A View From the Rear: A Reportback From the Back of the Black Bloc

 Called for 10AM in Logan Circle, the bloc was still assembling when I arrived at about 10:15, but already numbered at least 200. Fighters continued to trickle in, and a short time later a large contingent arrived en masse with a banner to loud cheers and applause. Not too long after this the march began, then hesitated for a few minutes, even as a line of unmarked white vans full of riot cops pulled in across the street. These must have staged some distance away, since a quick tour of the immediate vicinity of Logan Circle had found no sign of them previously. Finally under way, the bloc, now nearly 500 strong, lost little time in getting rowdy. So many newspaper boxes were dragged into the steet that the random do-gooders on the sidewalk couldn't keep up. The police were forced to stop their vans long enough for a cop or two to get out, drag the boxes out of the way, and get back in, only to repeat the whole process at the next pile. With only minimal pressure from the pigs the bloc did a lot of damage. Loud booms and crashes echoed as black-clad figures raced out of the mass, smashed something expensive, and darted back to safety. Then the motorcycles showed up, and everything started going downhill. Easily weaving through the newspaper boxes, the motorcycles, and the bikes that came along shortly afterward, pressured the back of the march and worked their way up the sides to contain the bloc and protect the remaining newspaper boxes. Their numbers increased rapidly, as the bloc zig-zagged through the streets trying to find a clear route forward. With no comms or scouts, and barriers on too many streets it was a losing proposition. A detour the wrong way down a one way street shed the vans for a bit, but did little to deter the two-wheelers. The bloc sped up and I fell further behind. Clouds of cops on foot pursued the march. Discarded black clothes began appearing on the sidewalk, whose owners had obviously decided to get out while they still could. The bloc took a sudden sharp turn, nearly reversing course to avoid a line of cops, and I was swept up in the rush. I tried to slide out sideways, but found no way to pull this off without impeding my comrades, so I stayed with the bloc through an inexplicably unstaffed security checkpoint. On the other side the pressure eased and I made my escape, but without observing the kettling that apparently happened shortly afterward.  In conclusion, I don't know if I'd call it a win tactically, but as an uncompromisingly militant kickoff to the next four years of resistance I'll take it. And don't forget to donate to the legal fund, there are 217 felony riot cases to defend... http://www.disruptj20.org/legal-fund/- An anarchist