birthday suit bike ride
June 15th, 2009
One of the more interesting protests I’ve witnessed took place this weekend. This being the 4th Annual World Naked Bike Ride. The WNBR is a protest against our dependence on foreign oil and a rally for improved cycling conditions in America’s cities. The DC WNBR started at Franklin Square in downtown DC, rode to the US Capitol, and finished out in front of the White House. All the participants said it was a lot more fun to moon Bush but they would make due with the new Administration. Upon arriving at Lafayette Square I am sure they ruined the days of the many tourists who were peering through fence trying to catch a glimpse of the President. Despite the name the riders were not technically naked, as that would be lewd and illegal, instead they wore an assortment of underwear, loin clothes, socks, and body paint. I hope their ride was a success. While I find their cause quite valid I’m not so sure about the execution. Regardless, it made for a VERY VERY funny (…and kind of awkward) event to photog.
HERE is a link to my other photos from the start of the protest.
mass civil disobedience
March 4th, 2009
A large mural was installed in Adams Morgan that is in protest of clean coal technology. I assume that this is the product of the “This is Reality” group which have recently had a significant advertising presence in the metro. While I have not had a chance to do much reading on either side of this issue I really like the little dead canary logo that The Reality Coalition came up with so that is cool in my book. This particular mural features Ghandi, gas masks, and a group of anonymous workers.
The blurry (potentially headache inducing) affect is from my handi-dandi Lensbaby.
ARREST BUSH Protest
January 19th, 2009
My photo-walkabout today brought me by Dupont Circle where the Arrest Bush protest/demonstration was going on. It was quite a lively affair to say the least. The largest and most popular aspect of the demonstration was “Give Bush the Boot”,which basically consisted of a massive inflatable President Bush and many many many pair of shoes that people took turns throwing. People really seemed to get a kick (get it) out of being able to do this. The other “features” of the event were: a large headed Condi, a giant Constitution that you could sign (just no walking on it with shoes!), and a stage/speaker set up that proclaimed it was the “End of an Error” but it was inactive while I was in the park. Pretty much it was all about the shoes.
Other things I came across around the city today:
-pretty sweet Obama art
-a hot mama 4 obama
-a really really long line at Ben’s Chili Bowl
-entertaining street vendors with lots of Obama gear
-a reenactment of sorts at the African American Civil War Memorial
The Who Farm
November 11th, 2008
We saw these guys at the Dupont Circle Farmers Market on Sunday : The Who Farm, or the White House Organic Farm Project. They were collecting signatures on a petition asking president-elect Obama to allow an organic farm to be planted on the grounds of the White House. They do have a pretty cool bus with a garden on top of it — and lots of people were stopping to talk to them.
Obama, welcome to Washington
November 5th, 2008
Obama wins, and the people celebrated last night in DC. I was definitely awake last night — well past 3am — to the sounds of joyous yelling, car honking galore, and general celebrational noises (fireworks). It’s an interesting time to be living in this city, and I’m looking forward to seeing how things will change in the next 6 months.
“young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled — Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.”
Have a Nice Doomsday
April 8th, 2008
Besides the obvious flock of tourists in front of the White House on any given day, you’re also going to find this
anti-nuclear protester… His
other sign states that it’s a 24-hour a day operation that started back in 1981, though I couldn’t find any info about just how many people have been part of the encampment through the years. From the set-up though, it seems that he has everything he needs for hangin’ around 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, including whatever
special permit was involved.
