Just getting in from the circus that was downtown St. Pete:The UNITY demonstration — also known as the Rise Up! The System Is Broken event — had a fairly large turnout.
My estimate: 150.
However, the Ron Paul contingent, criss-crossing downtown in the Ron Paul “Magic Bus†(my words, not theirs), was surprisingly absent. I could hear some disgruntled progressives rambling about “those crazy Ron Paul†supporters and their decision to go it alone.
However, homeless advocates and a few homeless kept the mood upbeat toward the beginning of the Unity March by clomping down Beach Drive in masse with a banner chastizing the city: Hey Mayor Baker, Jesus was homeless, too.
Some other highlights:
"In the '60s, I could pick up chicks with these." — Guy Fox, protester
Progressives and Ron Paul supporters get in a little tiff.
"I'm happy to get the message across that our country is going in the wrong direction."
This article appears in Nov 28 – Dec 4, 2007.