Participant/Observer. ... Is it an oxymoron? One learns to split focus. It can make a better writer, but not
a good reporter.
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by Joe B. Yesterday, Sunday a protest/rally march in honor of the late Farm Workers and human rights activist Cesar Chavez. Its began from Embarcadero to Civic Center Plaza across frome and under the gold plated dome of City Hall. Being late for I think "Oh, no not late again?" But thankfully I’m wrong as I ride a 14 bus to 1st. and Mission Street. It looks like every peace bead, T-shirt, paper and pamphleteer are out giving out or selling wares. With a peace sigh written by Ms. M. Villaluna which has Chavez’s and Vera Cruz’s names on them I can enter the march while taking photo’s. Its difficult participating and being part of the march but one does what must be done. Why is it when there is a choice of foods to by I never have funds for them? Drinking water and like others waiting for the march to begin. I got to the rear so as not to upstage anyone or organization in the march concentrating on the job at hand. It began past the 12 noon hour give or take 20 minutes. Way in front are people wearing ancient Aztec costumes with drums and voices blaring, behind me are four men on horseback dressed in sombrero’s and Mexican cowboy outfits. I make sure not to stumble and took at least on picture of them and Aztec dressed persons then take cross sections and close ups of people in the march. Behind a man with a guitar singing and others I joined in and begin doing double duty as part of the marching contingent and shooting pictures while in it. By 6th Street I’m well ahead of the march and used Bart to be at Civic Center where I saw food, clothes, and numerous trinkets for sale. My first priority is finding an empty portable bathroom to for bladder relief. Luckily not many people are there yet so aim, pee, shake, and shake once more and I’m ready to sit on the grass and do some Yoga forms taking out any kinks in my body. Cross legged, flat on my back, four breaths slowly in and out is relaxing until. "Here come the first wave or marchers" said someone through a bullhorn. Slow and reluctantly feeling each vertebrae of my spine into a full upright cross legged sit. The first wave are coming my way across the grass. The last thing I did was again look and listen to Aztec dressed people dance to rhythm of drums leaving when part of it was over walking up the left side of Polk Street’s shaded side to return camera and sign. With that done I thought of the block party on Shotwell Street in the Mission District deciding on festival is all I could stand for now. A march for a great man event though to me the crowd seems to be less than last year it could be only my perception and more bodies might have joined in My job’s over now to walk home shower and have a well deserved rest. One always should rest when given a chance or take it when its not. Bye. Please send donations to For Joe only my snail mail: Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org |