As diners leaning over the railing in front of Dolphin Seafood wave two fingers at the train of marchers, a man on the Mass. Ave. sidewalk tries to sell Spare Change newspapers to the passersby. No one stops to puchase any.

The air is growing thick from the exhaust of police motorcycles surrounding the marchers in an entourage of grinding engines and flashing lights as they move to the right side of the street at the intersection of Mass. Ave and Mount Auburn St.

Pedestrians have stopped on the sidewalks to watch the passing march. Standing under bus stops, clutching plastic shopping bags, some nod their heads in rhythm with the protestors’ chanting. Many wave the peace sign over their heads.

“Come join us. Come join us,” the protesters cry toward the store fronts and restaurant windows as they pass.

A police officer standing on the deviding line in the middle of Mass. Ave. beats his hands together as a stream of students passes him.

“Kids, kids,” he says, “Come on, let’s get a rhythm.”

A new cry rises. “Tell me what democracy looks like,” the megaphone calls.

“This is what democracy looks like,” shouts the crowd in rhythm.

As the protesters pass the intersection at Norfolk St. a pair of men on the sidewalk shake their firsts and shout insults at the passersby.

A few blocks later, three men standing in the back of a black pickup truck wave United States flags and shout at the train of protesters. “U-S-A,” they chant as the dome of MIT’s Building 10 comes into sight.

MIT students are standing on every flight of steps facing the street. Many are motionless, staring at the protesters marching through the center of the campus.

A stream of marchers from MIT—1,000, according to HIPJ estimates—suddenly emerges from behind the Julius Adams Strutter building and merge into the stream of cheering Harvard Square activists.

The crowd moves on. A student tries to coordinate a new chant with a “rhythm section” of a few protestors beating empty drums.

“‘Don’t believe Bush. War is not peace.’ How about something like that?” he asks turning to one of the drummers. “Nice and simple.” But the cheer doesn’t take.

The crowd crosses Memorial Drive, passing a stopped jogger who gives the protesters a thumbs-up sign, and moves forward to occupy the length of the Harvard Bridge.