Sadly, it seems that they were massively outnumbered by Republican supporters – perhaps 100,000 – but nonetheless they were vocal, some combative. Most protesters were unable to get anywhere near the parade route, which was protected by eight fott high barricades, and guarded along its entire length by police and security forces. The inauguration ceremony itself was ticketed, reserved for the loyal – still, a group of three protesters from Oregon managed to get close to the President just before he was sworn in by Chief Justice William Renqwist, and shouted “stop the war, bring the troops home” before audience members and security bundled them out. Code Pink, a DC activist group, started chanting during his speech, and where likewise ejected.

The speech itself was chilling – a bizarre mix of messianic zeal, with numerous oblique references to God, and over forty uses of the words freedom and liberty. He said that America now had a mission to spread its values, and to do no less than end tyranny in the world. Bush may appear delusional from a European perspective, but the interviews with his supporters made it clear that they are convinced he is a genuine, honest man, following the same “creator” as they are.

Protestors responded in creative ways to detract from and disrupt the event. Mothers of dead soldiers spoke of their loss at a synagogue in DC, where 1300 army boots were laid out to symbolise the US soldiers that have died thus far in the war. On the day itself, a large contingent of protesters simply turned their backs on the procession as it came by. Former Attorney General Ramsey Clark speaking at a “counter inauguration” called for George Bush to be impeached “for high crimes and misdemeanors.”

But it was the Black Block and anarchist protesters that seemed to have the most impact on the day. They charged some of the entrance points to the ceremony, where people were queuing to enter, and forced them to be closed. The police responded by emerging in large numbers, (they were described by a Democracy Now! producer as marching in “military formation,”) and used pepper spray and telescopic battons on the protesters. For pictures click on -  http://dc.indymedia.org/feature/display/115584

There were also undercover police hidden within the protesters, wearing neck scarves. They arrested at least one person. Bush supporters were also reported as joining in and hitting the protesters; at times it seems the protester were surrounded by police and republican supporters.

At another point, the fence was partially dismantled, although the protesters made no attempt to go through. There are pictures of them hanging back, quite peacefully, followed by others in which they are sprayed directly in the face.

The efforts of independent media for the inauguration have been exceptional. A convergence centre for media workers from all over the country was created, and broadcast radio, internet radio, and video coverage were provided by numerous different groups. Their reporters where in the thick of it; one independent reporter in DC, Darby Hickey, was pepper sprayed and hit. You can get audio and pictures by the DC Radio Co-op from;

www.dc.indymedia.org

Radio programmes about the inauguration:

www.democracynow.org and www.fsrn.org