The election celebration party on Capitol Hill yesterday was a real 2020 event: car-heavy because covid-19, hundreds of folks in masks, at turns defiant--FDT blasted from many passing speakers--jubilant and honestly just fun.
We haven't had a lot of fun these past few months.
After reading the news yesterday and a host of frantic phone calls, texts and messages, I tried to write, and gave up around noon. I stopped by the Protect Every Person event at Westlake, and then walked up the hill to where I was pretty sure some celebrating would be happening. I spent most of the next 7 hours outside.
Pine St, and then Pike, were a constant stream of cars, honking, music blaring, drivers beaming from ear to ear, flashing peace signs, victory fists. People hanging out of windows, standing up through sunroofs, one guy (inadvisedly) sitting Marshawn-like atop a car. There was a T-rex with a Black Lives Matter sign, a unicorn with a BLM flag. Everyone it seemed had quite literally brought their dog. From Subarus with big fluffy pooches to beater cars and tiny Chihuahuas to Teslas empty of all but drivers and high tech screens, the parade of cars was ringed on both sides by cheering celebrants, waving flags, homemade signs, Biden/Harris signs and flags, and open bottles of bubbly. Drunk girls hair-flipped and danced. Two young Muslim women held a sign saying Muslim Americans are here to stay and cried when we cheered for them. A UPS van drove slowly through and was mobbed, briefly, by people cheering and whooping and clapping. A Latino family with Puerto Rico flags stood with their kids and watched the happy crowd. A reporter from Kiro 7 interviewed my friend.
A pedicab driver played Nipsey Hustle and Queen and chauffeured tired people around the scene. The Marshall Law Band arrived on their pickup-truck stage and played a half dozen songs. They reminded us that yesterday wasn't an end, but a new front in this battle to effect lasting change.
There were a couple of bitter betty's out there but it was a mostly cheerful crowd, although there was a shooting much later in the evening. CHS captures the news better than I can. I did see a group of black-clad protesters attempting to burn an American flag and yes I'm aware that there is anger in the daily protester community, wondering where all us folks are night after night. I want us to do better with sustained protest. I want to remain engaged in upending this racist, classist system. I also think people just needed a few hours to celebrate and feel the tiniest flicker of hope.
On the walk home, I saw Kamala Harris' image projected on the cement walls of the East Precinct. Madam Vice President!
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