Occupy Santa Fe

Well, I visited Occupy Santa Fe's demonstration today (as a mostly sympathetic observer, not a member). Here are some basic impressions:

• The weren't marching or chanting, at least when I was there. They were just standing on the sidewalk, holding up signs.


• Most of the signs were hand-written. Some were pre-fabricated. There were some unused signs for anyone who wanted to pick up.


• There were a wade range of ages, but ethnically most people present were Anglo.


• There were children, but they were playing on the grass, not holding up signs. Good! I have never approved of parents in demonstrations who make their children carry signs they don't understand. It has always seemed like child exploitation to me.


• There were also carefully labeled recycling containers for people to throw their trrash.


• Although there were some drums beating and a few costumes, it was nothing like a freak show.


• The crowd was not that big, but a lot of people driving by honked their support or waived or flashed the peace sign. Not everyone, of course. The crowd often tried to elicit a response from motorists and were disappointed if they didn't get one. I didn't see anyone going by show hostility, but then, Santa Fe is a liberal town.


• There were a few people talking about camping overnight. It appears a regular tactic of the movement is to trespass or camp past their pemit to provoke the police into overreacting. (It has been highly successful so far). There were no police present that I could see.


• A few girls were using hoola hoops. Are those making a come back?