Maybe I had unrealistic expectations, but I walked away from our demonstration feeling disappointed.
Socratic has already posted on Atlanta's demonstration today, but from a rather happier outlook. I felt let down because when I arrived, this is what I saw:
Not even enough people to fill the steps.
There should have been thousands, not scant hundreds. I made a point of talking to everyone I saw sporting Union t-shirts, asking whether they were there as individuals or part of an organized group (the former); whether the demonstration had been talked about in any official capacity (no); and did they feel optimistic as to the strength of their union's power (no). But of course, Georgia is a right-to-work state.
Maybe it's because MoveOn just held a (better attended) demonstration on Wednesday; maybe the weather was too nice to spend at a rally; maybe I got so carried away about my sign, and with the "We can do it!" spirit here, that I over-estimated and over-hoped. Most of all, I was hoping to meet some Kossaks there, and didn't; I'd hoped the red-orangey flag on the top corner of my sign would attract someone. Perhaps next time.
Herewith, the photos.
This is my favorite sign from today.
There's one in every crowd, right? Naw, he's from Gwinnette MoveOn & did a great job.
Georgia students fighting cuts in Hope Scholarships and other cutbacks.
And our obligatory Tea Party counter-demonstrators (I counted 25).
Dang! Forgot to add my own sign.