By anonymous for Infoshop News (news.infoshop.org)
Sunday May 22, 2005
Kansas City – This afternoon, at 4 pm next to the J.C. Nichols Fountain on the Plaza (47th & J.C. Nichols Pkwy), the liberal peace rally occurred as usual. However, this time a group of twenty anarchists--with bandanas masking their faces--showed up to provide an alternative: radical direct action protesting the Iraq War.
The anarchist protesters marched through the liberal peace rally chanting, "We're fed up with symbolism. Take the Streets, Disrupt the War!" They then ran through the streets and sidewalks, proceeding to cause havoc on the Plaza from 47th & J.C. Nichols Pkwy to 47th & Jefferson. Some of the protesters were on bikes--they created traffic interference and blocked intersections. Trashcans, newspaper stands, tables from yuppie establishments, and other items were flipped over and thrown into the streets. Minor property destruction occurred. Anarchist graffiti of the “Circle A” (the anarchist symbol) was discovered later near the scene.
The anti-war, anti-capitalist, and anti-government message of the protesters was clearly articulated through chants they were shouting while causing chaos on the Plaza. These slogans included: "Fight the Rich. Arm the Poor. We want a Class War." An anonymous protester explained to onlookers that the Plaza was disrupted because it is owned by the Rich, who are operating the Iraq War, and serves as the "urban playground" for Kansas City Metro’s Rich and Upper Class--while at the same time, mass poverty abounds in the metropolitan area. The protesters stressed that the only way to stop the Iraq War is to overthrow the racist capitalist system behind it.
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