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After we left Union Square, we headed off in search of the Hilton. We got quick directions but probably could have just followed the chanting and the flashing lights of police cars. When we arrived there were about 70 or so people, some in front of the hotel's main entrance and others across the street. State Security was out in force, about 30 including a dozen tactical motorcycle cops, two paddy wagons, and about a dozen police cars. More people started to arrive, many carrying signs. The hotel was locked down with security inside, two phalanx of cops in front, and cops on motorcycles behind us on the street. As the crowd grew (a total of about 150, most in front of the hotel), we started to press in. That's when the gloves went on and the sticks came out. The chanting became loud and furious, "We're pissed, no shit, we hate the corporate media!" and "Whose media? Our media!" among others. Andrea Buffa from Media Alliance addressed the crowd (cops included) and said we needed to deliver our message inside and that we were going in, one at a time, peacefully. She and several others then tried to cross the police line. They were thrown back and the cops advanced a step with batons out-stretched. The police commander announced over a bull horn that anyone touching the police line would be arrested for assault. The front row of protesters sat down. Whistles blew and drums beat as the chanting continued. The front row of protesters then stood up and linked arms. Cops and protesters faced off between the sandblasted granite columns now adorned with "I Don't Believe the Corporate Media" stickers.

As the chanters broke for water, someone in front yelled "What do we want? Skinard! When do we want it? Now!" Lynard Skinard was performing inside for the NAB's Marconi Awards. The crowd gleefully took up and chant. "What do we want? Free Bird! When Do We Want it? Now!" and "Hey, hey, ho, ho, classic rock has got to go!" Some of the cops were very amused and fought to maintain menacing cop eye while stifling laughs. John Anderson of the About.com Pirate radio website found it ironic that the NAB had a band playing for them that can't even get air-play anymore. He and another demonstrator launched into a Free Bird air guitar solo. With tensions dropping, side conversations broke out under the nose of watchful police. John demonstrated his new mini-disc recorder to another journalist as a nearby cop in riot gear struggled to listen in and steal glances at the hardware without being too obvious about it.

During a brief lull someone in the crowd started to speak out and said we should stop chanting and use the space we had occupied for out-reach and education. He wanted to educate the cops who he said were fellow workers and media users. Arguments broke out, but the crowd was supportive and ready to debate. Things started to get a little unfocused and the chanting slowed down when someone began playing guitar and signing the "Phoenix from the Fire" song. Soon everyone joined in and we were all singing and people were dancing. The instigator of the singing later swore to me he saw the some of the motorcycle cops starting to groove, but then they quickly caught themselves, looking around to see if anyone had seen them.

About an hour and a half had passed since we arrived and it was clear the crowd was starting to break up. Andrea ended the event by declaring victory and urging people to go out and help start a media democracy movement. Knots of protesters hung around and some of the cops started to disperse. The protester who had spoken up earlier stood in front of the police line and delivered a lecture on the evils of media monopolization. It was late and we were tired from a long day and headed back to the IMC, where we recounted our experiences over the web radio live feed line.