June 28, 2020
Justice!
When do they want it?
Now!
If they don’t get it, what’ll they do?
Shut it down!
Welcome to Occupy City Hall, aka Abolition Park, aka City Hall Autonomous Zone, aka CHAZ where hundreds of activists have staked a claim to their piece of democracy. Hardly a week goes by without another caught on camera killing of another black American by another (usually white) cop and things finally boiled over this spring, pandemic or no.
The killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day was the last straw. Streets from California to the New York island have filled with millions of Americans who’ve just had it with killer cops getting paid vacations and then let off – if they’re even charged at all.
One activist, who gave his name as Kannon, addressed the assembly and afterwards spoke with the Gazette. “Police budget is $6 Billion. They don’t have a few hundred thousand for the Board of Ed? It doesn’t make sense. You got homeless people. They got armored vehicles. Who they gonna use it on? Us?”
At CHAZ you’ll find blue tarps to camp on, tables laden with refreshments and food, and plenty of art materials to make signs or decorate the pavement. “Fuel the People” was distributing food to hungry activists for free on Saturday afternoon. Rice, salad, empanadas, hot dogs, and pastries were among the offerings. Refreshments included water, of course, and little cans of delicious iced expresso. Their team of 9 people had served around 500 meals by early evening.
Street Riders, the bicycle riding activist group that’s been front and center in support of BLM at many of this month’s mobilizations didn’t disappoint. An estimated 2,500-3,000 cyclists swooped up Center Street past CHAZ and across Chambers Street. They were greeted by park bound activists with whoops and hollers and they responded with upraised fists, drums and horns.
A few more shots:
