Lindsay from Santa Rosa joined Laura and I for Saturday’s anti-war protest. There wasn’t as much turnout as the February 15th march, but it was still quite sizeable. The parade route was different this time – we marched through the Fillmore to Jefferson Square Park, and sat next to an area with yellow caution tape, which turned out to be a civil disobedience training area. The park is right across the street from a police station, and law enforcement was flanked along the rooftop, videotaping the event.A group of people within the caution tape area informed passerby of civil disobedience training about to commence. Laura and I crossed the barrier with about 40 others. I was nervous, because the yellow tape to me represented a true commitment to doing this, with the knowledge that this was probably being videotaped and photographed. After about 20 minutes in, I thought less and less about the police presence and more and more that I have the legal right to be a part of this training. Have I been that subtlety affected by anti-civil rights legislation?
A very skinny man in his early 30s talked us through and facilitated role playing events in partner form (one person plays a protestor, the other plays an angry commuter trying to get into the building they’re blocking). We did several of these events, and then went through short legal training if one might be arrested (I particularly dug that they’ve committed to my memory a legal hotline number: 415 385-1011).
The second organic dinner at Sutter and Octavia was smaller, but even better. I might start something like this when I move here, but make it more of a potluck so that people don’t have to pay a fee to partake (although what they’ve served is a deal at twice the price). Lindsay, Laura and I ended up at a party for someone who works at Global Exchange. I already have a resume in for a design position there. My fingers, legs, and anything else that can be crossed, is.