quite a morning....

at 7:30 A.M. went to 44th between 5th and 6th to participate in a protest against a conference in which Alicia Glen, the Mayor's head of housing and development was speaking. About 10 of us were there, and we gave it all we had. During the many wake ups I had this morning, between 2 and 6, I felt ambivalent about going at all, but once there, I was comfortable. I have to remember that what I am protesting about is important---the policy's and visions of this Mayoral  administration (which will probably run without much opposition) which appear to be skewered towards the wealthy and giving more money to the development class. There is truly a heartlessness about it. As I was protesting, shouting  the chants against displacement and against the city's policy, I thought about who I was----how many kids that I was brought up with, went to Bronx Science with, etc, might feel if not the complete opposite, totally apathetic to this cause. Why? Why is not being outraged about the obvious displacement of weaker (and mostly people of color) people the "norm". Why am I different from these people.
As Lorna says in Golden Boy: "You are loaded with fireworks. Why don't you fight?' Or why don't I use some of these feeling to write about it. Will it happen? Not sure.
Yes, you see what I want to do is to create the full journey, from stickball on the sidewalks of Brooklyn or the Bronx, to the protest place on West 44 street.
After we all went our ways, having been outside the meeting place for about an hour, I wandered around mid-town, looking for a place to have a cup of coffee, frustrated by the enormous crowds that even as early as nine, were wandering around. Finally found a place to have coffee, then headed for the subway, and then, quite by accident, ran into Imogen, a graduate of the class of 11 at Friends, whose sister had graduated last week. She seemed very interested in my protest when I told her of it, and asked to get involved with BAN or at least to find out more about participating in projects dealing with anti-gentrification. I e-mailed her as much information as I thought necessary. Looking forward to her participation.
Nothing happened last night (at least to me) as I was overcome by tiredness (three or four nights out in a row) and just stayed home. Today I find myself with lots of time on my hands--what will I do, perhaps check out stub hub in midtown, or head to Brooklyn at some point. Will report tomorrow..