IMAGES OF A DAY

• During one circle under the shade of trees in Franklin Square Park a group called Guitarmy sat with guitars and banjos and talked about how to make meaningful music during a time when the music scene is controlled by a profit driven industry that is only interested in song lyrics like "bitches, blondes and big screen TV's."  You can learn more about them at www.occupymusicians.com
• Free vegan pizza was served at the Occupy gathering in the park and alongside the street a Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream truck was giving away free cups of the good stuff - three flavors to pick from.
• At the Friends Meeting House in center city the bulk of Occupy folks are sleeping in the parking lot and in the ditches by the Quaker compound wall.  The ground is rough dirt.  Just feet away is a nice green lawn in front of the Quaker Meeting House but the campers don't appear to be welcome on the soft and clean grass.
• A free Mumia Abu-Jamal tent was set up today right next to the veterans tent on the Independence Mall.  From 1:00-6:00 pm legendary Pam Africa from Philadelphia's Move organization led a rally.  By 6:00 pm a large group had gathered to hear rap, drumming, and speeches.  One African-American activist from Occupy Hood said, "No more sitting around waiting for the black messiah.  We got to decolonize the hood."  She said July 4 was not about "celebrating Independence day but the power of the people."
• Just across the street from Independence Mall is a big building with a food court and tourist shops inside.  I went in there at one point today to get out of the heat.  I noticed one older woman with her family.  Later on while back outside at the veterans tent on the mall I saw the woman and her family walk by.  When she saw the protesters she gave a very disapproving shake of her head at us.  All around us is a plastic tourist version of revolution and celebration of the rich elite rebelling against the British.  We've been trained to glorify the rich "founding fathers" and most citizens know virtually nothing about the real origins of our "democracy".  The woman showing her disapproval of a living revolution happening in her midst as she consumes the plastic interpretation is the real story of this experience in Philly.