As you approach, it's a little hard to see much going on in Dilworth Plaza. You mostly see that magnificent, sprawling building - which looks to me like a big, fancy wedding cake.
But when you cross the street, there is a lot going on. There are news reporters.
Not every protester is dressed like a hippy.
Lots of signs, mostly lying on the pavement.
There are plenty of tents.
Some rather makeshift.
There are medics on hand.
It seemed a lot like the street fairs and shopping booths they have in Dilworth Plaza every so often, except a bit messier and more home-made. Everyone seemed to be having a pretty good time. There was a break dancer, in front of a wall of Jesus graffiti.
And there were activities for children (marching children).
There was a tent for nursing mothers.
And a sort of "children's alley" among the tents.
The guy in the photo below has gotten a lot of press, most of it rather unfortunate. It seems that he is a vegetarian Buddhist who has vowed to go on a 30-day hunger strike to support a variety of causes. According to local news reports, for the next 30 days he will sit in Dilworth Plaza and ingest only water and tobacco smoke.
This is a kind of hunger strike that I don't understand. It's not as though someone could do something that would make him stop, or could meet any demands. It's not as though anyone really cares, much, or even understands what his demands are. I'm pretty sure that legalization of marijuana is one of them, and I know that it's not going to happen in the next 30 days. He is against big corporations, and Big Tobacco would be one of them - so it might be a more useful protest to quit smoking.
Looking a little more closely at his sign, I think he may have decided to drink orange juice during this fast. Good idea.
The signs were interesting. I'll post a few tomorrow.
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