha!

From your screen name I'm assuming you are from dayton, Ohio. I'm from Columbus.

Its funny, I meet a guy at yesterdays civil disobedience protest that looked familiar to me. I told him that I was sure I new him from somewhere, and he agreed that we had meet before, but wasn't sure where.

My motel was just a few blocks from the Walter Reed Hospital, and on Friday night my wife and I walked down there, as we were told that Code Pink had a protest there every Friday night. Pro-war protesters had set up on the east side of the street and the anti-war group were set up on the west side of the street by the main gate. The police were lined up in the street to keep everyone apart. I held one end of a Veterans For Peace sign up for a while.

As it turns out the guy I meet was from Cincinnati and he was holding the other end of the sign! Out of hundreds of thousands of people we meet twice. What a coincidence.

I did not go on the full march. My wife got sick, and so she decided to stay back at the motel. I wanted to take as many pictures as I could, so I would have something to show her, so I spent most of my time running around like a mad man trying to document what I saw. I thing I joined the march somewhere on Pen. Avenue.

[Melodybe]

37. I came all the way from MS and let me tell you that is one long ass

car ride.

Fuck'um send out the yahoo aerial pictures of the protest, let them see for themsleves the hundreds of thousands that came to tell Bush to burn in hell.

[Blue_In_AK]

38. That might have been me that you talked to...

I was wearing a pink Alaskans For Peace & Justice T-shirt and was holding an ImpeachBush.org sign with a couple of other grandmas.

[KerryOn]

40. Don't think so....

I believe this woman had on a plain blue shirt, I don't think it had writting on it. I had on one of the "March On Washington" T-shirts. My wife had on her "Buck Fush" T-Shirt, you would remember that.

[Blue_In_AK]

41. You're probably right then...

I don't remember the Buck Fush. :) Ironically, I didn't personally run into any other Alaskans at the march or rallies until yesterday afternoon at the airport when I was talking to a guy from Palmer who was on the same plane as I was coming down and going back home. I'm glad we were represented.

[KerryOn]

42. You were most definitely represented....

... and I commend you all for making the long trip!

Camp Casey had a map of the US, where you an sign your name on the state that you are from. I think I counted at least eight names from Alaska, and that was Friday evening!

[screembloodymurder]

26. Don't be disappointed.

MSM doesn't cover the news. Now if Michael Jackson had been there, that would have been covered. The protest was a huge success.

[G_j]

28. been attending DC rallies since the Vietnam war

same story every time.

If you think this coverage was bad, protesting American policy in El Salvidor or the first Gulf war: ZERO coverage!

[prolesunited]

29. One thing people can do is contact LOCAL media

It really is more effective in the long run and more people pay attention to what our friends and neighbors are doing.

There is a group of about 50 people who stand on the corner protesting every other week. They have been the subject of several stories. Also, another group is putting lawn signs in their yard and they made successful contact with the local media. Another group traveling to DC was the focus of a story prior to the event.

So, plan actions in your community and contact the *local* media. You'll have a much better chance of being heard.

Remember: Act local, think global.

And, you know you were there. Be proud. And when history is written, you'll know that you stood for something.

[deutsey]

32. Welcome to the world of dissent

I had this same experience back in January 2001 after the Inaugural protests in DC.

There were tens of thousands of anti-Bush protesters in the icy, rainy streets of DC that day. Black, white, young, old, gay, straight, men, women, parents with children, the whole diverse spectrum. It was truly amazing...I swear we outnumbered Bush supporters.

My friend and I got something to eat later in the day and saw on the TV in the restaurant a segment on the protests. It was about 30 seconds in length and showed one anarchist kid in black scuffling with police on a sidewalk in DC for about 5 seconds.

That was it.

This is nothing new, I'm sorry to say. We actually got NPR, NYTimes, and other MSM outlets to retract their false reports of low numbers at a major anti-war demonstration before Bush invaded Iraq.

But the MSM is not our ally. Ever since Reagan's time (and then helped along by Clinton) more and more of our news media have been consolidated under the control of five or six media conglomerates. Contrary to the lie of the "liberal media", these conglomerates are not owned by leftwing hippie collectives. They're large and powerful corporations run by very conservative (in some instances far-right) businesspeople (mostly men).

Find alternative media and at least go to them as much as you go to MSM. Here are some of my favorites:

www.democracynow.org
www.inthesetimes.com
www.thenation.com
www.motherjones.com
www.commondreams.org
www.pacificaradio.org

[Catchawave]

34. The WaPo had several pages in Sunday's edition

I brought a copy of the front section home with me :)

Also, found out why the estimates are only mentioning 100,000, possibly because the organizers took out a permit for that amount! In a way, maybe the media is keeping their numbers low so the organizers don't get in trouble?

CNN had a mention on their website that the Pro-War rally on Sunday had expected 10,000, but only 400 showed up.

Unfortunately, I think for a big rally to get MSM coverage is to have a riot where people get hurt or killed. I'm glad it was peaceful, which brings people to our side alot easier :)

[Blue_In_AK]

39. The Freeper rally was pathetic

I hung around and took a few pictures of the losers. Once I sort through my 600+ photos I'll post a few.

[Wind Dancer]

36. Don't be discouraged, KerryOn!

The corporate owned media is guilty of promoting this illegal war, disinformation and propaganda.

I thought the rally was a huge success - be glad you weren't on this board yesterday as posters complained about how it was organized. The people I met were determined to speak out and voice their opposition to this illegal war. We all came together and sent a powerful message to this administration.

We ARE NOT going away until this war is over and our troops are home.

[mtnsnake]

43. I saw coverage, but what's very alarming is that they gave the few hundred

anti-protest idiots equal fucking time in their story!

[KerryOn]

45. I noticed that....

I'm glad that they gave the pro-war side sometime, but based on the size of the crowd the split should have been more like 99.99% to 0.01%! After all it was our protest.

[Glimmer of Hope]

44. I think Saturday's rally will have a ripple effect.

300,000 (probably much more) walked away from the rally, went home and told their co-workers, friends and family about the experience. I think this wide range networking will have more of an impact than the Saturday evening news.

[KerryOn]

46. I sure hope you are correct...

I don't go back to work until Thursday and believe me, and the Repugs I work with will see the pictures and they will all here my stories.

[libnnc]

47. Saturday night around 8:30

I was in my hostel bunk listening to CNN Radio News. 10 second blurb about "Approx. 2000 anti-war protesters in DC..."

2,000 x(

[KerryOn]

48. Now I'm getting depressed again.....

I have been at the computer for hours today and the longer I stay the madder I get. Good thing everything ended yesterday, or I would probably be one of those in jail.

2,000?

[lildreamer316]

49. We sat here all morning screaming about it .

We were so upset. It was just stupid. At least you know the phisical truth of it........

[KerryOn]

50. I would like to find some of those threads from Saturday...

Do you have anything book marked?

[leftchick]

51. Here... I hope this cheers you a little

I bought a WaPo before I left DC on Sunday and their coverage was great! I kept it as a souvenir. I checked their website too and found this gem....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2005/09/24/VI2005092401545.html

also they had more great photos and articles on their site...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/24/AR2005092401701.html?nav=most_emailed_emailafriend

[kath]

63. "tens of thousands" of protesters, sez WaPo. Sheesh.

[leftchick]

64. did you watch the video?

I found it very uplifting.

[Captain Hilts]

52. I was surprised by the extent to which coverage got swamped by Rita. nt

[formernaderite]

53. While I'm sure the media did their part to ignore a grassroots.

movement....
Rita did occupy most of the news cycle. That was the news of the day.

[KerryOn]

58. This was news as well, as big or bigger than Rita.... Large Pic

These pictures were taken near the base of the Washington Monument, which is the highest ground that I could find. The view is to the north towards Constitution Ave. The Ellipse is on the far left and 15th street runs to the North along the buildings on the far right. (15th street was jamed curb to curb with protesters as far as the eye could see.

[qanda]

54. "Someone please answer me!"

NOOOOOO!!!! Don't say answer!!!!! LOL

[Cha]

55. I felt the same way when

I went to NYC on Feb 15, 2003 and they're were hundreds of thousands of people there and the media totally undereported it.

Nothing's changed in all this time.

[KerryOn]

57. The main stream media .....

.....is without a doubt owned by the Bush administration.

I never thought it could be possible, but now I know it is true. There were hundreds of cameras there, so it is obvious the foot soldiers were reporting the news, but the Corporate giants owned by Bush will not let them air the footage.

They have their foot soldiers there in case there is a riot and thats all they care about.

Well if it takes a riot to wake up America, then next time by God I will give them one. (A one man riot of necessary.)

[MisterP]

59. in a dictatorship, actual events have no bearing on their coverage

reality and TV appearances are even further divorced

[mnhtnbb]

60. I was there, too

You are absolutely right. I left the March and went back to my hotel about 4 pm. I knew there were more than 100,000--easily--because I've been at lots of football games with 100,000 in attendance. I know what that crowd size looks like.

Anyway, I turned on CNN immediately in my room and watched for 2 hours. Nothing. Not one shot, scrolling line, anything. All Hurricane Rita with nothing new. On Monday morning, before leaving my hotel room, I turned on CNN and they were doing a big story about the oh so many 400 that turned out for the counterprotest on Sunday! WTF!!!!

Never was it more clear to me the media conspiracy in this country to minimize a huge story because it wouldn't be good for the Bushies.

I also noticed the NYTimes, WAPO, my local Raleigh paper, The News & Observer, led with "thousands of anti-war protesters" Only later in stories did they acknowledge 100,000 or more attendees.

[KerryOn]

61. Looks like the news papers did fairly well....

The papers could have done better, but at least they reported something. George Orwell's 1984 is coming true!