Persistent Protesting

Persistent Protesting
Justin Smith
9/10/2005


The scene was very much alive and intimate as has been the last number of protests on 16th and Broadway in Sacramento. The protests which began as a demonstration to support Cindy Sheehan on Saturday evenings at this intersection a month ago are becoming commonplace and morphing into something greater and more consistent, and it appears to be reflective of Sacramento as a whole.

About half of the cars that drove by honked to support the crowd in which the crowd responded back by blowing whistles, clapping, and hollering. The beautiful sense of reciprocity between passing cars and the demonstrators is what makes this particular intersection so alive and intimate, and the demonstrations seemingly more persistent.

Among these demonstrators were two girls who attend C.K. McClatchy High school. Terra and Tina were at the protest representing CKM Peace Action, which their sign read Students for Peace. Terra a senior at McClatchy High School and a new member of the club noted that, ”there aren’t enough young people at these things.” When asked why this was she replied in essence apathy, which has transcended from their parents to their children. Another problem they noted was media. Whether it be tiny sound bites or little clips from Fox its all coming from the government. A passing lady said to these girls that there needs to be more young people out at these things as well, “they’re not going to recruit me, they’re going to recruit you.”