Michael Moore came to visit Occupy Oakland yesterday, around 3:00 PM, and I had a center-row seat. There are plenty of videos of his oratory, so I won't bother attempting to describe what he said. This is more to give you a picture of how Ogawa Plaza, now Oscar Grant Park, home of Occupy Oakland, has once again been transformed and what it was like during his visit.
Do you remember the old Chicago song, 'Saturday, In the Park..." ? Well, that's what it was like, even though it was a Friday!
Another day, in the park, you'd think it was the Fourth of July...
From devastation on Tuesday, by Friday the camp was back, stronger than ever.
People talking, people laughing...
Many hundreds of people came to hear Moore speak. Many more were hanging out, making posters, getting food served by the camp. There was even
a man playing guitar...
People were taking advantage of the massage and acupunture tent, the kiddie tent, and the first aid tent, all now back and operational. There were
People dancing, really smiling...
Forty tents had be re-erected in defiance of the Mayor's "request" that no one camp on the plaza. I read in the paper this morning that many more have been put up since last afternoon.
Can you dig it (yes I can)...
A general strike has been called for Wednesday; people who are into organizing such things will busy for the next several days trying to pull that off.
And I've been waiting such a long time...
The only thing missing, I'm sad to say, was
A man selling ice cream.
I would have bought one.
12:41 PM PT: For a serious account of the events of Tuesday