No Kings, Harrisburg, PA, My Thoughts, Etc.

There are those who will wonder what I was up to, well, this is my job, and this was a needful witnessing, plus the work I do. We do not run from the conflict in my business; we run toward it and seek it out. Not to say I was looking for or expecting trouble, far from it, but what I saw today at the Capitol in Harrisburg for the No Kings event confirmed my feelings that we are not yet completely doomed as a nation.

It’s difficult in my spot, but no worse than it has ever been. When you work in corpo media, you are immediately seen as the enemy from all sides. The Left sees you as a propagandist, a fascist, a party-line operative of the Reich. The Right sees you as a liberal, a tool of Jews, the Tri-Lateral Commission, the Communists, the “Woke” crowd (whatever the fuck that is, we’re awake over here), Antifa, you get the picture. Meanwhile, the Centrists, Libertarians, and the rest view you with suspicion and disdain. I can’t imagine what the Monster Raving Loonies think of us if they had more of a hold in the US. They have the UK (where Lord David Sutch started them up, and would probably be amused to know they still field Parliamentary candidates); there’s also a Florida chapter, go figure.

So the world is one of damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

My friend and web designer Ella (she who built this lovely site, and if you want her to do yours, she’ll do it, here’s her website) is working with the 50501 chapter in Harrisburg, and kindly put me in touch with one of the organizers. I had a chat with Kristin earlier this week, and another today. I’ll be putting that together for NBC News Radio, yes, there is still a radio outpost under the iHeartMedia banner…they just don’t know about us, so don’t tell anyone.

Anyway, this is a job that is required, and I got an early start. After tanking up well enough with Monster and coffee (my blood runs these colors), I ventured from my home in the ‘Burg to see what I might see. A quick recon around the back of the Capitol complex allowed me to find a prime spot to place my vehicle, and then I made the walk into the den.

I am not sure quite why the blog is not interested in letting me post up photos (Kao has had a lot to say about that, too), but if you follow me on Instagram or now the dreaded TikTok, you will see pics and video from what I viewed and heard.

My first order of business was to check out the Capitol Steps, where the setup and soundchecks were underway. Early enough not to see too many people, and so I could find a good spot. The portion of 3rd Street was not yet blocked off; that would come later.

I then took a quick trip down the side street to Elementary Coffee, where I got a very good mocha latte and saw a full house of people who were here for the event. I saw a microcosm of those who have had it with the current regime and the state of affairs. Older folks, those who’ve been through the wars but were not jaded by wealth, hubris, and arrogance; the Boomers are not all those Boomers, thankfully. Younger people as well, some with their kids, who saw this not as a moment of radicalization, but to teach. This is your right, kids, you have a right to say what you think, and to not have to listen to those who scream the loudest, preach from pulpits or out of the talk radio station, or who control the schoolyard.

I headed back, ran into Ella (who was ill, but showed up—good on her), and took up a position across from 3rd to view the steps. The cold and windy weather (the latter rushed right up the side street at us) did not deter people. They slowly arrived, walking in from the side streets, from the inner city, and across the Susquehanna. There was a slow, but energetic filling up of the space, and you started to see what was happening.

These kinds of events have an organic feel, not a scripted one where the crowds are bused in and told what to say, how to say it, etc. The music played, and Ella noted someone had hijacked her playlist! Anyway, the build continued: the area around the lectern and mics crowded up, then the steps around it, then down the steps, the sidewalks, and then the street.

The police I have to applaud. They were calm, professional, and provided decent control without stomping around like a bunch of SA wannabes I could talk about. No, Capitol and Harrisburg Police did their job and did it well. There was communication between the city and the organizers, and that goes a long way to preventing issues.

The people, all ages, outfits, signs (lots of good ones), were there to make their points. A giant frog, two T-Rex’s also made for an interesting look about. There were tables for a couple of political candidates; Ryan Hazel is running for the House, and he was up there. I’d tried to find him for an interview, but I missed him. Justin Douglas is also running for Congress; currently a Dauphin County Commissioner. That said, there was a crowd that continued to build.

I didn’t carry an ID or a lanyard, and I planned to work the crowd, watch, observe, and report back, some of which I am doing now. I think some would say that they’ve heard this before: speakers for Palestine, speakers reminding us of the war in Iran that Trump and Netanyahu have started for their own reasons (we know, we all know), a young man talking about his health struggles, lack of care, but who is making his life one way or another. The folksingers, one doing “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore” (Thank You John Prine!), and some original pieces, plus the “Which Side Are You On?” I think Pete Seeger wrote that, but I could be wrong…Woody Guthrie? Help me, here.

I had a very strange interaction, and of course, I would: a man in his sixties, dressed well, obviously from a high-end store that sells casual but nice gear, noticed me in my neutral rig. He asked, “Where is the alternative point of view here?” or something like that.

Apparently, he believed that counterprotestors were supposed to be there and were supposed to have their own thing going. I told him that I assumed they would be here, because they do show up, but I did not know where.

He then noted the “No ICE” and “No Trump” signs and wondered where the other side was. He wanted to know who was running this…I did not tell him I had a friend who was involved, nor did I tell him what I do. None of his fucking business, but I did say I knew nothing about the organization of the event…because I honestly didn’t.

He walked off, clearly not happy that his brethren didn’t show up. I did look, but I saw no organized counterprotest, no one trying to disrupt, or trying to start anything. I assume that outrage will be saved until Monday, when talk radio screams about the “outside agitators,” Communists, Antifa, unemployed Gen Z’ers and Millennials, and so forth. Save for Hate Week, I guess.

Then others will probably just giggle, snigger, and have canned laughter over their insults. They didn’t bother to come out, but they saved up their disgust for Monday.

I also took a walk up and around the Capitol Complex, and got some shots from behind the stage. There were more folks up there, and I felt the common ground sought and found here. People from different races, creeds, sexes, and walks of life, again, finding “community” means all of us, and they were there to make it clear what they think of the current situation.

Will it change? We’ll see. I’m interested as I write this about how the No Kings events went elsewhere in the US. There was a similar event in London today as well. The UK has its own issues, not much different than ours.

I also noted the support from what I posted up, and the occasional voices in the wilderness, laughing, giggling, making their sniffs and snorts known. The numbers are shrinking, and in every cycle we see the circle turn and complete.

The point is, everything is cyclical. You get tired of the same-old, same-old, the status quo, and it comes around. The shift is a human nature element, and I do wonder where we go from here.

From my own outpost, I stepped into this again, and this we do because it is our job. Some wish we didn’t, and only do what makes them feel comfortable, but that’s not why we’re here.

The whole thing continues and perpetuates itself. Let us see how the coming days take this; I don’t see the movement petering out anytime soon, despite the best efforts of some.

All dynasties fall. All dictatorships fall. Everyone dies or leaves the stage. Get used to the idea that change is inevitable and accept that. You don’t have to accept hatred, abuse, filth, and lies, though. People today said what they had to, and did what they needed to. That’s Democracy. That’s a free society.

Don’t take it for granted.

Peace, the Fuck Out.