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Just got off the phone with FTH and FReepmail with Aske15 - they will provide FR with a live thread update as we call in reports tomorrow - could you guys coordinate on who will start the thread (approx 1030)? This way we have two posters and those on the ground will have at least two callers to phone into - this should be better than previous efforts as the thread can stay lively and get more than one perspective from those on-site.

Thanks guys for coordinating the comms tomorrow. I'll be tuning in.

NEWS UPDATE:

I don't have Drudge's way with blinking sirens, darn!

Anyway, I have returned from a two-hour foray throughout the city accompanied by ned 13. We met at 18th and I to check out the situation closer to the World Bank and the hot areas that were filled with protesters two years ago.

I saw two bandana-wearing people on the way and we saw a total of about two-dozen between us in more than an hour.

As we stood on the corner of Pennsylvania and 19th Street, we saw a construction site which was basically a big hole in the ground surrounded by fences. Ned13 said the construction company moved out the cranes and heavy equipment in anticipation of the protests -- we're talking big bucks lost because of the protesters. There were metal barricades and people barricades blocking access to 19th Street in front of the World Bank area. The remaining streets had light traffic.

The TV news trucks were set up on both sides of Pennsylvania and there were tents set up to cover equipment and personnel for on-the-scene reporting and interviews. A park area between Pennsylvania and H (I may be wrong on the street name) had movable fencing around it and policemen were stationed at intervals around the perimeter. We saw about 15 protesters sitting in the park.

Lots of people came out to see the protesters, but the protesters were really nowhere to be seen. Police helicopters kept flying overhead. I heard the fighter jet when it passed over. There was an ambulance inside the blocked street area and there were a number of buses escorted inside the barricades while we stood on the corner. We couldn't see inside the buses to determine whether the people inside were reinforcements from the police department or arrested protesters.

When it was obvious that the protesters and action were elsewhere, we began walking toward 15th and Pennsylvania and Pershing Park. We had heard that the protesters were penned up in that area. We got as far as 17th and Pennsylvania when the Secret Service came out to block off the street in front of the Old Executive Office Building and Blair House across the street. One of the officers mentioned Blair House, so I'm not sure if there was a dignitary inside and they were closing the street for protection.

We walked around the block and were able to cut through Lafayette Park and walk to the front of the White House. The street was a staging area for the rest of the city. It was filled with cars, paddy wagons, trucks with supplies, numerous horse trailors filled with the Park Service Horse Brigade. There was even a black armored vehicle with a bright blue stripe on the side labeled "Police Rescue."

We stopped to talk to Don at one of the ongoing protests in Lafayette Park. He informed us that someone had just reported that the protest permit at Freedom Plaza had just been revoked. We continued on and met Kristinn on 15th Street. When we arrived at 15th and Pennsylvania, all was calm and peaceful without a protester to be seen.

We split up to go back to work. I did see some protesters finally. There were about 150 (generous estimate) gathered at Farragut Square near I Street listening to speeches and propaganda. The lower half of the park was filled with 50-60 motorcycle and bicycle policemen. I thanked them all for the job they are doing to protect the city and people today.

For those out of towners, a little weather context:

It's been drizzling all day, suddenly a bit of blue sky now, but severe thunderstorms possible between now and midnight. So the city should be pretty calm tonight.

Tomorrow it's going to be nice and blue skies.