Olympia, WA. @ Sylvester Park (5-1-14) — Another balmy day in the park with temperatures in the mid-80’s, blue skies, and about 50-60 idlers sucking up each other’s company on the ultra-green turf. There were the usual glares and stares at photojournalists, but the mood was mostly mellow–nothing like last year’s much more crowded venue replete with an army of law enforcement, weapons, clubs, attack dogs, masks, and the expectation something ‘big’ was planned. In the end, nothing dramatic happened, there were no arrests, and despite all the attention, no lasting resolution came of it all.
This year’s celebration was of an even lower key by an order of magnitude at least. Bruce and Nora tabled for preserving what’s left of the environment. ACAP’s (TESC’s Abolish Cops And Prisons student group) acolytes arrived. Both dropped banners from the gazebo’s banister, where the public was forbidden to go while it remained padlocked. More and more public facilities in Olympia are locked to prevent citizens from using them, particularly the homeless.
Songs were sung, speeches were given–courtesy of Mike Coday’s PA system. The cause was focused, mostly, on accentuating the positive and constructive remedies rather than smashing the state/private property. The WSP acted professionally and with great restraint, only pausing at one point late in the afternoon to admonish ACAP to stop blocking the park’s sidewalks with their literature and displays. ACAP pretty much ignored them and the police did not attempt to create a confrontation over it. WSP remains the best trained Washington law enforcement agency. One youth was heard asking, “So, where’s the action?” “Seattle,” came the reply.
Mainstream media (some) showed up to cover whatever came of all this. Photojournalists shook hands and introduced themselves to one another. War stories were swapped. No photojournalists were harassed, intimidated, bullied, assaulted, or robbed on this occasion. It remained a pleasant day, unusually sunny, and comfortable. Scott Yoos arrived to report on the event. Mary Spokane was present. Some Green Party advocates came. Mrs. Coday enjoyed the camaraderie in her husband’s company who shared his tattoo with the camera at one point. The WSP police looked young, fit, and attractive on their bicycles. Occasionally, a sheriff’s cruiser or City of Olympia police vehicle would slowly drive by. No one was ordered off the gazebo, despite the lack of a ‘permit’ and lock on it . The park had been cleaned. Common sense, if not good will, dominated the scene.
