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minoanmissSo, with WD and TL, wearing my Protest Beret that acelightning gave me, I got up really early [whining deleted] and went to the counter-rally on the Boston Common.
The children were surprised to see me up and dressed so early. J announced we would hang out later and E stood at the door to see me off. *is loved*
Meanwhile, the rally. I was scared to go, but I had an awesome time, though I wish people could have left the pot and the balaclavas at home. I'm glad I got to go with WD, who kindly told me about things I couldn't see (like the tiny and dwindling number of alt-righters inside their fences, police protection, and buffer zone). Over wheere by we were, people were delighted by each other and each other's signs, and thanking each other. I spoke to a guy who identified himself as a Globe reporter (WD pointed out that he could've been anyone -- I failed to ask for his press credentials -- so I will look up his name and be hopeful I'm not goign to get us firebombed.) There was a fair bit of yelling at alt-right members who got shepherded through our crowd as their numbers dwindled, and I suppose I should disapprove of that.
However, I didn't see or smell any fighting or things being thrown or bottles of pee (wtf). More on that in a bit.
[Pause for a moment in my narrative to say how delightful it was to see TL out and happy and talking to people and taking pictures. Also, WD braved hordes and hot sunlight to stand beside me, part of an obvious interracial couple, and visibly disagree with the alt-right. *beams*]
Around 1-ish the last Nazis, I mean, alt-right rally attendees, threw in their towels, so many people started leaving. WD and TL had mercy on wilting me and we left too, eventually walked into a mall at Downtown Crossing, and had a bite to eat.
Apparently, not long after we left people managed to have an altercation, about which I've heard varying stories -- a guy with a provocatively white supremacist shirt, people disagreeing with fists rather than words, things being thrown, maybe including bottles of pee (which, if true, EWWW.) I'm glad I didn't see these incidents. The rally I saw was full of friendly police and cheerfully determined people in solidarity. Those who disapprove of opposing the alt-right (including our President, again, WTF) are using the couple dozen arrests as proof that the rally was some kind of orgy of leftist violence, but as I saw someone say on Tumblr, that's somewhere between how many people get arrested at a Pats game and how many are arrested on St. Pat's Day.
Ah, Tumblr. I found a bunch of awesome, awesome posts about today's counterprotest, and a few idiots bloviating. It's amazing how many people are stupid and/or venal enough to say today's rally was against the concept of free speech, and I'm tempted to toss out there: "Today's counter-protest on Boston Common was not "against Free Speech" as some claim. It was in response to those misusing their right to free speech as a fig-leaf for their proclamations of White supremacy: we showed up, tens of thousands strong, to say in response, "We disagree."
ANyway. After everything, TL brought me home, where I snuggled with E and slept for a ridiculously long time. And that was my Protest Today.
I'm glad I went.
acelightning gave me, I got up really early [whining deleted] and went to the counter-rally on the Boston Common. The children were surprised to see me up and dressed so early. J announced we would hang out later and E stood at the door to see me off. *is loved*
Meanwhile, the rally. I was scared to go, but I had an awesome time, though I wish people could have left the pot and the balaclavas at home. I'm glad I got to go with WD, who kindly told me about things I couldn't see (like the tiny and dwindling number of alt-righters inside their fences, police protection, and buffer zone). Over wheere by we were, people were delighted by each other and each other's signs, and thanking each other. I spoke to a guy who identified himself as a Globe reporter (WD pointed out that he could've been anyone -- I failed to ask for his press credentials -- so I will look up his name and be hopeful I'm not goign to get us firebombed.) There was a fair bit of yelling at alt-right members who got shepherded through our crowd as their numbers dwindled, and I suppose I should disapprove of that.
However, I didn't see or smell any fighting or things being thrown or bottles of pee (wtf). More on that in a bit.
[Pause for a moment in my narrative to say how delightful it was to see TL out and happy and talking to people and taking pictures. Also, WD braved hordes and hot sunlight to stand beside me, part of an obvious interracial couple, and visibly disagree with the alt-right. *beams*]
Around 1-ish the last Nazis, I mean, alt-right rally attendees, threw in their towels, so many people started leaving. WD and TL had mercy on wilting me and we left too, eventually walked into a mall at Downtown Crossing, and had a bite to eat.
Apparently, not long after we left people managed to have an altercation, about which I've heard varying stories -- a guy with a provocatively white supremacist shirt, people disagreeing with fists rather than words, things being thrown, maybe including bottles of pee (which, if true, EWWW.) I'm glad I didn't see these incidents. The rally I saw was full of friendly police and cheerfully determined people in solidarity. Those who disapprove of opposing the alt-right (including our President, again, WTF) are using the couple dozen arrests as proof that the rally was some kind of orgy of leftist violence, but as I saw someone say on Tumblr, that's somewhere between how many people get arrested at a Pats game and how many are arrested on St. Pat's Day.
Ah, Tumblr. I found a bunch of awesome, awesome posts about today's counterprotest, and a few idiots bloviating. It's amazing how many people are stupid and/or venal enough to say today's rally was against the concept of free speech, and I'm tempted to toss out there: "Today's counter-protest on Boston Common was not "against Free Speech" as some claim. It was in response to those misusing their right to free speech as a fig-leaf for their proclamations of White supremacy: we showed up, tens of thousands strong, to say in response, "We disagree."
ANyway. After everything, TL brought me home, where I snuggled with E and slept for a ridiculously long time. And that was my Protest Today.
I'm glad I went.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 03:19 am (UTC)But then, the march, which I did, admittedly, choose to go on, was pretty slow. And I knew it would be ahead of time. So. Time for more than just walking.
Anyway! The march contingent was also friendly, enthusiastic, and delightful. All around, a very enjoyable (and hot) morning/afternoon.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 06:46 pm (UTC)--Rogan
no subject
Date: 2017-08-22 04:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 03:48 am (UTC)No one attempted to stop them from speaking. They were granted the space to speak, they were granted the needed official permits, and they were given police protection that guaranteed their safety. They were not, however, protected from the consequences of their speech, including opposing speech and the harsh scrutiny of the public eye.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 06:56 am (UTC)I'm very glad the day went well for you and everyone with you. By your efforts, may Peace and Love prevail!
no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 10:12 am (UTC)You might like this! :o)
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiu6LLPyeXVAhUGaFAKHWvVCIwQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fpictures%2Fglobal-protests-against-trumps-travel-ban%2F&psig=AFQjCNHteopkPgFiyTk-3amD8CFrkwC14A&ust=1503310348379277
no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 12:08 pm (UTC)As for the bloviators, aren't they often the same ones who drone on about how "the answer to hate speech is more speech"? Which is exactly what y'all did. The counter-protest was in fact all about free speech.
Also, this Globe article is something you might want to check out.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 12:42 pm (UTC)I am fed up with the people who insist it doesn't need doing, or who have time for everything else including hobbies but are always "too busy" if it's politics instead of a trip to the beach, but that doesn't mean you should or can do everything. (If someone is too busy because of paid work, ch
no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 04:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 06:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 10:00 pm (UTC)And I would expect a small number of arrests in a crowd of 45,0000 (!!!!) though I'm guessing/hoping the pee thing is fake.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-20 10:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-22 04:59 am (UTC)I'm going to screen this, though, just because of separation of identities and all that.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-22 11:23 pm (UTC)Ann O.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-23 01:01 am (UTC)No apologies necessary!
no subject
Date: 2017-08-22 01:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-08-22 10:57 pm (UTC)The Nazis (yes, call them that, it is what they are) are emboldened and now we know them and can name and shame them as they deserve. Maybe at last we will finally be able to acknowledge that we are so very far (too far) from the ideal set forth at the founding of this country: "all men are created equal". But maybe by admitting the problem we can begin to fix it?
{{{hugs}}}