On Thursday, May 12, I hopped on a bus with Citizen Action of New York and other local activists. We made the trip from Albany to Lower Manhattan in order to join with On May 12, a massive political rally to protest a devastating state budget that puts millionaires before working New Yorkers.
We traveled to South Street Seaport to meet up with other progressive folks at the “Human Services” assembly point, where we focused on the need to fund early childhood education programs. Oh, and about 20,000 of our friends decided to show up, too.
As it was my first time attending such a large rally, I did not quite know what to expect. Many questions rushed through my head:
- Would bankers come outside and yell at us? No.
- Would people on the street stop what they were doing and watch? Yes. We actually had many people on the street cheering us on as we walked by.
- Would different organizations get along? Absolutely! Different organizations banded together to share materials, food, and encouragement in order to maximize our impact and make sure that Mayor Bloomberg heard our message.
What really stood out to me was the passion of the protesters. This was not a solemn, quiet march. The demonstrators proudly strolled down Wall Street, calling out to the banks to contribute their fair share. Although, of course, we were protesting serious issues, we still found ways to have fun and liven up the day. One method was to take popular song lyrics and modify them to fit in with the protest. My personal favorite: “If you need an education I feel bad for you son, I’ve got 99 problems and the budget’s one!”
The addition of a marching band, in particular, was a big help in boosting morale among supporters. When we first arrived at the seaport, most of us were dressed expecting warm weather, as the forecast called for 70 degrees. A chilly wind blew in from across the seaport and threatened to put a damper on our spirits. The band, however, burst into a rousing rendition of “We Shall Overcome,” followed by a series of peppy marches. The band also favored Lady Gaga songs, playing “Bad Romance” and other hits.
There was a strong police presence as we marched through Lower Manhattan. Every block was flanked by scores of officers carefully watching demonstrators. For the most part (except for a few knuckleheads), the event transpired very smoothly and without incident.
One of the most interesting parts of the day was when I was approached by a reporter. We were standing around as we waited for our teach-in to begin when a reporter and cameraman came up to me and asked if I wanted to give a statement. As it was only my first week on the Citizen Action team, I deferred to my friend Chris who spoke about our role in the rally and the overall message that On May 12 was trying to convey. As the interview finished up, I learned that the reporter and cameraman represented Al-Jazeera’s American branch.
After the teach-in, all the different groups protesting converged in Battery Park for one final rally. This was a massive gathering of like minded individuals and served as the most emphatic part of the protest. Thousands of onlookers (police officers, press, and ordinary folks) watched in awe as we cheered, chanted, and urged New York State to do the right thing.