A couple blocks from the protest pit and just minutes after Rage Against the Machine had left the stage, a large column of troops moves into position armed with tear gas, pepper spray, clubs, shotguns loaded with 'stinger' rounds, hundreds of nylon handcuffs, and a whole lot of attitude. There were not yet any signs of violence in the crowd (i.e. - the handful of protesters had not yet begun tossing rocks over the fourteen-foot-high fence at the police). As departing concert-goers were forced to exit through alleys, it was possible to catch glimpses of large-scale troop movements such as this taking place on the streets. This particular column stretched diagonally across this parking lot and continued on well past the line of news vans into the adjacent street. All of these troops were being maneuvered into positions surrounding the protest pit before the provocation that allegedly required the police to go on a rampage.