I say that because I marched in my second parade Friday night. Unlike the Halloween parade, however, this one was more significant because it was a May Day Rally. May Day is the celebration of social and economic achievement and the struggle of the labor movement. As a member of the unemployed masses these days, I felt like being part of a worker-supportive demonstration was a most worthwhile way for me to spend some time.
So I showed up at Abner Clay Park (okay, so it's only 2 blocks from my apartment) promptly at 7 because Kenny, one of the organizers, had told me earlier in the day that I needed to be there on time to get something to carry in the parade. The reward for my punctuality? A paper-mache ear. And while I was happy to be part of the "body part" contingent (I was the lips last parade), I ended up trading my ear for a a big WORKERS UNITE sign. Call me a wimp, but that ear was heavy (it was as tall as I am), so I gave it to a guy friend to carry...and it wore him out, so I know it would have challenged me.
The police presence was huge; as I walked up the block to the park I could see cop cars everywhere, so I asked an officer why so many were there. His response was, "This is Richmond, Where's there's lots of people, there will be lots of police." For a bunch of people carrying puppets and paper mache ears? Seriously? In any case, after telling us we couldn't walk in the streets, the cops were good enough to provide a police escort as we did walk in the streets on our abbreviated route.
Plenty of people watched, cheered and pointed as we made our way through Jackson Ward. Like the Halloween parade, it was great fun to do. But unlike that event, I felt proud to be showing my support for the causes of workers everywhere...a group I hope to rejoin in the near future.
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