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July 29, 2004
Anarchists Descend Upon Copley Square
Around 1pm today, a group of several hundred anarchists held a protest at Boston's Copley Square. I arrived just as they were beginning to march around the perimeter of the square. Carrying signs and banners with various anti-war, anti-corporate and anti-globalization slogans, they circled the square counter-clockwise as rag-tag drummers banged on upside-down mop buckets.
Anarchists on the March
There were many media present, but for some reason I drew much suspicion from this apparently paranoid bunch. "Get rid of that camera, you goddamn narc," one of of them said as I tried to take a picture of several of them wrapping bandanas over their mouths. On another occasion, after videotaping drummers, one of the drummers demanded, "Give me your camera and show me what you just did." Gripping my camera tightly, I showed him several seconds of footage.
"I hope it meets your satisfaction," I replied somewhat sarcastically.
"Yeah, whatever," he said dismissively, returning to his music.
Eventually, the marchers decided to leave the confines of the square and began to march eastward on Boylston Street. A lone police car escorted them, clearing the way up front so they could make their way down the street. Next came a group of photographers, who never cease to amaze me in their ability to shoot pictures and walk backwards without tripping over each other. The photographers were followed by the protestors, sporting more bandanas to cover their faces than deoderant, as I discovered when the wind changed directions. Lastly, sweeping up the rear, a lone Nader supporter gleefully followed the posse, holding a tall "Vote for Ralph Nader" sign.
Che Guevara Chic was all the rage at the march
I followed the protestors for several blocks, who made a left turn for one block before heading west on Newbury Street. The anarchists made for interesting viewing for the denizens of Newbury, many of whom were buried in their lattes or their salad plates as the protests marched by them. Some of the diners looked on in interest or amusement, while a few skeptics shouted back at them, "Move along, move along!" and the like.... -andy
Posted by acarvin at July 29, 2004 3:40 PM
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