Mark Saha's Blog - Posts Tagged "riots"
The Protest in Santa Monica
5/31/20 – 5pm
Just got back to my apartment from a look at the situation along Main Street in Santa Monica. It is a little surreal; a strange quiet like before a storm is broken only by the sound of helicopters overhead.
Almost all businesses are closed, but there were a surprising number of people scattered about. They loitered mostly in in twos or threes but occasionally six or more. The ones in black with hoodies coming from Santa Monica Place seemed obviously part of the demonstration, especially a couple putting loot in the trunk of a parked car. Many others were younger people with skateboards or on bicycles scouting to see what was happening.
I saw several girls in their teens or twenties alone on the street. They seemed to feel perfectly safe despite a total absence of police, who are occupied elsewhere.
Items --
-- A store adjacent to the Edgemar complex was covering its windows with plywood as if preparing for a hurricane.
-- The Anchor restaurant, which has outdoor tables for customers, was open with all tables taken. They had a prominent sidewalk sign that proclaimed: “WE SUPPORT BLACK LIVES MATTER”.
-- Main Street Plaza (office & restaurant complex) was closed with four security guards out front.
-- Main Street Liquor was open so I picked up a bottle of Jack Daniels just in case. The owner looked surprised when I said there was a 4 pm curfew. He wanted to know if he was in violation of the law. A lady in line behind me told him that it was legal for him to stay open, but nobody was allowed on the street unless going to an essential business like his.
-- The strangest sight by far was an absolutely gorgeous model wearing a spectacular silvery grey gown on the corner of Ocean Park and Main. A cameraman and his assistant waited with her until a knot of six or so protesters approached on the sidewalk. She quickly joined them, and the cameraman began walking backwards for a tracking shot. She was proudly defiant accompanying these ominous hooded figures in black.
Just got back to my apartment from a look at the situation along Main Street in Santa Monica. It is a little surreal; a strange quiet like before a storm is broken only by the sound of helicopters overhead.
Almost all businesses are closed, but there were a surprising number of people scattered about. They loitered mostly in in twos or threes but occasionally six or more. The ones in black with hoodies coming from Santa Monica Place seemed obviously part of the demonstration, especially a couple putting loot in the trunk of a parked car. Many others were younger people with skateboards or on bicycles scouting to see what was happening.
I saw several girls in their teens or twenties alone on the street. They seemed to feel perfectly safe despite a total absence of police, who are occupied elsewhere.
Items --
-- A store adjacent to the Edgemar complex was covering its windows with plywood as if preparing for a hurricane.
-- The Anchor restaurant, which has outdoor tables for customers, was open with all tables taken. They had a prominent sidewalk sign that proclaimed: “WE SUPPORT BLACK LIVES MATTER”.
-- Main Street Plaza (office & restaurant complex) was closed with four security guards out front.
-- Main Street Liquor was open so I picked up a bottle of Jack Daniels just in case. The owner looked surprised when I said there was a 4 pm curfew. He wanted to know if he was in violation of the law. A lady in line behind me told him that it was legal for him to stay open, but nobody was allowed on the street unless going to an essential business like his.
-- The strangest sight by far was an absolutely gorgeous model wearing a spectacular silvery grey gown on the corner of Ocean Park and Main. A cameraman and his assistant waited with her until a knot of six or so protesters approached on the sidewalk. She quickly joined them, and the cameraman began walking backwards for a tracking shot. She was proudly defiant accompanying these ominous hooded figures in black.
