Report Back from Oakland Docks Protest

My favorite moment was when a older gentleman, with worn leather gloved-hands holding an anti-war sign, yelled "Democrats off the platform!!!!", when a representative for Barbera Lee got up to speak. The crowd was racially diverse, the average age was towards 50 or so, probably because of the Vets for Peace contingent. The weather was not the best, which may have had something to do with the low number of demonstrators. I'm not entirely sure why our numbers are flagging when they should be swelling. The only thing I can come up with is that activists are battle weary.

The police stood around smoking cigarettes, staring and laughing. There were a dozen or so motorcycle cops and numerous undercover vehicles. A police helicopter circled us twice and then flew off. I guess with our low numbers we didn't look like much of a threat to the happy tourists making their way to the Blue and Gold Line ferries. In any case, it was a small event. I don't understand how Obama can draw ten thousand to give empty promises about ending the war and a few weeks later, when people have a chance to DO something about ending the war, they stay home. Only when people who are against this war get out in the streets instead of passively listening to politicans, and they themselves begin to do the hard work of civil disobedience, will things actually change. It has always been this way. Remember the Civil Rights Movement, when the simple act of eating lunch at a segregated lunch counter was illegal. If people relied solely on politicians to change things, we'd still be experiencing de jure segregation instead of de facto segregation. Working class activists began the Civil Rights Movement, not the politicians. We owe it to those who came before us, and all those who struggle everywhere for justice and a peaceful, classless society.

May Day is the next big event. Take the day off work/school. See you out there.