Back from assignment and pleasantly surprised to see the Occupiers still here and going strong. It rained a bit last night and today it is overcast and presently 42 degrees. Mother Nature had held her breath as long as possible, but the inevitable wrath of late autumn is soon to be upon us and them.
Today is day 27 of the Occupy Albany movement, and across the state it is the "Day of Action" with a march and rally here, in NYC, LA, Chicago, and across the country. As opposed to being met by police in riot gear like NYC and Oakland, where the police themselves provoked the violence they were primed and eager to subdue, the Occupiers here in Albany have been met with benign neglect in hopes that they would just go away. So far status quo from both sides.
This being the state capitol, there are busloads of contingents from Buffalo, Rochester, and a variety of other upstate cities converging in solidarity of cause. Looks like three or four hundred people ready to march. The crowd was mixed across all demographics, but over all seemed younger and more reminiscent of the 60's. Just need a few thousand more people, a bit more insanity, weed, et voila. Given time I'm sure this will develop. The issues are existentially valid, life threatening, and address the vast social and political inequities that threaten to push us over the cliff with only the extremes of society, the chronically poor and the very rich, not noticing any change. For them it will be life as usual.
But today, it is the vast middle ground that is awakening from their existential slumber to see a changed landscape no longer hospitable to nurture the dreams and aspirations planted by them during the better years of the now past American century.
The rally began in Lafayette Park across from the capitol, to the cynical amusement of that sneering son of privilege and entitlement fortunate enough to be born into the right family, Gov. Andrew Cuomo. I saw him joking about todays proceedings on TV, in that angry, unpleasant manner that seems to be his trademark. What does he have to be angry about?
This is a guy named Colin who seemed to be the organizer du jour. He was good. His stuff was right out of the 1960's protester's playbook. Chapter 1, Peaceful Demonstration. Not sure if he has gotten to the later chapters on Kent State and the like yet. But why dampen the enthusiasm of the movement so early in the game. Once begun though, revolution will become serious business. "Tin soldiers and Nixon coming, we're finally on our own", and all that. Corporations will not take these threats to their bottom lines lightly, and through their proxy congress/legislatures/para-military police forces will test that old adage about needing the blood of patriots to nourish the tree of liberty.
The sad answer, Christian, is that there is no love and there never was, but back in the 60's, a good demonstration and peace rally was a great place to find love, but I'm not sure that's what you are thinking of at the moment.
Linda, introduced as the organizer for the Albany Occupiers addresses the crowd..
She was kinda nice, and there was no need to ask her what her sign was...
An elder statesman of the movement. Looks like a holdover from the 1960's who's been living in the fast lane a bit too long.
And this bloated, befuddled looking guy who seemed (and I'm sure felt) completely out of place at the rally is Bill Lambdon, a TV reporter for a local station, channel 13. Couldn't the station have had the imagination to send a younger, hipper member of the staff who could have worked the crowd instead of just standing there looking like he wished he could be anyplace else?
And a quick amble back to base camp prior to departing indicated that the village was intact and evolving. Will keep you posted on the Occupy Albany Movement here in upstate New York.
Pablo
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