I went to the May Day Immigration Rally downtown today. But b/c I am a journalistic fail, I forgot to bring my camera, so unfortunately I have no pictures to show for it. The energy was really fantastic, and I don't think I've ever seen so many American flags before in one place--fluttering on sticks, painted on banners, worns as capes. One guy pushed around a small ice cream cart and did brisk business selling popsicles and ice cream to the bystanders. Towards the end, young girls came on and called out for immigration reform. They were brought to the U.S. as small children, and all spoke perfect, educated English. It was very moving, and not to mention, very brave.
Flanking all intersections to the rally were cops. Blue-shirted cops on horseback and on foot, taking away one guy's drumstick b/c it was a "weapon." Cops in green, boots planted wide on the pavement, slapping their scratched-up wooden clubs solidly--and obviously--into one palm, then the other. It was a little intimidating, and I thought, man, those undocumented girls have some major balls to be speaking out in this sort of crowd.
All in all, a pretty cool event. I'm not a huge fan of rallies/protests (all those people shouting and marching in a crowded space makes me little bit nervous), but for their sake, I hope it got the attention that they needed. Obama, are you listening?
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