Philadelphia Takes on Anti-Pharma Protestors

The Philadelphia Syndicate ^ | 06.21.2005 | TragicHipster

[PHLSyndicate]

I was finishing up dinner with a client at Silk City Diner when I heard the sirens. I was aware that there had been protests planned for today in Philadelphia. I didn’t know what to expect but figured that if anything happened that I should know about, I’d hear about it somewhere.

As it turns out, when I got back from dinner, there was email from the PHL Syndicate listserv. Word went out that there was full on civil strife going on at Philly at the moment. It took someone in Portland to alarm me – when the action was going on 4 blocks from my front door.

From the Philly IMC web site, quite dramatically:

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) will hold their June 19-22 international corporate convention in downtown Philadelphia. People from across the country are converging to bring attention to BIO's closed-door agenda of medicine for profit, genetically engineered agriculture and bioweapons proliferation.

[...]

Philadelphia Police Officer Paris Williams had an apparent cardiac arrest while chasing protesters in front of the Convention Center today. According to both demonstrators and police, he was not involved in the scuffle.

[...]

+++ 21-06-2005 19:13: Solidarity vigil planned to leave LOVE Park at 8pm for police headquarters across from the Constitution Center. +++

Reading a little further on the IMC site I found out that there was a protest going on at the Art Museum, which is only a few blocks from my home. Of course, curiosity got the best of me. I could not resist going down. I was rather clandestine about the whole thing. I didn't really know what to expect so I wanted to look as inconspicuous as possible. I didn't think it would be such a good idea to be standing around taking pictures, especially since the cops were probably in no mood for that type of thing after the earlier death of one of the their co-workers.

I brought my fancy new cell phone, with photo taking capabilities, and walked down to the general area of the protests. I figured things would be pretty hectic and didn't think I'd be able to get all that close to the action. Even though I got down there only a few minutes after the post on the Philly IMC site about the protest, there was barely anyone around. Well, there were people there, but none of the drama was present that I expected. On the top of the steps was what appeared to be a party of some sort under a tent. At the base of the tent, there were about 30 cops. Across the street from the steps there were a few dudes with phatty dreads, some chicks wearing long, flowing skirts, and most likely, more members of the media than actual protestors. The cops outnumbered everyone by a 2:1 margin. I think I saw a hackey-sack.

The pics aren't terribly great, nor interesting, but you can see them anyway and get the idea:

#1: Cops lined up in front of steps
#2: Protestors (?)

Radio Volta, an independent Philadelphia net (and pirate) broadcast station, promised live coverage but there's some jam band thing going on now. I recognized some Zeppelin and even a Coltrane lick or two in one of the guitar solos so I guess I should give them a little credit for that. Undoubtedly, there are a few things that the left in America does particularly well - take awesome pictures of themselves and their protests and throw cool outdoor concerts.

The whole thing reminded me of a South Park episode.

[IMHO: One of the reasons why the anti-war movement is going so poorly in America these days, despite pollsters reports of voter dissatisfaction, is that most people who may otherwise join a protest don’t wan to be bothered with where to find patchouli. I mean, who wants to have to drive to South Street every other month just so you can prove to your friends that you don’t wear deodorant made by profit-hungry, enviornmentally destructive, multinational corporations? Not only that, who wants to have to go out and buy new furniture to match the tapestries that one will have to start hanging everywhere simply because you have a problem with neo-liberal, Messianic, Wilsonian internationalism?]

I got bored with the whole scene and went in search of water ice. On the way back to my street I saw out of the corner of my eye two cops on bikes, appearing rather sinister. Out of the corner of my other eye a cop, who appeared to be in charge, came running across the Parkway, yelling their names. They became alert and readied themselves for whatever was about to happen. I got a little bit nervous. The cop was yelling, "Dock D! Dock D! 11th and Arch! Dock D!"

Yes, finally! Some action! My mind raced. Dock D. Dock D. Was this code? What was going on at 11th and Arch? He seems so crazed, yelling, "Dock D! Dock D! I said 13th and Arch!"

As both the boss-man cop and the two cops on the motorcycle converged I slowed my walking pace, hoping to catch a word on what was happening. Oh my, I thought, what interesting thing will I have to report on the blog!"

Finally, the cop in charge got across the street and reached the two cops on the motorcycles. I would now learn what “Dock D” was and what was going on at 11th and Arch.

"Fellas, I said to go to 11th and Arch. OK? Go to 11th and Arch and go to," with particular emphasis, "DOCK D."

My God, please, what is Dock D? I was so desperate to find out what that meant? Does that mean violence? They are calling for backups? WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!

"If you go to 11th and Arch, at Dock D, there will be food set up on a table and..."