While some of the team had the honor of rolling in style at a fancy reception for Maine's political class over at the New Zealand Embassy I got to hit the ground running and follow a bunch of shoe-tossing activists.

Yeah, actually exactly what you are thinking.

I was tasked to follow the protests from Shoebush.org, which, as the name suggests, is an homage to the now infamous work of Iraqi journalist Mutandar Al-Zaidi. (The same work that has spawned online games and more.)

What made the event noteworthy in our case was that it was led by Jamilla El-Shafei, who watchful readers may know from such previous protests as "March on Kennebunkport" and "March on Kennebunkport II: The Secrets of Walkers Point."

But as you may have gathered from some of my Tweets this afternoon, it was something of a spectacle, but a peaceful one.

I don't know if it was the 25 foot (if not taller) inflatable effigy of Bush (where does one get something like that? Seriously?) or the sheer amount of shoes that made it a spectacle, then again it may have been the guy walking around in a paper mache-Bush head in prison stripes.

Along the way I nearly got ran over by police officers, probably ruined many people's photos and videos and most likely annoyed a few protesters. I did it all in the name of journalism...and for you, dear reader. Also I did it in dress shoes because I thought on an off-chance I might make it to the New Zealand Embassy.

Check back later for photos.

(Also, speaking of photos - know anyone in DC? Pass along our Maine in D.C. Flickr Group to share photos.)

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