Peace demonstrations in more ways than one
We arrived very early Sunday morning. Our room was not ready so we went touring. We ended up at the state capitol building, where we intended to stand on the stair that marks one mile high. Instead, we joined a peace rally. As I am an old peace demonstrator from the 70s and a feminist activist, I felt right at home with this group. We heard Cynthia McKinney, Green Party candidate for president, speak and saw anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan speaking with the press.
Literally around every corner is a gang of at least six police officers in full SWAT and riot gear - guns, helmets, masks, gas, clubs and plastic cuffs - very threatening and very scary. Down the street, we saw the bike troops, horse troops and cars parading one after the other. It is quite a show of force. I wonder how many police it takes to control peace demonstrators and a bunch of women over 50. This seems a bit overdone.
Convention events started with an Illinois delegation reception in the hotel lobby. It was nice. We all got along. I screwed up my courage and wore my Hillary pin. Nobody hurt me or even hassled me. Hillary delegates did stick together though.
The next thing was a reception at a restaurant by the Illinois Democratic Party hosted by Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Everyone who was anyone was at this event. We got our picture taken with "the Mayor." He seems to be a very nice guy.
The Hillary delegation met at 9 p.m. We discussed administration and voting. We plan to vote for Hillary. That vote may come in writing at the regular morning meeting of the Illinois Delegation and be announced by the delegation chair during the convention. Things can change, though, so stay tuned.
I am very excited to be here as a first-time delegate, but I am also sad. It is uncomfortable not being a Obama supporter. While we are included in things, there have been no real efforts to make us feel anything but guilty for wanting to vote.
Tomorrow is the first Illinois Delegation meeting.