As time passed, more and more protesters started showing up. As the protester numbers increased, the Republican observers in their furs, heels, and business suits started leaving. I did not see any confrontations between the two sides .. in fact, there was very little dialog between the opposing parties. .... and yes, they came by and petted the puppy as well ... even though she was muddy.

Shortly after noon, I heard a huge crowd chanting several blocks behind me with bullhorns and whistles. I ambled over there (playing tug-of-war with Mazlon and the leash) and discovered that it was the voters protest that had marched from Dupont Circle picking up protestors along the way. It was huge. Then the riot police appeared. I heard a great commotion behind one of the buildings but couldn't see or get to it. I found out later from a couple that had been in the march that the police had blocked them in on all sides and were not letting them move or disperse. Folks started shouting and it wasn't until the media showed up that the police let folks move. Later on down the march, they boxed them in again. Apparently the Anarchists started chanting &quot;whose streets? Our streets.&quot; and broke through one of the barriers. That is when the police started coming down hard and really dispersing in force around the Archives. A police helicopter was circling around and around. Mazlon thought this was great, sat down in the mud and just watched it.<g> Did I mention that it was still raining .... and cold?