Last friday, I covered a anti-war protest for my internship. The protest was conducted by “Funk the War” ‘s student/college group. There were probably about 200 people there, mostly college aged although there were some older participants either walking along with the march or just watching. The event started in Farragut Square, a few blocks from the White House. The police were there in large numbers, prepared for any violence that may occur.

The group started with a dance party type of meeting in the middle of the square. Their theme was Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” because their rationale was that “Obama has romanced the youth yet has not come through with any of the promises he made so now the romance is a bad romance” as described by one of the participants.

The march went from Farragut Square towards K street, which is known for housing some corporations. The demonstrators stopped outside of these corporations and yelled chants such as “these are our streets, not yours” and wrote on the street with sidewalk chalk “Our Streets”. They continued to march on around the block, probably a perimeter of about 12 blocks.

After awhile they came to the Armed Forces building and stopped and started screaming at the building “Who do you protect? Who do you serve?” very angrily  for about 10 minutes until one of the demonstrators hurled a “Snapple” bottle full of yellow paint at the glass front window of the Armed Forces building. The paint splattered all over the front window and it’s surprising that the window itself did not break.

The police then sprung into action, grabbed the kid who had thrown it and arrested him and ordered the rest of the protesters to leave the street because the protest was now “over”. There was much pushing and shoving and yelling and it’s surprising that I wasn’t pushed over with them but I suppose my badge from my internship kept me safe so I was able to get many pictures of what was going on.

Let me be clear that I saw no police brutality or anything but it was a rough situation to be sure. The protesters were then allowed to finish their protest from the sidewalk and walked all the way back to Farragut Square.

The college kids are angry and they are not afraid to show it. Who said that our generation isn’t politically active???? Obviously, they have no idea.

I have never, ever in my short life felt more like a journalist than I did that day. I was not afraid though. I’ve covered a few things but to be in the heart of the political world covering a protest?! It was so exciting running in front of the march and taking pictures of the protesters  along with other journalists from all other news organizations. It was thrilling and further confirms my love for reporting. You have to have a passion for this if you are going to do it… without passion, you run the risk of getting burned out very quickly. I even risked a sunburn for it. It was invigorating and I can only wish that feeling on everyone who reads this who is studying whichever subject it may be… find that passion. It is vital.

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