A Guide to Protesting in DC

The Motley Fool ^ | Mar 18, 2008 | gridert

[upchuck]

But first a word or two from upchuck:

Most of the FReeper population does not live near Washington, DC. And, due to the frequent opportunities provided to the DC Freepers, some of us may be a little jealous.

So here is the definitive guide to Protesting (FReeping) in DC... (Who knew commuters could be so vicious :)

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Don't try to block the streets. All you will do is annoy the commuters (you really don't want to do this). The nice police officers are arresting you not because you are breaking the law, but to protect you from the commuters. You will only make the news because some commuters ran you over.

Same goes with the bridges over the Potomac. We don't have a lot of them. And, if you try to block them, you will have some very very angry commuters out to lynch you. Hope the nice police officers arrive in time. Only if you get lynched will you make the news.

Don't bother protesting in front of the White House unless you have a group that exceeds 10,000. The White House has been under continuous protest for over 40 years. Don't expect to make the news unless you have a sufficient large group or do something really stupid like try to climb the White House fence.

Same goes for the Capital Building. Here the number is 100,000. The Capital Building gets a huge number of visitors every year. Unless your group is of sufficient size, they will probably think you are just another tour group with funny tee-shirts. Oh, and getting arrested on or near the Capital Building grounds will be fun. There are 5 police units with jurisdiction in and around the Capital Building. Just figuring out who to pay the fine to (or figuring out what court to dispute the fine in) can take months. Sometimes fights break out between the police units on who gets to arrest you.

For any given protest there will be an equal and opposite counter protest. The police officers will not arbitrate. They will arrest both sides. Usually the counter protesters get more press. Just the way things are.

Don't expect the citizens of DC to notice your protest. As has been mentioned we get protesters here regularly about almost everything. You guys/gals come and go, and frankly are boring. Don't be surprised if the citizens push you off the sidewalks and into the street, this is so that the commuters have a better shot at running you over. Note that you will only make the news if this happens.

Protesting in front of the IRS is a waste of time. Everyone hates the IRS already. BTW, they have very good face recognition software. Expect to be audited.

Note that the Pentagon is NOT in DC. It is across the Potomac river in Arlington, Virginia. They have their own police. They are not nearly as nice about arresting you.

Please do spend lots of money in our many bars, motels/hotels, and restaurants. DC needs the revenue (mainly so that they can pay the nice police officers that are arresting you). The last thing you want are grumpy police officers arresting you.

[frankiep]

I work downtown and didn’t even know that there were any special protests going on yesterday until I got in the car and heard about it on the radio.

[PrincessB]

Is the “Free Tibet” lady still out on Connecticut Ave every Friday morning?

[PrincessB]

Is the “Free Tibet” lady still out on Connecticut Ave every Friday morning?

[ASOC]

ROLFLAMO

“push you into the streets...”

Too funny, thanks for an early weekend laff.

[VanShuyten]

Really. I heard some protesters got arrested in front of the IRS and figured it was the April 15 crowd started early. Turned out to be some cognitively-disabled Code Pinkers.

[El Gato]

But if you want to avoid arrest. Trash a military recruiting office, and obstruct access to that. The police will not arrest you for that. OTOH, the Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force or even Coast Guard, members, not to mention Fed Up FReepers, may kick your a$$, and you'll wish you had been arrested instead.

[trooprally]

D.C. chapter Master Ping List.

Some real funny stuff.

[Just A Nobody]

You will only make the news because.....

Is this guy for real or is he spoofing the commies?

A lone commie can stand in front of a building with an anti-American/Military/President Bush/Iraq War (fill in the blank) sign and have a dozen articles written about him and appear on every news highlight during the day.

3000 commies congregate for a day and there is 24/7 coverage while 30-40,000 patriots converge across the street and they get zilch in the way of coverage. *sigh*

[ArrogantBustard]

ROFL!!!!!

So true, in so many ways.

[trooprally]

You are right Justa. The best we can do until we get the couch-conservatives out and about is to rain on the anarchists events and cut into their media time.

[Mr] T

[VAFlagwaver]

ROFLMAO!! Very funny!! Thanks!!

[stand watie]

rotflmRao. this guy should do stand-up comedy.

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

thought you might enjoy reading "the guide to protesting in DC".

free dixie SMOOCH,sw

[trooprally]

Thanks for the kudos, I just ping the list for UpChuck. Also glad you all got a good laugh.

[Mr] T