36 Degrees and Noisy

(CLICK FOR LARGER VIEW) This fellow spiritedly denounces a smiling woman who was politely distributing flyers to people assembled at the corner of 8th and H Streets NE. She was promoting a local community church. (Copyright © 2006. David Klavitter)

Despite cool temperatures and a Washington Redskins playoff game, the noisemakers tended to their regularly scheduled corner broadcast at 8th and H Streets NE using the powered amplifier.

Members of the group took turns yelling into the microphone for more than four hours, as daylight faded into night. The cold, dry air seemed to carry the sound deeper into our neighborhood today. The preachers kept warm with sips of coffee or hot cocoa and nourished themselves with Subway sandwiches.

They were not unpleasant to me today and several acknowledged my presence with a hello. I listened for about an hour and a half. They were indeed loud, and often boisterously loud, depending on which fellow had the microphone.

According to the Dec. 12 District of Columbia Attorney General’s ruling, “a sound shall not be considered a noise disturbance if made during noncommercial public speaking during the daytime.” The OAG said, “daytime is defined as 7 AM to 9 PM.”

(CLICK FOR LARGER VIEW) A man helps himself to free bread on H Street. A woman named Carolyn (left) parked a van full of bread products behind the noisemakers’ stage on H Street. Carolyn was giving the baked goods away on behalf of a group called “Noah’s Ark.” The preachers apparently latched onto this as a good public relations opportunity and seemingly associated themselves with Carolyn’s generosity. (Copyright © 2006. David Klavitter)