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FEATURES
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
Inside. . .
By Michele Johnson
Topangans went to the Democratic National
Convention last week, coming away foot-weary and exhilarated.
Some went there to carry protests to the Democratic leaders,
while one--Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky's senior aide Susan Nissman--went
as an alternate delegate to celebrate its candidates. We also
went--photographer Katie Dalsemer and I--to give it an editorial
spin. . .
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For the whole story,
see the current newsstand edition of the Messenger.
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. . and Outside
By Tony Morris
Topangans Ron Rubin, Doug Kirby, and James
Michael Hite (above left to right) exercised their First Amendment
rights, on Monday, August 14th, making their way to downtown
Los Angeles and joined thousands of protesters in Pershing Square
for a march to the Democratic Convention. . .
. . .Police squad cars with sirens blaring
appeared from all directions, heading south on Grand, each car
packed with officers in riot gear. Huddled on the sidewalk, under
several large shade trees, on the east side of Grand, several
dozen officers tried to beat the heat as they awaited orders.
Police were stationed strategically at the entrances to the city's
high-rise offices and hotels and at most intersections. . .
. . .Pershing Square soon filled with marchers carrying multi-colored
signs and larger than life puppets: "DE MOCK RACY,"
"NO ONE PARTY SYSTEM," "ALL RIVERS CANNOT BE
DAMMED. . ."
. . .Approaching Broadway--chanting, banging drums and blowing
whistles--they were met by a phalanx of helmeted riot police.
Forming a barrier between the marchers and the now-shuttered
storefronts, the police trotted in unison down Broadway to Ninth
Street, normally one of the busiest streets in Los Angeles, now
empty as thousands of demonstrators walked south on Broadway.
Rubin and Kirby looked skyward, surprised to see hundreds of
garment workers leaning out of windows in 10 and 12 story buildings
along Broadway. . .
. . .As the demonstrators paused at Ninth Street one could look
north on Broadway and see groups of young black-shirted "Anarchists,"
film industry union members demonstrating against the loss of
film jobs to Canada; Ralph Nader supporters marching next to
shouting "FREE MUMMIA" protestors; Socialist Workers
Party protesters; and a dozen tuxedo-clad marchers from the "Billionaires
Club." As the demonstrators turned west on Ninth Street,
police numbers increased. Standing with legs apart and grasping
black truncheons, the police glared at the demonstrators.
At the intersection of Ninth and Grand Avenue police stationed
a unit ready to use tear gas and rubber bullets. . .
. . .As the sun slipped below the horizon, Kirby, Rubin and Hite
decided it was time to call it a day. Heading back to the Music
Center on Figueroa Street the city was quiet. Highway Patrol
units blocked all the usual off-ramps from the Harbor Freeway.
And we all know now, as the sun went down Monday, the scene at
Pershing Square went dark as well.
For the whole story, see
the current newsstand edition of the Messenger.
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Democracy at Work 2000:
The Photos
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Photos by Katie Dalsemer
and Tony Morris
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