In the Nixon era, the Vietnam War was the dominant theme of protest. And during the 1973 inauguration, the most aggressive demonstrators threw tomatoes and apples at Nixon's motorcade. More recently, demands for economic justice have emerged as a protest cry, fueling a movement that since late 1999 has startled police with its tactics of civil disobedience. On Tuesday, activists brought suit against the Washington Metropolitan Police and federal law enforcement agencies for what they said were unconstitutional restrictions on their right to protest. As of Thursday, for example, police were still deciding whether to allow giant puppets, which protesters wish to employ as political street theater.
Some police claim that wire inside the puppets is a potential weapon.
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