Just got home and if I don’t write this and post it tonight (even though it’s late) I won’t publish it at all.
This is only one version of the protest against the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Everyone who attended will have their own version of what they experienced because people's perceptions of reality are always based on the context in which they experienced the event, based on previous experiences at similar events.
Like many people there – I spent time and money I really didn’t have available to go to Phoenix to participate in the protest.
On to my perception of the event.
To start off I would like to thank Kossack Azazello and his wife for being my wonderful hosts and chauffeurs while I was in Phoenix
Tuesday after arriving in Phoenix we went to the educational conference on ALEC that was held at the South Mountain Community College. We missed some of the speakers but the union leaders were very visible at this sit down, surburban event. There were some rousing speeches and a good time was had by all.
On to Scottsdale
When we drove up there was a large group of protestors and cops in riot gear – Welcome to Scottsdale.
Arrival in Scottsdale proved that protestors are not welcome in Scottsdale. The police officer that we asked for parking instructions saw our protest signs and basically told us that there was no parking in Scottsdale for protestors and gave us directions to a non existent area to park. Lesson: Don’t ask a cop for directions if you have protest signs in the back seat.
Once we parked – we were not allowed to walk down a public sidewalk that bordered the Westin golf course – because we were protestors.
My impression of Scottsdale – not too favorable.
My Protest Experience
Approximately 200+ protestors were at the event. It was a mix of Occupiers, anarchists, ALEC protestors, and others. Missing – was the unions – more on that later.
Approximately 30 + Scottsdale and Phoenix police in full riot gear were protecting the entries of the Westin (media reports on this are linked at the end). Throughout the morning, more equipment trucks came in from Phoenix and pump fire engines came in from Scottsdale – supposedly for crowd control. My reaction to this - over-reaction by the cops - really extreme over reaction. (But then they were probably protecting the Westin AND the huge swanky shopping mall across the street where the 1%-ers were shopping.)
There was a report that they were sending women cops into the crowd to take away protest signs. I was there on "my mission" so I spent most of my time walking back and forth in front of the hotel along the street with my protest sign – walking down to one police car and then turning around and walking back to the larger group and the main police presence. I was interviewed three times and they all hit the floor of the cutting room. The cars passing by on the street were mixed reactions from people blowing their horns in support to multiple people giving me the finger. A woman yelling out the window that I was stupid; another lady in an Escalade giving me a thumbs down followed by the finger; and one person yelled at me to go to work (fortunately me having a job provided the vacation day for me to be in Scottsdale). I spent most of my time by myself – except for those times when Azazello’s wife was walking with me – who happens to be A UNION MEMBER.
The Missing Union Representation
I found the fact that the unions were not at Scottsdale en masse very disappointing after listening to the union leaders that I heard at South Mountain Community College less than 12 hours before - they seemed really interested in supporting the ALEC protest the night before. The day of - not so much.
During a conversation I heard that if the unions know that the anarchists are going to be present – the union members stay home – en masse. WTF??????
So basically, what this says to me is that the unions are so damn whitebread that they aren’t willing to stand up with those not like them – including me.
Yes, anarchists were there. Yes Occupiers were there. Yes, ALEC protestors were there. Yes, grey hairs like me were there. NO the unions were not there en masse. I went – but I’m smart enough not to put my rearend in the middle of anarchists doing what they do. So you’re telling me that union members don’t know how to keep their backsides safe in a situation like that – bullshit! If I can do it – the unions can take the time to show up – en masse - and support those of us that are there. The union members are under attack by ALEC and the union members don’t show up for N30. Screw them! That was my initial thought and it is my thought now – screw them! If the union members need a whitebread environment in order to state their protest – then it’s evident that the majority of us will need to go forward without their support - cause we can't control who shows up for a protest & most protests are only ONE DAY. The unions chose – chose – to not participate in a protest that was more than just anarchists. The unions chose NOT to stand alongside me and protest the very organization that is trying to destroy them.
The anarchists were NOT the only people there – MANY of us did not get pepper sprayed. The sidewalk was long enough that if you chose to you could stay out of the way of the anarchists. The unions chose not to be there at all. Well – screw them – And that’s my two cents.
In Conclusion
Tonight as I write this the people at the ALEC meeting have just finished their Holiday Gala Reception and are going on to the hospitality suites – I hope they all get food poisoning and that's my holiday wish for all those ALEC members and corporate reps.
My trip
I am glad I went – I am glad I protested on N30.
I'm glad I was there to make sure ALEC got news coverage they really did not want to have.
I stayed at a local hotel.
I ate at local restaurants.
I drank local beer.
I met great people I only knew by their diarist names.
Would I do it again – yes, and I will have to use money and time I really don’t have to do it AND I don’t care if the anarchists are at the next one that I go to.
For news coverage of the event you can go
Here and
Here and
Here and
Here and
Here and
Here and
Here and
Here for 15 seconds on the protest starting at minute 10:55