Solidarity on the Streets of San Pedro
There were silver Priuses and white SUVs. A fire truck, two garbage trucks, Public Works trucks, an ice cream truck, a city bus and several semis honked their horns as they drove by. One rig’s blast sounded like a train whistle, long and loud — that got our adrenaline going.
Lots of men in pickup trucks honked or raised their fists, even the one in a big white four-door with an American flag flying from the tailgate and a Donald Trump sticker in the window.
“He must be driving his dad’s car,” my friend Sue said.
Even some police cars honked. A majority of the traffic passing the San Pedro police station Tuesday afternoon (June 2) between 3 and 5 p.m. showed their solidarity with protesters waving “Black Lives Matter” and “End Systemic Racism” flags.
They signaled support either with their horns or with their fists, thumbs, or fingers in peace signs. Many drivers admittedly were handicapped by their efforts to keep one hand on the wheel and one on their cell phones filming.
There were only three voices of dissent, from a thumb down to a disturbing “Fuck [George] Floyd.” Some protesters misheard one shout as “Fuck you!” but in fact it was “Fuck yeah!” I could see the joy on the driver’s face.
We were a small crowd — about 50 — but given that this was the first protest in often conservative San Pedro since the murder of George Floyd, our presence was significant. And with every passing honk, shout and fist pump of support, we provoked a loud and clear message to the police standing outside watching us, or sitting at their desks inside the station: People have had enough.
The horrific video of Floyd’s death has galvanized a worldwide protest movement against police brutality and white supremacy. President Trump’s warning on Monday (June 1) that he would send the troops to clear the streets was the straw that broke the back for those of us still paralyzed by pandemic fear. He pushed folks like me off the fence/couch and out to the streets to show that these protests aren’t about violent extremism: They’re about making long overdue change in our country.
The demonstration was peaceful. Police officers waved hello as my friends and I walked up to join the line of protesters and I flashed them a peace sign. There were people I knew there — all local San Pedrans — and mostly, people I didn’t. We were a notably diverse lot, trending young and female, but my friends and I are all in our 50s.
Next to me was Paul, a retired longshoreman; Erin, a mother of children in San Pedro High and Dana Middle schools; and Catherine, a young woman with long purple braids. We were black, brown and white; first-nation, European, African, and Mexican — a “broad coalition,” as former President Barack Obama says.
The only infiltrators I saw were not from the far right or left but a few Jesus freaks offering the typical crazy — but admittedly timely — apocalyptic rhetoric. There were the usual socialist worker party folks hawking their wares (ironically). After all, Pedro is a union town, land of Harry Bridges and Joe Hill. Artists and activists handed out signs from the punk Pedro printers Calimucho: “Together we are stronger” over two fists clenched together, designed by Ruth Mora.
It felt surreal and thrilling to be out with people again, after months of sheltering in place. Almost everyone wore masks, though social distancing was imperfectly practiced. We came in peace and we left in peace, as curfew neared — and the feet and knees of us old folks started to ache. The officers waved goodbye and we waved back.
The only scary moment of the whole afternoon was on the drive back down Pacific Avenue, past the Sixth Street business district. Stores were boarding up their buildings and a group of scary musclemen in San Pedro Fight Club T-shirts looked menacing and out for trouble.
The idea that any of the peaceful protestors at the cop shop or down the street at the city hall building were going to bust some glass and steal, I don’t know — t-shirts, was laughable.
Remember, violence in this country historically and right now comes from the vested interests and the police who protect them. If nothing else, the protest forced locals to spray paint “BLM” on their makeshift window guards. Even if they were just trying to keep vandals away, the message was there this morning, on building after building: “Black Lives Matter.”
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