Cheer Block/ Anti-Fascist Block
by tristan
25 Apr 2004
DC Indymedia

We Rocked Today

I went to the best march ever today. There was a huge women’s rights march and we had a Radical Cheerleader feeder march. Many of us had come for the IMF/World Bank meeting the day before which was good and fun with about 2,500 people on a festive procession and entertaining rally/Really Really Free market in the Park. So today we gathered in a different park. We had so much energy. All the cheerleaders, anarchists and fun people were there about 9:30. Most were dressed in black, pink and a little purple. At 10:30 Food Not Bombs had a free pancake breakfast and we headed out. The cops were mellow and we marched and cheered and had so much fun. The founders of the Radical Cheerleader concept were dancing in the crowd. There were amazing cheers. Many people from mainstream groups such as Planned Parenthood Chicago joined in. Women’s rights activists filled the city. We soon reached the Supreme Court and a Bay Area (California) cheerleading squad did cheers and a human cheer pyramid. Meanwhile cops ( just doing their job) lined the steps and empty marble walls made up the backdrop while Roman symbols of corporal punishment and execution topped the building. Everyone could see we were more fun than executions anyday. Yahhh! We got to the Women’s rally and the cops tried to heard us in but we got around and continued marching. The other participants cheered and took photos whenever we appeared. We stopped in the middle of the mall and had so much fun and entertained everyone. The march started and we cut across and continued. The Black Bloc took the lead, in confusion, and was maybe a bit macho but they let a bunch of cheerleaders get in front as we shouted at hundreds of pro-lifers. Soon police motorcycles tried to cut us off but they were blocked by the Black Bloc and the police decided not to attack today. We continued and had to join the main march. Pro lifers lined the other side of the barricades. We shouted about birth control and masturbation, cunts and clits and taking the streets while the Black bloc ripped the signs out of their hands. We finally got back to the mall and rested in the middle of the street. Madeline Albright spoke and we all booed while cheers filled the mall. Many of our people began to leave while the march continued to arrive for two hours. There were many good speakers against the war and good in other ways. Soon a few of us played drums and whistles and noisemakers. More people danced any many passersby joined in. After a rest the drums began again and we danced up a storm. Many other people joined in and soon it was mostly students and others having a great time, the anarchists started the party then let it take its course. I felt it was a perfect model of how things should be done. Dolores Huerta spoke about immigrant women and Ani di Franco played and spoke against capitalism to end the rally. Finally the few of us left but stopped to have Ninja versus Pirates sword fights and play freeze tag. On the way to the metro we ran into two Canadian women who called out to me for carrying a pink and black ‘No War’ flag. They said the rally was awful, everything for the Democrats and we said that we agreed that it was bad that Hillary Clinton and so many Democrats spoke and about Kerry but that we had had so much fun as our own bloc.