Modesto Anti-Authoritarians Take to Streets

Around 60 anti-authoritarians, peace activists, and people fed up with the Bush Administration took to the streets of downtown Modesto last night, following an hour long rally.

The "Still Not Our President" rally, was organized through various local groups, mainly the DAAA Collective, and also the local ANSWER group, and the Modesto Peace and Life Center. The event started off with a film showing of "We Interrupt this Empire", and people milling around. Anarchists also started drum and chant circles, and got the crowd going. A large "list of war crimes" was made up, and read out loud, as various people took the megaphone and talked about their feelings on the Bush Administration.

Around 8pm, DAAA Collective members gathered behind a banner reading, "Our Community is Tired of their Government". "Who Streets? Our Streets!" was the chant, and 60 or so people filled into the streets for an illegal march, (much to the horror of seasoned liberals, who could only watch in disbelief). The feeling was joyful yet militant, as the group marched down one of Modesto's busiest streets. The feeling and chants were straight up anarchist, as the crowd belted out, "No Bush, No Kerry - Revolution is Necessary!", "Hell No, We Won't Go - We Won't Fight for Texaco!", “Resistance is not a crime! - Capitalism/Imperialism/Colonialism is the crime!”, and "Fight the Rich - Not Their Wars!".

For some activists, this was part of a growing trend of anti-authoritarian activism in the area, but for other activists, new and old, this was the first time anything like this had ever happened in Modesto. Members from Peace Fresno were present, as well as anarchists from Sacramento, who carried an awesome banner that read, "Whoever they Vote For - We are Ungovernable!". At the end of the very long J Street, a police car was parked, and two police waited for us. They singled out the first person at the march, carrying a red and black flag, and pulled him by his shirt to the side of the street. The crowd followed, chanting, "Let our Friend Go!". When the police learned that he was not the leader, (and in fact this group seemed not to HAVE a leader), the young man slipped back into the crowd.

The march then continued, going up and down various streets, with some of the crowd in the streets, while others remained on the sidewalk. The police followed closely, but made no attempt to arrest or stop the march.

The march ended back in front of city hall, in the blocked of "10th Street Place", and activists occupied the area on the north end, dancing and waving flags. Police came in to section off the area, and to break up possible fights between activists and drunk stupid people. Police stayed and watched for about an hour, in an attempt to defuse any more possible action, while Dead Prez and the Coup was blasted in their direction.

The day was a large success, and we feel that spirits have been raised once again! Let all reactions be direct action - the solution is revolution!