Ooops. That's setting the bar pretty high (or is it low?) for day 1.
My all time favorite DC law enforcement/stupid protestor moment predates 9/11. Recall the old world bank protests, when the anarchy industrial complex organized massive demonstrations for downtown. Included in that protest was a "bicycle brigade" (green energy and all, before it was cool). On the big day, the bike brigade came riding down 13th street, escorted front and back by a slow moving police cruiser. A very festive atmosphere. They went straight to lafayette square, where a smiling chief ramsay greeted them and waived them into a "park". But the park happened to be partially enclosed, and when the last cyclist passed him, it became fully enclosed, at which point they were all arrested, and carted off for processing. The disbelief in their eyes was palpable, with many asking whether the cops were going to bring their bikes with them.
Problem solved, and on to the marchers on foot. That was a little messier, but equally as funny. One of my buddies used to be a DC AUSA, and a cop buddy told him about a protestor who chained himself to the axle of a police van. So one of the cops who drew the short stick has to get him out. The cop crawls under the van, and says to the guy, "I'm only going to ask you this once - do you have the key so that I can unlock you?" The guy responds to the effect of "FU, Pig!" So the cop crawls out and grabs the biggest, nastiest looking set of powered bolt cutters (think jaws of life) he can find in the truck and drags them back under the van. He says, "now look, I'm going to have to cut you out of here, but I need you to be really still, because the last time i had to do this I cut a couple of a guy's fingers off." Guy immediately starts yelling "the key's in my pocket, the key's in my pocket!!!!"
Just classic.
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