They had been standing at the end of the block gloating, while scabs were hammering the plywood up. There were not many protestors, and I guess they -the occupiers - felt it was safe to come out of hiding. When they noticed I was taking pictures of them they ducked back around the corner and tried to get back into the station by the back door without being seen. They did go in the back way, but by then 3 people, one a videographer, had gotten pictures of them.

There was still traffic flow by the station, drivers were honking; camp kpfa was not yet official but people were camped in front of the front door; cardboard crates of moldy strawberrys and flowers as offerings; I think it was the 15th, picture taken abt. 11pm.

It was fun, like a party, an intimate kind of party, people talking low, tired but charged up, exchanging rumours, the only noise was from the honking cars; there was a guy from the Mercury News taking photos; across the street in the radio shack parking lot only a couple of cop cars; someone commented on there being 4 cops in one single car.

From?

Well, so we wouldn't get blamed for the broken glass.

Broken glass?

Yeah, they were going to board up the windows.

Why?

click photos for large version

this black unmarked car pulled up at the end of the block. Then a trio of puffy guys in polyester appeared from around the corner and a young looking white male, no uniform, got out of the car and they stood there talking for a minute. The guy in the black car drove away but these 3 guys stood there quietly smirking and gloating and smoking; they didn't think they were noticed, I guess. I started taking pictures, but too far away to get with the camera I had; when I went closer, they finally noticed and suddenly turned to walk back up that street that runs past the Thai restaurant,

click photo for large version

walking with put-on nonchalance; I followed, ran out of film, the roly-poly one got away, disappeared into the back door; I yelled to Mark and this videographer named Matt, we sort of cornered them, or they let themselves be cornered - maybe some guard strategy but it seemed more they were trying to show no fear - but they were tense. I was scared. Matt was interrogating them in a quietly taunting kind of way - "What's that bulge, you got a gun under there?"; "What kind of work do you do?" They didn't say much, grunted maybe, but it's on Matt's tape. You might have seen Matt. He was at camp kpfa a lot and I think he must have got some great scenes. I haven't gotten in touch with him but have his email if you're interested - I could let him know. Maybe you already know him.

nola