Inaugural protest pics

January 20, 2005 11:24 PM

Inaugural protest pics (series begins at that photo): Kevin Smith attended the inaugural protests and took some (IMHO) really good photographs that you weren't likely to see on any of the mainstream media outlets. Outside of the subject matter itself, I enjoy his photos and wanted to share these given this sets timeliness. In particular, I like this one and love this one. Non protest pics can be find by using the first link and then navigating back through his archives.
posted by jperkins (82 comments total)

Non protest pics can be found by using the first link and then navigating back through his archives.
posted by jperkins at 11:37 PM on January 20, 2005

*sigh* 4 more years...
posted by Edible Energy at 11:53 PM on January 20, 2005

hope i'm not the only one who was disappointed when i found out this kevin smith isn't the kevin smith.

very nice pictures either way.
posted by y0bhgu0d at 12:18 AM on January 21, 2005

Now that's a protest
posted by fullerine at 12:26 AM on January 21, 2005

That one of the policeman in riot gear is a fantastic photo. Thanks for this, jperkins.
posted by The God Complex at 12:44 AM on January 21, 2005

"Just say YES to open source voting software."

What am I doing to spread that pro-democracy meme? Not enough.
posted by mediareport at 12:49 AM on January 21, 2005

A neat row of cops on motorbikes. "Sold". Thanks for the post jperkins, some very nice images here.
posted by dabitch at 1:12 AM on January 21, 2005

A neat row of cops on motorbikes.

Did this put anyone else in mind of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas?
posted by biffa at 1:32 AM on January 21, 2005

The police riot gears seem to be brand new and really look much "imperial"..guess it will be useful when they meet some real rioters.

The two guys with the corpoflag, the slogan"With all the deaths due to war in iraq don't you think it's time for a texas fiesta " is really good

The faces of the cops are interesting..you can't tell they're neither scared nor preoccupied..indeed all these people must be some kind of happy communist treasonous campers, but they really look like people. Damn communists they're good at disguising eh ?
posted by elpapacito at 1:35 AM on January 21, 2005

Having never heard of Kevin Smith (not that Kevin Smith), and having next to no interest in photography as an art, and having a girlfriend who's exasperation at my lack of enthusiasm for her hobby gives me an unhealthy prejudice against photography...
that's pretty damn good.
Nice post jperkins.



... I've got a camera 'round here somewhere.
posted by NinjaPirate at 1:54 AM on January 21, 2005

Bush - Empire building.
posted by NinjaPirate at 1:59 AM on January 21, 2005

Great set of photographs.
posted by planetkyoto at 2:03 AM on January 21, 2005

First time I've ever seen an image of a riot cop as anything more than a faceless state robot. It's terrific. He's a real person.

I like this. Thanks, jperkins.
posted by sellout at 2:46 AM on January 21, 2005

great pics,
and good to see the protest itself!!
little to no attention for it in the European paperss though,
yet
posted by borq at 4:09 AM on January 21, 2005

Four more years? With obscenities and flag burning as the alternative, try eight more years, twelve if we're lucky.

Memo to the left: Karl Rove didn't use Nixon's playbook; maybe you ought not to use Tom Hayden's.
posted by MattD at 4:38 AM on January 21, 2005

MattD, ah yes of course I forgot, Republicans never swear... Except the President... and the Vice President... and every other fucking Republican I've met.

12 Years of Republicans? For the sake of everyone let's hope not. We've gone quite a while without a civil war, lets avoid another one.
posted by MrBobaFett at 5:23 AM on January 21, 2005

MattD: Four more years? With obscenities and flag burning as the alternative, try eight more years, twelve if we're lucky.

It's in the constitution: You can only be elected president twice. So now that Bush has actually been elected once and the Supreme Court square on his side, 8 years are entirely constitutional, no?
posted by sour cream at 5:31 AM on January 21, 2005

very nice pictures either way.

Yes, and we've gone 15 comments or so without one "moonbat." But I think I smell one coming.
posted by pracowity at 5:31 AM on January 21, 2005

I think these are great picutres, but I also sort of agree (god help me) with MattD -- "Fuck Off Bush" may be a pretty clear statement of one protester's emotions, but its not going to change or challenge any hearts or minds.

We (and, yes, I'm speaking for the entire liberal/progressive oposition here) really need to find more ways to say what we're for, rather than what we're against.
posted by anastasiav at 5:51 AM on January 21, 2005

One more thing .... if anyone else has links to photos or photoblogs of the protests, please post them. I (for one - and I bet others would as well) would be really interested in seeing something different than what CNN has been telling me (i.e. not much).
posted by anastasiav at 5:52 AM on January 21, 2005

I felt sorry for the cops. They're mostly underpaid DC police, and it was pretty plain that they didn't want to be out there in the cold, between the protesters and the feds. (DC cops generally hate the secret service; i've seen them show great joy in giving the SS unmarked cars speeding tickets.)
posted by unreason at 5:53 AM on January 21, 2005

More pictures.

And my first comment. I think I want to be a riot officer for Halloween now.
posted by panoptican at 6:02 AM on January 21, 2005

Great pics. I didn't see many pics in the mainstream media last night.

Although "fuck off bush" and burning the flag may not sway the hearts and minds of mainstream America, I'm not worried about it. The right's PR machine have already villified people opposing the president, that they might as well start living up to their expectations.
posted by birdherder at 6:05 AM on January 21, 2005

Hey MattD, "Go fuck yourself."
posted by mosch at 6:06 AM on January 21, 2005

"Fuck Off Bush" is a clear and unmistakable message, and that's what protest signs are all about. It's tough to make a sign that gets across all the salient points of, say, a Bob Herbert editorial in the NYTimes.

Great pictures, and kudos to the people who came out to protest. The more this happens, the harder it will be for the media to ignore and marginalize it.

It's not time to shut up and play nice. If you don't want this war to continue, stand up and shout. Take to the streets. Wake up your neighbors, and shake up the status quo. That's what resistance is all about.
posted by tizzie at 6:08 AM on January 21, 2005

The faces of the cops are interesting..you can't tell they're neither scared nor preoccupied..indeed all these people must be some kind of happy communist treasonous campers, but they really look like people. Damn communists they're good at disguising eh ?

Note: Many of the Police Officers are Afro-American, and by DC Law, many of those officers are required to be actual residents of the city they police. DC voted AGAINST Bush 10-1.

It would not strain anybody's logic to suggest that all of those Stormtroopers/Chengo Fett clones/whatever would sooner see themselves on the protest lines - or at home, away from the 21º C. weather, trying to ignore it all...
posted by vhsiv at 6:09 AM on January 21, 2005

Actually, being in Michigan right now, "21º C. weather" sounds pretty scrumptious to me right now. We're down to about -20 C. in my neighborhood. Great pix, wonderful find.
posted by palancik at 6:18 AM on January 21, 2005

Am I the only one (besides the OP) that finds that open source photo to be super awesome?
posted by dig_duggler at 6:22 AM on January 21, 2005

"...weren't likely to see on any of the mainstream media outlets..."

Well, not to excuse classic protest underreporting -- and let me again recommend a must-read, Dennis Loy Johnson's The Big Chill, a fantastic account of the protests and their coverage during the last inauguration -- but it's kind of hard to get on the news when your giant sign says, "BUSH: A MOTHERFUCKER."

God, I've turned into an old man, I know. But.
posted by RJ Reynolds at 6:26 AM on January 21, 2005

Although, if anyone has a picture of the sign that read "Worst President Ever" (as per the White House pool report for yesterday (semi-self-link)), I'd really, really like to see it. (And I certainly suspect one of you was carrying it.)
posted by RJ Reynolds at 6:35 AM on January 21, 2005

Thanks for those pics, panopticon. They present a much different side of the protest.
posted by sciurus at 6:37 AM on January 21, 2005

I love how the guys with the corporate flag were smoking, completely contradicting themselves.
posted by phrontist at 6:40 AM on January 21, 2005

I don't see how anyone can condone flag burning at an ANTI-BUSH protest. The whole point was that you are Americans protesting against the man who is going to lead America for the next 4 years.

You could easily understand why the republicans would send one of their followers along to burn the flag with the protestors. I would object to it and I am British - I came to {protest_reason} but I am still an American and anything that man can do will not change that.
posted by dprs75 at 6:44 AM on January 21, 2005

vhsiv said "Note: Many of the Police Officers are Afro-American, and by DC Law, many of those officers are required to be actual residents of the city they police. DC voted AGAINST Bush 10-1."

One thing that struck me about these photos was the fact that the protesting crowd appears to be largely white. I believe this is true about most direct actions, but seems especially notable here because the DC population is largely black.

Terrific photos, all.
posted by scratch at 6:46 AM on January 21, 2005

You mean a great deal of the people who really, really hate Bush actually travelled to DC to wave giant signs that say FUCK OFF BUSH?

I'm shocked.
posted by fet at 6:52 AM on January 21, 2005

With obscenities and flag burning as the alternative

Ah, yes, because these scaaary things are so much worse than, oh, I don't know, lying to start a war, drilling in wildlife preserves, selling the forests to the highest bidder, polluting the air we all (even Republicans!) breathe, giving tax breaks to "small businessmen" who buy Hummers and Escalades, amending the Constitution to "defend marriage" ...

BTW, what is it about flag-burning that gets the Right so upset? The flag is a symbol and burning it is a symbolic act. Why is this such a grave threat to the country? "It doth offend mine eyes! Quick! Constitutional amendment!"
posted by kcds at 7:04 AM on January 21, 2005

I don't see how anyone can condone flag burning...

This is slightly off-topic, and could as well be posted to Ask.MeFi, but I've often wondered about this. What is the meaning behind such an action? Is it to meant simply to infuriate or inflame [npi] people whom you mean to antagonize, or is it meant to symbolize something else? Personally, it doesn't effect me one way or the other, but I know it gives a lot of people apoplexy. Hanging the flag upside-down, symbolizing distress, if probably a better way to go.
posted by psmealey at 7:10 AM on January 21, 2005

My point about the flag burning isn't the action itself, it's making sure that the viewers realize you are anti-bush not anti-america.
posted by dprs75 at 7:15 AM on January 21, 2005

but it's kind of hard to get on the news when your giant sign says, "BUSH: A MOTHERFUCKER."

That doesn't matter. The three timid people in America who still aren't sure whether they are for or against Bush and his ilk are not going to be won over by seeing the government (calm, smiling, certain) vs the protesters ("motherfuckers," etc.). Such protests are useful more as a way to energize party activists than as a way to communicate anything useful to the other side or to the timid middle.

But that energy will be wasted if it is not then focused on building a strong and (at least apparently if not actually) centrist party that is not associated in the average voter's mind with protestors in the streets. It wouldn't hurt to have more in the way of tea parties (but not Boston Tea Parties) and bake sales and so on organized by Democrats and designed to help community projects involving kids, retirees, schools, churches, daycare centers, etc. Win over the mild middle and you've got the White House.
posted by pracowity at 7:21 AM on January 21, 2005

Here's a link to some CNN Video that I sure they wish they had cut off sooner!
posted by bas67 at 7:49 AM on January 21, 2005

On edit "I'm sure they wish they had cut of sooner"
posted by bas67 at 7:50 AM on January 21, 2005

Capitalism = Terrorism?

Mighty big tent the hard left has built for itself.
posted by trharlan at 7:50 AM on January 21, 2005

it's kind of hard to get on the news when your giant sign says, "BUSH: A MOTHERFUCKER."

Anecdote: I was passing one of DC's fanciest hotels, the St. Regis, and a family group of very well dressed middle aged South Asians, clearly guests at the hotel, were on the sidewalk watching the parade go by. When the guy with the gigantic 'Bush is a Motherfucker' sign came by, they all chortled with glee and insisted on running out into the street and having their pictures taken with him.
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:51 AM on January 21, 2005

Hanging the flag upside-down, symbolizing distress, if probably a better way to go.

Think again. Try hanging a flag upside down on your house on the day Bush declares pre-emptive war against another country, specifically stating that it is for the reason you mention, and you'll have your house broken into, dead fish thrown at your house all night, and your roommates will be stalked home by men in pickup trucks throwing bottles and shouting threats.

Then, the ACLU will come to your house and make a little speech, and you'll take down your flag, and put up some whiny poster with words on it instead.

i was personally there, for what it's worth
posted by odinsdream at 7:59 AM on January 21, 2005

Why the hell do we need another party in the middle? The two mainstream parties are already dancing on the centerline. We need a party with principles and members who stick to them. For instance, a real small government party.
posted by knave at 8:08 AM on January 21, 2005

via The Onion:

"We Must Stop Everything Before this Flag Burning Issue is Resolved"
posted by destro at 8:18 AM on January 21, 2005

And here's the inaugural fuck-you.
posted by gentle at 8:18 AM on January 21, 2005

Why the hell do we need another party in the middle? The two mainstream parties are already dancing on the centerline. We need a party with principles and members who stick to them. For instance, a real small government party.

knave - i admire your ideas and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Funny that the idea for a party like that seems so broadly popular amongst people I know, yet there's absolutely zilch out there to serve it. Those people that I know who wish for such things hold their nose and pull the lever for either D or R depending on where their leanings are, but the stench still remains....
posted by fet at 8:24 AM on January 21, 2005

FYI, I pulled the L lever in November....
posted by knave at 8:26 AM on January 21, 2005

RJ Reynolds ... Are you looking to confirm its existence or do you need a good pic of it for some other reason? There were lots of "Worst President Ever" signs, they were of the professionally printed persuasion, white letters on black with a portrait of Der Fuehrer above the words. If the photo I took of one came out, I'll email a link.
posted by danOstuporStar at 8:28 AM on January 21, 2005

Hh & FYI, snowball's chance at hell.
posted by danOstuporStar at 8:30 AM on January 21, 2005

Maybe they burn the flag to show that they feel that "Being American" no longer has any meaning (but crap), therefore, what's the point of waving a flag like it matters? Burn it as an effigy instead, if that makes you feel better, even for a second.

Maybe they burn it because they feel that America itself lies in ruin?

Just a few ideas...
posted by erratic frog at 8:44 AM on January 21, 2005

Please post any links to other counter-inaugural image galleries as most of the popular ones seem to be down from server overload.
posted by destro at 8:58 AM on January 21, 2005

I wonder if some of us moderates could convince this guy to, like, not do that.
posted by jenleigh at 9:22 AM on January 21, 2005

About zero if you don't give him some sorta justification as to why not.
posted by danOstuporStar at 9:27 AM on January 21, 2005

It's only going too far to suggest that this administration is Nazi like if you take that suggestion literally. Obviously, Bush isn't gassing an entire race.

The protest in words.
posted by panoptican at 9:27 AM on January 21, 2005

Any chance that anyone has a mirror? I can't seem to get it to load.
posted by fake at 9:29 AM on January 21, 2005

I voted D because I hate the R's and, frankly the L's (though not necessarilly the l's) just don't seem to understand what society is for. Personally, I am a Y, but that party certainly seems to be going nowhere fast.
posted by Yellowbeard at 9:39 AM on January 21, 2005

Great photos. Thanks.
posted by occhiblu at 9:39 AM on January 21, 2005

Here's some pics of DC and beyond. And the Kevin Smith photos are indeed the best of the web, forgot to mention that before =).
posted by danOstuporStar at 9:42 AM on January 21, 2005

I attended the protest in Seattle after work yesterday, and while it was nowhere near the turnout in DC, I was surprised at the numbers. I'd estimate about a thousand people stayed to the end, and there were some great signs and some awesome speakers. And plenty of cops in riot gear, and not one but two military helicopters keeping an eye on us. But I SWEAR I saw a guy in a police uniform holding a sign that had a W with a slash through it... this is Seattle after all.

Any pics from other cities??
posted by salad spork at 10:03 AM on January 21, 2005

This are incredible pictures. As is the remainder of the portfolio that I've viewed. Thanks for pointing me towards this!
posted by dejah420 at 10:15 AM on January 21, 2005

Great pics. Nice to know the world gets to see some true patriots standing up to Bushco. Hell, I wish I could've gone, but that work thing got in the way.

Fuck bush.
posted by bardic at 10:15 AM on January 21, 2005

RJ Reynolds, that "Worst President Ever" sign is in the picture on the front page of Salon today.
posted by tizzie at 10:20 AM on January 21, 2005

"With all the deaths due to the war in Iraq, don't you think it's time for a Texas fiesta?"

What the hell is that supposed to mean?
posted by jefbla at 10:21 AM on January 21, 2005

some of those pictures were at the times website and most popped up in "mainstream media outlets" at news.google.com. the ones i can think of off the top of my head are the girl in the pink shirt near the people in folding chairs; the boy having his pepper sprayed-face tended to, and a couple of the scuffles over the barricades, as well as a couple of the less-profane "warmonger" posters.
posted by crush-onastick at 10:34 AM on January 21, 2005

I just wish they had been allowed to peacably assemble anywhere near the inauguration itself, as is their right.
posted by xammerboy at 10:48 AM on January 21, 2005

RJ Reynolds, I just uploaded a shot of the 'Worst President Ever' signs:

http://centricle.com/photos/2005/01/21/aa

And, regarding the flag-burning guy: I believe he was there with the anarchists. FWIW.


Oh, and thanks for the kind words, folks.
posted by ksmith at 10:52 AM on January 21, 2005

nice link jperkins.

"Serve the Revelers MREs”

Amen.
posted by MLIS at 11:18 AM on January 21, 2005

I put these links in another comments section, but someone above asked for them here.


This was the most moving, soulful thing I have ever seen, and I am not lying. I know it's not kosher for me to FPP this myself, but if I found it by someone else, I would. Not hinting...

Here's a gallery of protest signs.

Go nuts
posted by chinese_fashion at 11:29 AM on January 21, 2005

>>"With all the deaths due to the war in Iraq, don't you think it's time for a Texas fiesta?"

>What the hell is that supposed to mean?

That spending $40 million on a party (the "Texas fiesta") is perhaps a bit insensitive, given all the war dead and the lack of support and supplies for the soldiers on the ground.
posted by occhiblu at 11:53 AM on January 21, 2005

chinese_fashion, the video is wonderful - thank you for that.
posted by tizzie at 12:20 PM on January 21, 2005

fantastic photos, ksmith.
posted by mr.marx at 12:42 PM on January 21, 2005

This was awesome! Thanks a ton, jperkins!
posted by fenriq at 1:01 PM on January 21, 2005

It's only going too far to suggest that this administration is Nazi like if you take that suggestion literally. Obviously, Bush isn't gassing an entire race.


No he's just trying to ammend the constitution to take away rights from people who are homosexual, regardless of race. Oh and impede on a womans right to choose. And he's not overly fond of the poor either. Oh and Muslims, we can profile against ppl who look middle eastern. But no, there is no burning Jews.
posted by MrBobaFett at 1:51 PM on January 21, 2005

While I'm not for the protest at all, I do admire the photographer's talent. Very nice.
posted by sled at 2:51 PM on January 21, 2005

No he's just trying to ammend the constitution to take away rights from people who are homosexual, regardless of race. Oh and impede on a womans right to choose. And he's not overly fond of the poor either. Oh and Muslims, we can profile against ppl who look middle eastern. But no, there is no burning Jews.

Hey I'm with you. I think the comparison is fair and accurate when taken metaphorically. The tactics that this administration have used are very similar, and we shouldn't be vilified for suggesting that George W. Bush is a nazi. Some people, however, would like to pussyfoot around the issue. Something about trivializing the Holocaust, or maybe it's even sillier.
posted by panoptican at 6:44 PM on January 21, 2005

Go Toros!

Seriously though, that's also a hand symbol for the Horned God.

It's also "featured" on every Baphomet statue.

I wonder what it means to Bush and why he does it?
posted by erratic frog at 10:54 PM on January 21, 2005

Great pictures. It blew my mind when I saw someone who lives up the street from me in the 'worst president ever' photo. Because I live in Kentucky. Now that's a small world.
posted by seajay at 10:56 PM on January 21, 2005

Hey I'm with you. I think the comparison is fair and accurate when taken metaphorically. The tactics that this administration have used are very similar, and we shouldn't be vilified for suggesting that George W. Bush is a nazi. Some people, however, would like to pussyfoot around the issue. Something about trivializing the Holocaust, or maybe it's even sillier.

Except it isn't metaphorically, either. Bush isn't expanding our Interstate Highway system, he's not nationalizing certain industries, and he's not forcing people to wear identification of their race or ethnicity. Never mind the gassing part. And I for one belive it is trivializing the Holocaust and debases discussion when you call any government that isn't mass murdering its own citizens (which the US has not so far done) Nazis.
posted by calwatch at 4:03 AM on January 22, 2005

I wonder what it means to Bush and why he does it?

It also stands for "Hook'em Horns" and is a gesture used by students and fans on the University of Texas Longhorns ... the band that was marching by and playing when these photos were taken (I believe they started the whole parade off).
posted by Orb at 5:31 AM on January 22, 2005

And I for one belive it is trivializing the Holocaust and debases discussion when you call any government that isn't mass murdering its own citizens (which the US has not so far done) Nazis.

Because that's all the Nazi's were about, murdering citizens..

Except that the Nazi party was also big pusher of Patriotism, of the you are with us or against us variety. They didn't jump right into mass killings, they started by restricting rights. They did that based on Moral Values

The biggest difference was the Nazi's had a very well spoken charasimatic leader. While we have a dope who stutters his way thru basic sentence construction.
posted by MrBobaFett at 9:30 AM on January 22, 2005