Occupy Jacksonville; Saturday 8th,2011
by To say that it was more like a community gathering than a political rally is both a good and a bad thing. The good thing about it having more of a community gathering kind of feel is that one can be envolved in relative comfort; the downside of that is that one can take it or leave it.
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Occupy Jacksonville – Saturday 8th,2011
The morning was whitish gray, mild, and damp. Parking at the First Guaranty Bank on Riverside Avenue, I crossed the street and made my way through the glorified flea market towards the path towards downtown. Nothing was different along the way; the occasional homeless person looking for cigarette butts, the police officer patrolling in the golf cart, joggers, bicyclers, and fishermen. From all appearances Jacksonville seemed to be business as usual.
Electing to park in Riverside I walked along the banks of the St.Johns River towards the gathering at Hemming Plaza. Not really knowing what to expect from this gathering given the low voter turnout in the last couple of elections expectations were low. The fact that Jacksonville is known for being a shoe in county for the Republican Party gave more reason to doubt.. What I saw along the way gave little reason to believe that more than a few people would be there to show their support for what appears to be a growing movement across the nation.
I made my way down the path to the curious ramp leading upwards to it’s peak at the Florida Times-Union building, and then down four stories to an area with benches and water fountains. From there the path lead to the block and a half walk to the Jacksonville Landing which was just beginning the business of looking busy as it has since it’s opening.
Typically when I go downtown I avoid the Landing purposefully. As of yet I see no purpose in the place other than to serve as a statement of defiance by the city to admit it is, was, and will, perhaps, always be as colossal waste of resources next to the Skyway Express as if the sparse use wasn’t some indication.
Heading northward I made my way to Hemming Plaza and started to see signs of Occupy Jacksonville from two blocks away. A man carrying a sign crossed the street. I thought to myself that any number of people coming out on a day like today, and during football season no less, was not a bad sign.
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