It had been over a year since our last rally. Overdue, we optimistically planned on joining in to march for Families Belong Together. We managed to sleep in until almost 7 and had a big breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes. Quarter to 9, we started to pack-up but the car needed to be cleaned out and our son ran out of the house refusing to put on shoes! I was starting to doubt our good intentions. We finally saw some car upholstery and my wife wrangled up my son (and some sandals) and we hit the road. Traffic was great until we got near the city and were greeted with a sea of break-lights. Only moderate congestion for a city badly in need of better public transit (but that’s for a different blog). We finally got to our exit and slipped off a side street before things got ugly. I was able to sneak into a parking spot, last car before the parking attendant started turning people away! We were in the city and the car was parked!
We walked up the stairs into the bright Houston daylight. A short skip across liberty park and we were at city hall. Just after ten and a good crowd had already assembled. We saw lots of different groups (liberals are like a herd of cats, right!). We saw many shirts for Beto O’Rourke, groups in support of LGBTQ, women’s rights, minority rights (I think I was the only one wearing an Earth Day shirt) and oh yeah, immigrants and refugees. I’d estimate a quarter of the many signs were digs on Trump and his administration, a quarter were solidarity for immigrants and the other half were a combination of both. Favorites? “Only monsters lock kids up in cages” is one I can remember, but I probably like “Don’t terrorize kids, it’s obv!” best. Am I known for my air-tight memory? Don’t ask me. I wish I had time to make one that said “If children are outlawed, only outlaws will have children”.
We hung out on the east side of the fountain with most of the crowd, because… you guessed it, it was mid-90’s and that side had some shade. As usual, things were late to get started and just like every event we’ve every attended in downtown Houston, the speakers didn’t reach even half-way back where we were. We clapped when we heard other people clap. And we made up chants when we heard other people chanting indecipherable chants. After an hour or so, I started a chant of “Let’s march now!” Am I proud I started that chant? Yes I am. Am I proud that I’m proud? Not as much.
They must have heard my chant because the crowd started to move out onto the street. A short wait on the street right outside city hall and we finally started our march. The numbers were not as good as the science march last year, but I’m guessing 2-4k. Maybe more, Houston is a pretty international city. The march was only about 3 blocks, but we went pretty slowly. I was right in front of a guy with a bullhorn. Dude could NOT sing. Seriously. Someone else should of had that bullhorn. We must have reached Senator Ted Cruz’s office because then we stopped. Dead stop in the middle of the street, between a couple of skyscrapers. We couldn’t see the head of the group, so your guess is good as mine. Sporadic chanting took place, but mostly just more standing around. Eventually the kids got too restless and we had to head out for lunch. It sure was a shame to leave, because I’m positive Senator Cruz came out to explain his stance on zero tolerance immigration. Seems like such a lovely fellow, I’m really going to miss him next year when he gets voted out!
Although it was a little tiring standing around so much in the heat, I think the kids enjoyed being part of something and understood the cause we were supporting. I was certainly glad we were able to take a stand for those who don’t have any power themselves. Do I think the fight is over? No, of course not. We can’t let up pressure on this administration for a second. Now please excuse me, there must be some pretty terrible dust floating around in the air. Don’t forget to kiss your kids goodnight!