MY REPORT ON THE MARCH IN DC, SEPTEMBER 29, 2001

I took the train from Philadelphia, and it was 3:30pm when I arrived in Washington. It did not take me long to reach the top of the hill proximity of the Capitol. There was a multitude of policemen/women wearing helmets, black-rubber armors, all facing the crowd of protesters slowly approaching. It was an overwhelming site: A wide dancing wave of multi-colored signs, stretching down the avenue to no end. I could hear the crowd chanting but it sounded like a muted drum as the voices were in unison and I could not make up any of the words.

I began to walk towards the march, snapping pictures after pictures, and soon I found myself engulfed in the crowd and in its energy. People of all ages but it seemed that the percentage of young people was the greatest. Could it be because this march reminded me of the so many marches we had done in the 60'? Peace signs everywhere, by hands or on posters… Among the pictures I took, there is one of a woman with a poster on which she had glued photos of very young children from all parts of the world, and on which she had written in red: "WHICH ONE SHOULD WE KILL?" Other posters: "PEACEFUL RESOLUTION, IS THE ONLY SOLUTION", "HATE IS A CHAIN, IT ALL COMES BACK AGAIN", "WAR IS TERRORISM" Among all there was one that we all know: "GIVE PEACE A CHANCE": Gave me the chill!

I did not see any counterdemonstrators; I believe they showed their faces early in the day.

As the crowd approached the Capitol, more police showed up, this time in motorcars. They were blocking the way to the Capitol since the March did not have permit to go there. The demonstrators gathered across the street, where several speakers took over the podium.

At that time I had to leave to meet my friends from VoterMarch for a candle vigil. Matt, Lenny, Tom, Les, Thank you for being there, and I thank also Vanessa from "WeThePeople" for coming with your friends. It was windy and we had a hard time keeping our candles lit, but there was light in our hearts.

Les read his beautiful speech (beautiful as always) and Tom (Kiely) shared with us his experience on this tragic day of September 11. He was in New York then, a few blocks from the World Trade Center.

I would have stayed longer, but I had to make the 8PM train back to Philadelphia, especially because I had to take another train from Phila. To Ardmore where I live!

PEACE ON EARTH, PEACE TO YOU ALL, PEACE IN YOUR HEARTS.

Monique

September 30, 2001