I avoid Anti War Rally. A good friend woman or man means Will I Do This Again?
trust when few others will...
Cannot answer that right now.
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by Joe B. Anti War protest/rallies not my favorite pastime. A friend told be about it and is worried about being arrested actually not that only to have someone there in the sharing of it. Didn’t want to do it, always avoided it, finally say yes plus time and place it’ll begin." "Justin Herman Plaza Monday, 24, 7 am. I still have misgiving but what kind of friend am I if one friends leaves another in the lurch and a critical time so I said "Ok." I try the "wormy dance" one last time trying to get out of it by asking "Don’t you have other friends who will go with you?" Silence on the other end of the phone until "Yes, but they could flake at the last minute, you wouldn’t." My fate is sealed if my friend was a guy I’d say he’d have to take his chances with blue goon squads. However a young woman is a different story because they can very well be hurt from police, other demonstrators against the peace marchers and for "S" President Bush’s and the Washingtoon blobs of talking heads sharpening swords, sabers, guns, and bombs for war in IRAQ. As the days dwindle from Saturday to Sunday I found that she was out of the city and would return in time for the protest at Embarcadero. I did lots of calling Saturday and especially Sunday night and began to get anxious way before 2 am in the morning. Her cell phone is out of range and her home phone has angry anti war speech on it. I didn’t like this. Going to this Anti War rally is not my thing at all but my friends lives for this stuff. By 6:03 I’m out of the building walking down Market Street because my funds are zero. I see a group of 14 policemen riding by on fast light motorcycles the kind you see in motor cross events. I get there, looking for my friend, she would be wearing black except there are lots of young women wearing black, yogi’s, young and elderly together as cops sip coffee and donuts outside a Noah’s Bagel shop. While walking I notice more cops than protesters and informed participants of that fact. Finally after circling the place twice seeing KRON 4, NBC 11, and other media folks with mikes, camera’s and people interviewing people. Inside the Plaza I take time looking at the Armand, Vaillancourt and the Vaillancourt Fountain of precast aggregate concrete. I quickly study the form of this giant combo sculpture/architecture pigeons alight on it make it seem more permanent than it is in reality. I am suppose to be in group 1 headed for a federal building I didn’t know which because my concentration wasn’t on the protest but one person who I didn’t want thinking I blew them off. I had an announcer give her whole name in case she was her but among the crowd not able to see or hear me. No one came forward. The Protesters are ready taking their places where to go as I edged away heading back down Market Street to my apartment. Using BART as a P. R. T. or Soon I’m home calling both my friend and job number. She had not made it to the protest because of being extremely tired and she sounded it too. I wish she had told me that in the early morning when there was time instead of waiting later maybe she’s so overworked that she went into a deep sleep and couldn’t be shaken awake from. I did as my friend asked, went to a protest /rally at the beginning, tried to find her so she would have someone and be or feel so alone in a group especially if police act up. Well she didn’t show and I am only at the protest because she asked me too I’ve never go on my own I don’t mind jail time but a pre jail beat down isn’t part of the deal for me. She’s alright, regaining strength, knowledge, and strategies but I don’t know about if or when she calls for help next time it may have been a fluke, accident, mistake or all of the above and she may have to find a few of her friends to be by her side. I’ll talk with her soon as possible and hash it out. Me, I need my noggin and all my parts in working order. Today I’m lucky but next time I don’t. Please send donations to For Joe only my snail mail: Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org |