Remember Remember the 5th of November
Remember remember the 5th of November.
November 5th is a worldwide "holiday" for all members of anonymous and those who support the principles that anonymous stands for. The Million Mask March takes place in almost every state capital in the United States along with other metropolitan areas in the United States and abroad.
This year was my first year attending the Million Mask March. Anonymous Columbus along with other anonymous collectives around the State of Ohio hosted the march in Columbus, Ohio.
The festivities kicked off at Goodale Park just outside of downtown Columbus. People from all over the state and country gathered in preparations for our march. With a wide range of issues happening both domestic and abroad, we were organized loosely into groups based upon our key issues. Some people were out there primarily in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Others were there to take a stance against police brutality.
The thing with anonymous is it is a loosely organized movement with no real leaders. This gives everybody the freedom to be a member of a movement without being dictated to. If you want to take on police brutality, you can. If you want to fight the Dakota Access Pipeline, you can. Anonymous can be basically whatever you would like it to be.
As we were preparing to leave the park five police officers approached the group. This is not atypical, Columbus police seem to genuinely just want to chat with us before protests. I have attended several protests in Columbus where the police were fairly friendly.
As we took the streets leaving Goodale Park, we were not harassed by police. Typically, when you take the streets in a protest you will end up getting police escorts, whether you asked for them or not. This was not the case in Columbus on the 5th of November.
We made our way to a department of justice building where several Anons spoke on a wide range of issues including the investigation of Hillary Clinton, the abolishment of CPS and the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Our next stop was a Columbus police station where as we approached, the doors were locked. Two officers stood in the glassed fourier and stared at the protesters as we asked them to put down their badges and join us. Several members of the crowd spoke passionately about police brutality.
The officers seemed annoyed with our presence, but that did not discourage Anons from continuing their speeches.
We continued marching to our final destination, the Ohio State House.
The Columbus Anons were anticipating a heavy police presence at the Statehouse. This was not the case. There were no barricades or officers impeding us from "occupying" the Statehouse grounds.
Mounted Columbus police officers were stationed on the opposite side of the state house and there were agents of some organization looking at protesters from the windows of government building.
Once the Statehouse grounds were thoroughly "occupied," several prominent figures in Ohio Anon circles spoke. The topics ranged from No DAPL to some even encouraging Anons to vote.
This was laughable. Seeing people in Guy Fawks masks trying to encourage other masked people to vote. It seemed like the largest contradiction of the day.
Overall I would say the Million Mask March 2016 in Columbus was a success. It seemed to lack a mission, and was more of a gathering of activists and wannabe activists than a protest.
As someone who believes in the principles of Anonymous, I think we need to revisit the purpose of the Million Mask March. We should view this day as a Holiday and celebration.
Just my 2 cents.
(Article by Jaimes Campbell)
(Images by Mathieu Hubin)