Their signs and banners have been hung along the little fence around the stage. On the podium a phone number, call Equal Justice....
Click. From out of the loudspeakers comes that one little telltale sound of the system switching on. No one hears it. But the light turns green, and -
TEST, TEST....
For the eleventh time today, after mild morning and heating midday and burning afternoon, now, in the bright evening, with sun hanging down between the waterfront towers, and almost thirty people standing near, waiting....
HELLO EVERYBODY, IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE YOU OUT HERE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR GIVING UP YOUR TIME TO COME OUT HERE TONIGHT. WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW....
Black, brown, and white are the colors of the speakers and their audience.
ONE OUT OF THREE AFRICAN AMERICAN BOYS WILL END UP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM....
The host has heard this before. He knows something is wrong when such facts are true... but to hear it, here, in the zone across the street from the Convention Center, brings it home again into his middle-aged bleeding white heart. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong in America.
BLACKS GET PRISON SENTENCES THREE TIMES LONGER THAN WHITES....
- I do not know the answer - he thinks. - I don't know why or how, but... listening to the speaker, I.... -
PLEASE TAKE OUR FLYER, AND READ IT. WE HAVE MANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO HANDLE YOURSELF WHEN YOU ARE STOPPED BY THE POLICE. AND CALL US FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED HELP.
Together. Together. Together we can work together. The host hears them, wishes more would hear them. Here, a legitimate complaint is answered by a real strategy.
...AND WHENEVER YOU DO CONTACT AUTHORITIES, BY PHONE OR IN PERSON, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR OR SEE. NEVER INTERFERE WITH POLICE OFFICERS MAKING AN ARREST, BUT DO WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU SAW, WRITE IT DOWN WHILE IT IS STILL FRESH IN YOUR MIND. IT IS IMPORTANT YOU KEEP A RECORD. IF YOU NEED HELP WRITING, CALL US. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR.
Another speaker takes the podium. Greg Akile, local activist. The host listens, stirred by his rhetoric. Arlene Smith, who spoke before, was cool and determined. Her strength was calm and deliberate. Akile is another speaker altogether. He flies, through fiery words that both criticise and liberate. Arlene had been counseling and concerned, Greg is stirring and inspiring. The two create an elegant contrast with each other. Like onion and pepper, tequila and lime, or butter and salt.
SO THAT ONE DAY AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOYS CAN GROW UP WITHOUT FEAR... YOU, SON, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? YES... ONE DAY YOU CAN WALK DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT BEING AFRAID THAT THE POLICE ARE GOING TO STOP YOU JUST BECAUSE OF YOUR DARK SKIN, JUST BECAUSE....
"Danial?"Host turns. Officer at his elbow. "Yeah?"
"Has the next group signed in yet?"
"No. The Animal Rights group... aint seen 'em anywhere."
"Well, these people say they may run a bit long, and we're wondering how you feel about letting them keep speaking into the red light."
"Mmmm... fine by me, if the other people don't show up pretty soon. What do you think?"
"I think these people are worth giving the extra time, but... well, it would be setting a dangerous precedent. Still, if the next group doesn't show up in time...."
"Yeah. Let's do it."
Officer turns, waves to the City technician standing over by the electrical control box. Turns back to host, "Let me - or Gerry - know as soon as you see the animal people."
"Okay."
Danial heads back to his tent. Better be there when the animal protesters show up. The sun is sinking farther down, and shadows of downtown towers stretch all the way across the lot. The host is getting tired. The sandwich - more than an hour ago - has saved his ass from collapse, but he still feels relieved just to sit down behind the table, and take a swig from his water bottle.
Minutes tick by. Traffic light turns yellow. Orange salmon light stretches across the sky. Night, sweet cooling night, is coming. At last. At last.
A chorus of young, dark girls - the last group to take the podium during the Equal Justice time - is singing as the traffic light changes to red. Still no animal people. The girls sing on. The microphone does not shut off.
Danial waits. Where are the Animal Advocates?