|
Really really fantastic to see my fellow Tucsonans exercising their lungs and legs in protest today! Although I haven't heard an "official" count as yet, some organizers told me afterward that an estimated 400 people participated. I heard 600 at one time. We'll see, I suppose, but wow, looked like an impressive lot for Tucson anyway.
Great signs at the 10am rally in Catalina park this morning. I was only able to get a few photos since I was busy helping to paint signs for those who came without. I'll get my film developed soon and share them if they come out (crappy throwaway camera, you never know with those things).
We marched from the park at 4th Ave & 2nd and along Speedway to picket at the military recruitment offices between Campbell and Tucson Blvd. While this is not my first march, it was the first during which the police abandoned the "anyone marching in the street will be arrested" promise originally given and cleared the right lane for us to move through. Even if this was done more for their benefit than ours - I heard someone suggest it would just get us out of the way quicker, and the narrow sidewalks just weren't doing it, which is likely true - the officers we saw were extremely helpful, friendly and courteous. Moving along the street seemed to increase our numbers, with a number of people joining us along the way, at least it looked like it from where I was.
I was one of the many pallbearers helping to carry the cardboard coffins along the way, my faith in humanity restored after hearing constant honkings of support from passing motorists. Only a few misguided souls offered obscene gestures or the occasional pro-Bush shout; all in all, heaps of support out there for ending the * regime and stopping this senseless war. Once we reached the recruitment centers and parked ourselves along the street and in the parking lots, someone started playing Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin." Still more honks and thumbs-up in support from people driving by. One brainiac revved up his engine (did he know he's helping to add to the fuel crisis??) and yelled "Bush Rules!", to which a fellow protester at my side yelled back something to the effect of, "No kidding! We're not supposed to have a king!" I wished my rabble-rousin' mum could've been with me today, though she certainly was in spirit and I phoned her with all the news afterward. Thanks, too, to Cactus Kathy from KXCI for giving me a lift back to my car - I'm a lobster from having forgotten my sunscreen.
Great to see everyone peacefully assembling under that scorching sun! Let's keep it up, folks. Hold our leaders - regardless of party, since there are also Dem's who aren't representing the We the People properly either - accountable.
Power to the People!
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(287 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
