First of all, I had to park a few blocks from the train station. (Yes in L.A. we really do drive to the metro station, what can I say...) I was getting more positive response than the last few times when walking down the street with my sign. Then I hadn't eaten all day and it was around 2:30 so I stopped in at Quizno's for a sandwich and the woman making it said her boyfriend is in the army and is going to Iraq this year. We talked a bit, she said she tried to talk him out of it, she hates Bush etc... and I wished her family well. So then when I was paying she whispered to the cashier and the cashier looked at me and my sign and gave me a 10% discount. So I asked if that was the protester's discount and she said yeah, I already gave it to you. And I said really? I get a discount? And she said yeah, for speaking the truth. It was pretty cool.

I got there (downtown) when the marching began so I missed the opening rally. I would guess there were about 2000 people. At one point we marched over the freeway, stopped on the overhang and waved our signs, during rush hour and got lots of honking in return. I did see one guy motioning thumbs down while driving.

The police seemed rather chipper as well. They were lined up along the railing to the freeway, keeping people from the edge, and several of them were smiling, happy little smiles. I saw one read a sign and smile. Then later when I was standing and waving my sign to the cars below one cop nodded his head to me, saying "hi", and smiled. About 10 feet away a cop was talking and laughing with a protester. It was really refreshing to see that.

When I left though, while waiting for the metro in Union Station, a couple Sheriffs came up to me and told me I couldn't have my sign out while at the station or on the train. I was tired and didn't ask them why, and now I'm wondering what's wrong with that?


Posting some pics below. They're not very good as I took them with my camera phone and didn't ever position myself to get good pics.









The next two are Ed Asner speaking, reading the Call of World Can't Wait:





Cool sign:



Another:



I thought this was interesting because there's a banner on the lamppost that says
"There's no room for domestic violence in L.A.".



"Preemptive Impeachment":



"Fascism Sucks":





I had posted this in the Minnesota protest thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...
and it was suggested that I cross post it in GD, so there you have it.