[Peace-discuss] News from the atlanta.indymedia.org:8081 newswire

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Story from the atlanta.indymedia.org:8081 newswire

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Comments: I like this -- protesting the media themselves for being one-sided warmongers.

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Article by: W.B. Reeves                                  
Sunday 24 Nov 2002
                          
Summary:100 March under Anarchist colors charging \"CNN Half the Story All the Time\"

Reference at indymedia website: http://atlanta.indymedia.org:8081//front.php3?article_id=10315

Article:
Bright skies and milder temperatures seemed to invite a parade on Sunday afternoon in downtown Atlanta. Some 100 protesters, answering the call of the Ga. State University based 4910 Collective, accepted nature\'s invitation with a with spirited and rebelious march on CNN Center to Protest  Corporate Media bias.

Kicking off at 2pm from Woodruff Park the protesters, led by the \"Drop Bass not Bombs Anti-War Drum Corp and Flagettes\", marched South on Peachtree St. escorted by a squad of six motorcycle police officers. The Flagettes were a lively sight, twirling their red and black banners as they marched in time to the furious pounding of the Drum Corp.

With chants of \"No Blood for Oil\" and \"No War, No Way, No Fascist USA\" the colorful band proceded passed the crowds outside the 5 Points MARTA station and the main entrance to Underground Atlanta before turning west toward CNN Center. Many protesters carried signs reading \"For Sale Democracy\" and \"For Sale Free Press\". Passing cars honked horns in approval. The whooping of motorcycle sirens provided an occaisional counterpoint.

As the procession circled back to Marietta St. it attempted to turn right and make an evidently unscheduled stop at the offices of The Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC), local tentacle of the Cox Communications media octopus. This led to some tense moments when police chose to block this move. Atlanta Police Officer J.G. Harrel, roared to the front of the march where he dismounted his motorcycle and proceded to manhandle one of the Flagettes. Shouting for the marchers to turn around, Officer Harrell,an approximate 6ft, 200 pounds, grabbed a slight woman less than half his size with both hands, shoving her roughly back into the marchers immediately behind her. The woman, who identified herself as Meghan, said that Harrell had initially grabbed her by her breast. 

Things might have taken an uglier turn but the demonstrators chose to continue on to CNN Center rather than forcing the issue.

The crowd drew up outside CNN HQ with chants of \"CNN Half the Story All the Time\" the drummers keeping up a thunderous pulse. They were confronted by a line of private security guards who, for once, made no attempt to order them off the sidewalks. Rent-a-cops glowered mutely from the entrance way as curious tourists and CNN employees peeped around them to eyeball the protest. Speeches were made, poems recited and the demands of the 4910 Collective presented:

\"De-emphasize up-to-the minute coverage which perpetrates
a \"culture of fear\"

\"Adequate and accurate coverage of anti-war campaigns.\"

\"Assign full-time reporters to cover and report on all    anti-war protests around the nation.\"

\"Because we cannot have democracy without a free press, advertisers should not dictate content.\"

\"Encourage debates and airtime from all major political parties so to provide a variety of perspectives.\"

The Rally ended, the march set off again, once more with the Drum Corp and Flagettes in the vanguard, eastward on Marietta St. This time, despite Officer Harrell\'s earlier efforts, the protesters reached the AJC\'s offices and staged a second improptu rally on the sidewalk before the main entrance which lased for approximately 20 minutes.

The marchers then returned to Woodruff Park which they entered under an arch of red and black flags raised by the Flagettes.