"The Morning After" I published my photodiary last week I had moments of panic. I worried that maybe I misrepresented someone, offended someone, or posted a picture that upset a parent. I reassured myself that parents who have their children at a rally are giving a kind of "informed consent" for the children to be photographed. So today I asked parents, and the children, if I could photograph them - and I let them know the pictures could be on the internet. I need to be able to sleep at night! I love seeing children at these marches, and they love being there. It's a community event, and in our little town it was a good day. Please join me after the Italian egg roll thingy for another visit to OWS Chico.
Yay Chico! In one short week the core protesters have organized, have a web site, and have occupied our downtown city plaza 24/7 for days. It has been peaceful, and from my conversations with them I gathered that they have not been bothered by the police even though they are not supposed to sleep there from 2am-5am. People wander in and out and cars drive by and honk in solidarity. Bless them.
Chico is on the map! For a small town of about 89,000 people, lots of good stuff is happening.
These books were stacked on a table of supplies at their station. Someone in a diary this morning said the difference between the Tea Party and OWS is OWS has libraries and the tea party wants to CLOSE libraries.
The little book this woman is holding is open to a picture of Henry Ford. The opposite page reads:
It is well that the people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system. For if they did I believe there would be a REVOLUTION before tomorrow morning.
Henry Ford
OccupyChico monitor. These folks did an awesome job!
We walked down to the Hands of Chico at noon to gather for the general assembly before marching. One of the monitors spoke a few words of encouragement, and then another gentleman got up to speak. He had about 8 pages of typed thoughts in his hands, and began trying to get the crowd worked up. But some of the language he was using was turning some people off - one person yelled "You're going to scare people!" He said "I am talking right now, and I have the right to express my opinion".
Finally this woman said "Why are we listening to this? Let's march!" It didn't take long for the 150 or so people to re-organize, turn around, and head down the sidewalk.
My thought: "You are free to talk, and we are free to WALK!"
And so the general assembly reassembled itself into a positive, energetic, and passionate force that walked a big loop around downtown Chico. I was impressed with the route they took - there was a sidewalk sale going on in front of many businesses, and the march avoided those areas. In three hours I saw only one Chico PD cruiser.
As we marched the numbers swelled to (I'm guessing) perhaps 200 people or more. I was most pleased when a gentleman came up to me and asked "Are you mimi2three?" He's a fellow kossack! I had told him in comments earlier in the week to watch for me, "the conservative looking blond lady with a camera."
There were drums, there were chants...
And there was dancing in the streets!
And there were people speaking my language!
Message received by millions around the world.
I guess I'm not literally a Protest Virgin™ any more. I believe that photo journalism is a type of activism - it's the way I am doing my part for the 99%.