protests and "peace"

Protests in all parts of the city. It is really alive. In Manhattan, the protest started at Union Square, then south to the west village, then east on Houston, and finally back on Union Square. In Brooklyn,  it began at Parkside and the Q train---now somewhere on Bedford. I have two friends at that one; that is the protest I would have joined if I was able to go---but I decided not to. Not feeling that well, and very afraid of being caught in another police action---although from today's reports, there are very few. It interesting that these protes are taking place in a city with its bars closed. The bars, in my opinion, represent the opposite of activisim---they are there for people to escape---a luxury item that exists for itself. Wonder whether there would have been any conflicts had the protesters shut down the streets that the bars were on. It is an interesting irony here. ,
  On Facebook I watched a number of black activists who are calling for really drastic measures to change things. This includes defunding the police departments of major cities and a guaranteed income. They don't just want reform; they want the whole world turned over. Can it happen? Is it possible? We will see.
   It seems a bit odd to now write a review of last night's streaming of the Met's La Sonnambula---is it kind of frivolous, but nevertheless here it is. I lasted about 40 minutes into the stream, but the concept---a rehearsal of Sonnambula in a rehearsal hall around Union Square, did not seem fully developed. The singers seemed simply to portray their characters in modern dress---very little "rehearsal behavior" to interrupt it. So when the third lead, the baritone, enters the rehearsal hall, he is wearing a modern equivalent to what his character would wear. Why? Why should not the singer come in in dungarees and  sweat shirt---then assume the character he was singing? And why should he enter just when his character does?  A water cooler and coffee place, but nobody went over for water or coffee. The director's vision, or if you prefer, conceit, seemed hollow to me.
   So while others were protesting---I spent a lot of the afternoon in "passive" Riverside Park---
96th to 108th street. A laid back, peaceful place, lots of couples, many young families with one or two year olds, learning how to walk, some loners like myself. I liked the quiet energy---a world at
"peace"--I read a lot of a play by David Adjani called Marie Antoinette. Kind of tart and vibrant.
  So there it is---time to find out the latest from the protests (if I can) and think about the
ramifications