Anti-Bush protesters invade downtown Bakersfield, bring global politics to local streets - By N.L. Belardes
I've never seen Bakersfield so active. This is the year of the protest in Bakersfield for sure. I was on my way home after work when I got a call from a friend that an anti-Bush protest was making its way east on Truxtun Avenue. The march headed toward the Liberty Bell area near Chester Avenue in downtown Bakersfield. So many protests in Bakersfield. Maybe they started HERE or HERE.
Here's my photo essay report:
A protest? I made my way downtown. I started on Chester Avenue.
chingpea was driving as we stumbled onto a car wreck between a police vehicle and a civilian car. Who was at fault? I think the car behind the bike was the police car that got smashed and later put on a flatbed truck. You can barely see the car on the other side: smash city. I don't know who the guy on the bike was.
Protesters on the march down Truxtun...
Anti-Bush chants filled the air from marchers. A few were on bullhorns.
Is the Bush Administration a regime? You decide.
Are fascists running America? I stood in the street for this photo.
Issues of Guantanamo Bay and possible human rights violations on the streets of Bakersfield? What about the secret CIA Euro-prisons? Where do you stand?
Notice the drummer...
Symbolism: Islamic Fundamentalist radical American-haters imprisoned, or innocent lovers of the Koran trapped on an island of Moreau?
Chanting against a possible regime
I met Dusty, a local activist who is as sweet as pie. She's a great activist for her cause. Every political party needs strong supporters like Dusty who aren't afraid to blog their beliefs...
What do you believe?
Crossing Truxtun. The brick building is police headquarters...
Calling all parked cars...
Is the Incredible Hulk flexing on this building?
The scene of the accident. Full circle. Debris in the road, and marchers on the prowl...
*UPDATE:
I found this youtube video on Dusty's site, where you can also find more pics and some of the talk and comments on the day
Here's my photo essay report:
A protest? I made my way downtown. I started on Chester Avenue.
chingpea was driving as we stumbled onto a car wreck between a police vehicle and a civilian car. Who was at fault? I think the car behind the bike was the police car that got smashed and later put on a flatbed truck. You can barely see the car on the other side: smash city. I don't know who the guy on the bike was.
Protesters on the march down Truxtun...
Anti-Bush chants filled the air from marchers. A few were on bullhorns.
Is the Bush Administration a regime? You decide.
Are fascists running America? I stood in the street for this photo.
Issues of Guantanamo Bay and possible human rights violations on the streets of Bakersfield? What about the secret CIA Euro-prisons? Where do you stand?
Notice the drummer...
Symbolism: Islamic Fundamentalist radical American-haters imprisoned, or innocent lovers of the Koran trapped on an island of Moreau?
Chanting against a possible regime
I met Dusty, a local activist who is as sweet as pie. She's a great activist for her cause. Every political party needs strong supporters like Dusty who aren't afraid to blog their beliefs...
What do you believe?
Crossing Truxtun. The brick building is police headquarters...
Calling all parked cars...
Is the Incredible Hulk flexing on this building?
The scene of the accident. Full circle. Debris in the road, and marchers on the prowl...
*UPDATE:
I found this youtube video on Dusty's site, where you can also find more pics and some of the talk and comments on the day
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Thursday, October 05, 2006.
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hmmm...all these pics of protesters and not one backward "flip off" sign! Just a few peace signs...I kinda like these people...
All of this "recent rally-ing" has been quite inspiring for me lately. As a matter of fact, I think I'll run down to Taco Bell and protest the absence of the Bell Beefer from their current menu. Or, maybe I'll protest the fact that none of the nation's fast food chains can agree on a universal slogan for upsizing your drink and fry with combo meal orders.
"Would you like to go large with that sir"?
"Do you want to Supersize that order"?
"You want to King size that buddy"?
"Can we Biggie size that for you today"?
I mean seriously, what the fuck is really going on with these people? Why can't we just say " Hey pal, make it extra large up and down", and then leave it at that?
Oh, and whats up with the trans fats being lifted from the merchandise?
I know, I know, I should just stop my bitching already... I'm starting to sound like a detainee.
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people have the right to believe what they want to believe and voice what they want. we should all respect those who will stand up for what they think is right even if you don't agree. it takes a lot of guts to stand up for what you believe.
peace,
chingpea
I do enjoy these kind of events and that they get media attention somewhere. It's refreshing to hear the other voice rather than all the Bush-bots on radio and t.v. everyday!
Its our Canadian Thanksgiving eh!
maybe you guys should have your's earlier.
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
"just say no to giblets"
*gobblegobble*
Is there a reason you always use Truxton instead of Truxtun.
I know it really not important, just one of those things that bugs me.
(I never claimed to be well.)
That's a typo. I will fix right now...
I heard that to properly thaw a turkey, the rule is, in the refrigerator it's "breast side up", in cold water it's "breast side down". Geez, it's always about the breasts!
These are some great photos! You've really captured the spirit of the protestors! My favorite is of the guy with the bandana and the 70's style sunglasses!
I have never seen Bakersfield people as active in the marches and protests as they have been in the last year... It's really interesting to see Bakersfield people standing up with their voices for what they believe in. And its great that you've captured those marching moments in photographs.
Susan a HAPPY TURKEY GOBBLE TO YOU!
*she takes the best photos*
Now, I have two questions:
1) When does DW not think about boobs?
2) Are you all afraid of talking politics?
I have problems with Bush. But am I a Bush hater? No. Should we be in Iraq? I get confused on that one every day. Should America build democracies where it can? Will democracy in Iraq ever be stable? What's the benefit? A balance of power in the Middle East, a possible de-escalation of islamic radicalism.
But at what cost?
And will it all backfire?
What would have been the best 9/11 solution?
I'm ready for a change too. Can't wait to see who is officially running...
My, protesters do know how to accesorize. I think we did investigate 9/11, hence the published report faulting pretty much everybody from Bush to Clinton to the CIA. Are we detaining puppies in Guantanimo Bay, or people who are allegedly comfortable with strapping bombs to themselves, kidnapping journalists, running planes into buildings, in pursuit of displaying their hatred of America. I fully recognize that some of the accused trapped in these prisons are innocent. But the reality is the majority of them are not. If this is the best method we have to demonstrate to the rest of the world that it is not okay to kidnap, torture, kill innocent civilians for personal edification, then so be it as far as I'm concerned. Interrogation is not recess. Prison is not recess, at least for political criminals. What does bother me, and I think if some of these people actually read up on the issues they'd agree, is the fact that Bush(along with his cabinet) is trying to get legislation passed to make it acceptable for the accused to never even have their day in court. That personally terrifies me.
Susan DOES take the best photos. d.w. isn't the only boobs obsessed person on this blog. Happy Thanksgiving, Susan!
Did we already forget about you oogling Anymouse's tata's just recently? LOL
And the TWO STRAIGHT MEN article... there you were again.. oogling a the big breasted woman eating her ice cream.. or whatever it was she was eating.
norma: all women's body parts are cool. OK? hahaha... and no, we established that I was not gawking at Anymouse~
Anymouse: Yes, 9/11 was investgated... but was all told to us?
No, I don't believe all information was shared. That document was released to appease the media, and thus the consciousness of most of America.
For example, suddenly there was found more than a 1000 phone calls that didn't make it into that document?
No.
It's not all there.
And it wouldn't all be there if there were a Dem or a Rep in office.
Maybe the POWs at Guantanamo won't get a trial until the war against terrorism is over...
Were Nazi's on trial before the end of WW2?
I think we can sum up the ogling, and/or oggling with this thought: Nick enjoys his tits and ass. The end.
Thanks for covering the protest NL..I heart you for it. It was great to meet you if only for a moment. My blog on the Californian is getting some haters but I love that..means we are getting under their skin :)I refuse to delete their diatribes..I like to look at them and smile a big cheshire cat smile. We had alot of honkers a a few giving us the middle finger salute along the way..its all good, because we got their attention.
You rock NL, god bless ya dude :)
I enjoyed capturing the spirit of the moment. We may disagree on thoughts/points, but you deserved coverage. Why would the local paper write an article, then not send out photographers to cover the event?
Unless they were at the Liberty bell. But from where I was I saw no paper, no TV, no radio folks. Was I the lone reporter?
Whether a Rep or Dem march, this was historic. I have never seen anything like it.
The immigration marches were much larger. But in the historic scope of Bakersfield being MARCHLESS until this year, the anti-Bush rally signaled a societal change, a cultural change that PEOPLE aren't afraid to wave their views in the face of police, fellow citizens and city officials.
Dusty, you know we don't see eye-to-eye on politics, but we do see eye-to-eye that the march deserved coverage, and that the anti-Bush rhetoric exists within Bakersfield culture.
Is it news-suppress when a paper will write an article about and then not cover the visual message of an event?
Unless the press was there...
Were they?
I saw a smashed up police car...
I do appreciate protesting either end because it gets people thinking about the issues. And the folks aren't blocking traffic, anally raping squirrels trying to get into the courthouse, etc. Hurray for free thinking.
The tv guys only showed up to the morning event at Jastro..where we had very few people NL..which was sad. We told them we expected more people after 4 and that is when everyone turned out. The Californian did send out the same guy in the morning and at the Superior Court Bldg..but like you said..no photog. Its sad that our local media doesn't report things isn't it? No matter what the size, it is important, its part of our local society..but they ignore anything but Ahnold and large groups of Hispanic protestors. I heard a group of Christians held a small march last week. I never head anything about it, did you?
I would like to see a counter protest from people that are actually willing to take a stand against these Liberal chimps.
I want to see a few folks dressed in Amercian soldier garb...
I want to see a few hundred more dressed in bright colored jumpsuits...
I want to see these costumed servicemen participate in mock beheadings of all prisoners (It's just a demonstration, no real heads being cut off please).
And why not. We have to digest these radical whatevers pulling like minded shit on American troops and innocent "Western" bystanders almost daily. You don't always see it, because our Liberal media would have us believe that it's our fault this whole shindig got started in the first place. They never air all the facts, only half stories that depict our troops as immoral and savage.
"But we can't stoop to their level", "We're more civilized than them", "We have to set the precedent" blah, blah, blah... I am so sick of that logic.
Who gives a shit if they were stripped down and ridiculed in their cells... They're still fucking breathing ain't they.
There was a religious event. I wasn't able to make it. I didn't see anything in the news. I wonder if the media is just thinking all Bakersfield protests are posh now... so why cover?
I'm not really sure where I stand sometimes politically 'cause it just seems that both party's don't know exactly where they stand! I have leaned towards conservative stances since being a parent, but my profession and interests are very much surrounded by liberal points of view which I also can agree with. Uh...did that make sense?...probably not, 'cause I'm so friggin confused!!!
Hey NL did you read Shiders take on the protest? She put it up on her Californian blog and its in todays paper.
FYI Dobbler..many of the people that attended the protest were not liberals, they were merely people that are tired of what our current administration has done in all our names. The Majority of Americans think the Shrub is doing a lousy job, as witnessed by polls from everywhere including Fox News.
Hey Dusty, can you post a link to that blog here in the comments?
Politics… I rarely talk about them because I feel like I am not informed enough to make any sense.
I think we should support the people that we elect; however, I think that we should stand up for what we believe in. We put Bush back in office long enough after 9/11 that we should quit complaining about anything he did in reaction to it. We knew where he stood when he was re-elected. I think it’s unfair for us as a nation to say to him, we want you to lead us, and then we hate you. Everyone isn’t going to get what they want, we need support what we got until the next election then you’ll have your chance to change it.
On another note, protesting seems like kind of a waste to me anyway, I mean what does it really accomplish? Yes, others get to see what we think, but big whoop, the either agree and honk or disagree and flip the backwards bird, or the frontward bird, either way they don’t change their minds and action is rarely taken. I would rather do something more constructive that I know will really make a difference in the world like feed people or really have relationships and conversations with them about why they believe what they believe. Maybe I’m lame.
One time I caught Bush in my closet tying my shoe laces together. We both laughed and I went back to bed... Silly Mr. Bush!
Good points a-plenty in Et's comment... Cheers.
Dusty my friend, I expected the reply you directed at me.
First off, I don't care if the folks in attendace were all Liberals, nor do I care if they were all conservatives...
What I do care about, are half assed demonstrations.
You and I had our first little run in during discussions involving the recent "local" Illegal Immigrant rallies. This current demostration was just as one sided as the Immigrant rallies I just mentioned... Only more idiotic.
Once again, you have a group of people parading around a downtown corner condemning a man for the decisions he has made... And all the while, they never offer one simple "proper" solution.
It's always "Fire Bush and all our problems will go away".
Now, Is that really it?
Is that the best people can come up with?
I don't defend the man's every decision... How could I?
I have too many differing opinions for myself, much less any one person in general to actually handle.
Maybe he's an asshole, maybe he's a complete fucking idiot, and maybe, just maybe on some days he's both. I don't fucking care. You know why?
Because nobody else had what it took to convince me and the rest of the nation otherwise. It also doesn't help that every Democrat currently opening his or her fucking yap in terms of opposition, needs to undergo a severe noodle scan.
Just look at it like this...
In dire times such as these, they are more interested in marrying homosexuals, allowing children to decide if they want to abort a child (Without parental consent might I add), and fighting for the rights of child molesters, (and this is a very short censored list) than they are in solving the problem(s) that the current and possible future war(s) are causing our Country. I'm sure they have a good idea to be found somewhere. Maybe if they stop pointing fingers long enough, stop trying to cover their tracks, and admit they to, fucked up... They would find it and win the people back.
Instead, They're spending their collective energies accusing the opposition of everything they are equally guilty of, and not offering any realistic type of suggestion... Just like the protesters.
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