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We marched from harlem to two recruiting stations then to central park. I knew it would be a long march coz the originating point was at 124th st. The central park entrance we entered was at 102nd st. After marching for what seemed like at least half way, we were back to 124th. Ouch, gonna be a looong day. They had to get those recruiting stations in.
At one point during the march, we could see the protestors ahead of us. They were blocks long full street wide, as far as we could see. It was a great sight. Still, I was disapointed in the size. I wanted the protests around the nation to be so huge that cities were literally shut down. I wanted to make them see us, stand up and take special notice to us. I wanted them to know that we have begun.
In the park we took up a large area from 102nd to 92nd street. There were many speakers and the bathrooms at the park didn't have a line. (at least not when we returned. We left for about 30-40 mins)
There was a group of freepers. They were fenced in a little area. I am assuming for their own protection. I did have to stop and yell at them awhile. It was great fun. Someone reminded me that it does no good to yell. But, I'll tell ya what; It did me good. I remember they were saying 4 more years. I was saying "4 more months, then we impeach. We will never stop til he is out of our white house." One younger guy said something to which I replied "you'll be drafted by June" They said something about the border to Canada being closed. I yelled "we aren't going to Canada. We are staying right here and taking OUR country back. We're taking PROUD AMERICA back. You remember that America? Proud America? Yeah we're kicking the murderers out of our house and taking back our country."
Then we went into the vote issues. It was great fun for me. Lots of venting. Then all of a sudden I said "is that all the people you guys could get to come?" (Laughter from crowd) "go get ten more people and we'll talk to ya then" They only had 12-20 people in that corral. I went to my room and when I came back, they were gone. I was hoping to get pictures for you.
Speaking of pictures, I got very few. My camera has never messed up before, but did on saturday. I didn't take any pictures on the harlem walk but was waiting to get pictures from central park where more people would be joining the group. However, after taking photos of the police, we took pics of the crowd, they were not on the disc and the movie tape screwed up at that point. After the crowd shots, we took another police picture, that one came out.
We took a picture of a great couple dressed up like cheney and bush with full mask, suits etc. Cheney was holding puppet strings to bush. Bush was holding the world in his hands and a bottle of oil in the other. They were really great but no picture. Can't explain why the camera did that. Never did it before. So I am hoping to get some pics that someone else got if anyone has any. I would like pics of the crowd and a pic of the bush and cheney duo.
Later we marched from our camp in Central Park and marched past Mayor Bloombergs house on 79th. Because we were such a large crowd, we had to march further than expected and back up fifth. This was actually beside Bloombergs house.
I don't know the full story, but apparently the rich 5th ave hoity toities did not want to have to listen to protestors so we apparently have been denied this area in the past. So being on 5th avenue and ending our rally there had special significance because the group had won back the right to be there.
During the march to Bloombergs
My favorite group was a group of teen girls. They were cheerleader protestor. They fight bombs with pom poms. There were only five of them but their voices sounded like 20 of them. Lots of energy, funny cheers. Punk looking (meaning some piercings, pink hair, stuff like that.) They were really cute. It made us glad to see the young people are getting it.
At one time we were chanting/sing "we all live in a fascist regime, a fascist regime, a fascist regime." to the tune of yellow submarine. Then we got lots of stares with "we're not taking any more of this BUSHIT" Then we came across a wedding. The chant immediately went to "con grat u lations" "con grat u lations....for a bit then that was followed with "make love, not war...make love not war...."
it was a lot of fun. But I could hardly walk afterward. I had to skip sightseeing that night and went straight to bed. Ouch
We heard on tv that there were 37 arrests I think, 27 or so were from another demonstration down by the UN. The protestors were lying as if dead in the streets and refused to move and were arrested. At least that is what we saw reported. I don't know what the other people were arrested for. I saw no violence. There were children in the march.
There were 3 helicopters in the sky. I assumed they were news but saw no arial views on the news. (nor accurate reporting) So they may have all been police. There were lots and lots and lots of police. Most were standing around in groups proving that they weren't really needed much for us. I mean other than the blocking of traffic so that we could march on. I spoke to one officer. He said "you guys have every right to be here" so I don't know how the police feel. Maybe they are at least partially with us.
The news reported several hundred people were marching. Some of the protestors estimated it at ten thousand. I don't know what the numbers were, but I know that it was not hundreds but was thousands. They did not show pics of our crowd. This of course is only the news that we were able to catch. I don't know what was on the other channels. The paper the next day said very little about it.
ok, so theres my report. Hubby says we can't do another distance protest til July, so will have to stick with ohio, indiana and Illinois protests for a while. I encourage all to join in your local protests and please make signs and put them up all over your cities. Print labels with little messages and stick them everywhere you go. Don't let someone use a pay phone without seeing Bush lie, people dies on a small sticker. Make signs and nail them to trees along the path of the interstate or other roads. When they are ripped down or destroyed with weather, put more up. Make people see that we are here and more will join. Leave your messagae everywhere. They must see the message again and again and again. Then it will start to sink in. I saw a message on a toilet wall that the Peace train had passed through. While normally I wouldn't encourage people to do that kind of thing, I think we must get a little more vocal and a little civil disobediance is most likely needed.
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