PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Report from Pro-Choice contingent in M18 march
by Anti-Racist Action Sunday, Mar. 19, 2006 at 9:29 PM
pgh_ara@yahoo.com

Reportback from inside the Radical Pro-Choice contingent

Reportback from inside the Radical Pro-Choice contingent

Anti-Racist Action called for a Radical Pro-Choice contingent in the larger mass march against the Iraq War on March 18th, 2006. The contingent intended to bring attention to not only the war in Iraq perpetuated by right-wing extremists in the U.S. government, but the war here at home against our basic rights such as the right to abortion and healthcare for women.

"From Toledo to Athens, Anarchy can happen!"

The contingent marched alongside the Youth Against Militarism contingent organized by the Pittsburgh Organizing Group. Over 50 people marched in the combined contingents to the beat of bucket drums and old school hip hop from the boombox. The march was very lively with the crowd laughing, singing, and chanting along the 3 mile march to the military recruitment center in Oakland, where many participants brought noisemakers, signs, and flags.

Both groups participated in outing various undercover officers known to the radical community. There were many police on surrounding rooftops and vans taking pictures of participants of the march. Most of the undercover officers were outed before they were allowed to join the crowds and had their pictures taken for later documentation. One particular officer had shown up at the recent press conference at the Thomas Merton Center to address continued FBI spying on the group and had identified himself as an officer on that day.

"Shut it down! No recruiters in our town!"

As the march approached the middle to upper-class neighborhood of Shadyside it became apparent that the police did not want the protestors interacting with the well-to-do Shadyside regulars. They had erected wooden horses and poorly-constructed 4 foot tall fences to keep them away from the sidewalk, and by default away from shoppers and residents.

When the march arrived in front of the recruitment station it was greeted with another set of 4-foot high fencing. Members of the march had already started to pull down the fencing before the contingents arrived at the station. The contingents joined in with other marchers in pulling the barricades into the street and occupying the space in front of the recruitment center. Unknown members of the march proceeded to spraypaint and smash the front window of the recruitment center as it was blockaded by members of the march.

The 1000+ crowd proceeded to dance and jump on the destroyed barricades while singing and chanting "Shut it down! No recruiters in our town!" before heavily armed riot police took control of the sidewalk.

There was one arrest reported. As police hiding (not so well) in the upper floor of Foto-Hut across the street videotaped the crowd below, officers from the building came out of the front door and snatched a protestor, dragging him upstairs. They held him there for a few minutes before whisking him away to a waiting PAT bus which was going to be used for a mass-arrest had the crowd not dispersed by a set time. The arrestee has since been released without having to pay bail.

All being said, the march was very lively and fun. There were nearly 3 times as many radicals present as last year's march on the anniversary of the Iraq war. The overall march had grown in size as well. We now know that despite the police's (poor) attempts at surveillance and intimidation that we are growing in number and growing ever more effective at what we do.

-Jay (A member of Anti-Racist Action)