USSF: ‘Sexy riot suits’ at the march

Compiled from MT staff in the field

Beginning at Hancock and Woodward, a delegation of Native American peoples headed the march, followed by a motley crew of organizations, marching bands, floats (a group of four carried a giant inflatable globe on their shoulders) and bicyclists.

Not everyone made it from the morning’s activities at Cobo Hall all the way to Midtown just to walk back down Woodward again. At several points in the march, new groups joined — AFL-CIO members carrying signs calling for “Medicare for All” slid in front of a climate justice advocacy group outfitted with giant sunflowers. Pink-clad proponents of women’s health marched alongside a green and black striped marching band.

From the rooftop of their Woodward office, American Civil Liberties Union staffers dropped a welcome banner to cheers from the passing crowd.

Just before Grand Circus Park, Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC United) supporters waited with the full troop of Matrix Theatre Detroit’s giant papier mâche political puppets (Ella Baker, Cesar Chavez).

Since the march was more a display of the USSF’s organizational diversity rather than a protest or a challenge, the chanting remained fairly generic (“Ain’t no power like the power of the people because the power of the people won’t stop —  say what?!”). But some had specific demands. “Education, not deportation” echoed among several immigrants rights groups, as well as signs calling for the repeal of SB 1070 — Arizona’s recent strict immigration law.

The march remained orderly, if lively. It was guided by volunteer marshals — distinguishable only by their yellow arm bands. Some were even children, helping to hold the line of marchers to the western side of Woodward Ave. Threat Management, the private security firm from Detroit’s east side, also acted as marshals. Dressed in their traditional uniform of gray camouflage pants, black spandex shirts, dark shades and ear pieces, they looked prepared to defend a bunker as much as keep marchers in line.

They inspired a female marcher to compose an impromptu song:”You’re sexy, you’re cute, take off your riot suit!” a section of the crowd chanted. But, after being told to stay inside the yellow lines, a young man with long hair stopped to shake a Threat Management guard’s hand and tell him, “We appreciate the work you’re doing.”

—Simone Landon

Two-wheel tour

From Ithaca, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Knoxville, Tenn., Traverse City and beyond they came to the Motor City with their bicycles.

And before the U.S. Social Forum officially kicked off with a parade of thousands down Woodward Avenue, a group of several dozen attendees pedaled the Motor City.

They rode about 10 miles and noticed our mural-adorned parking garages, our graffiti-embracing Dequindre Cut, our museums, the backside of Eastern Market and our considerate motorists who didn’t put up too much of a fuss when the “peloton” held up traffic.

With digital cameras in hand, they documented our streets — for better or for worse. The ride traveled from Temple Street and Woodward Avenue through the Cass Corridor, past Cobo Hall, along Woodward Avenue, down to the Riverfront and up the Dequindre cut to Eastern Market before rendezvousing with the parade.

With their bikes in tow for the week, many riders anticipated exploring more fo the Motor City. On two wheels.

—Sandra Svoboda

Symbolic coffins at DTE

Hundreds gathered in front of DTE Energy Center to protest the deaths of 17 people they alleged were killed by the electric company’s decision to shut off their power. Cardboard coffins symbolized the dead. Chants of “Gas and lights are human rights!” filled Bagley Street as the group fed into the larger march on Woodward.

(A company spokesman told Metro Times: “There have been a couple of fires that resulted after utility services had been shut off, but investigations that have taken place have made no connection between DTE Energy Services and the deaths or fires at any of these locations.”)

The melting pot of individual protesters, organizations and groups grew even larger at the McNamara Federal Building, where, among others, the Women in Black joined the march.

A nation-wide organization dedicated to the peace, Women in Black march once a month through Detroit, but decided to coordinate their efforts with the U.S. Social Forum.

As she joined in the march, Jane Bellezza, a Detroiter and member of Women in Black, couldn’t help but smile. She saw people playing flutes, banging on African tribal drums, walking on stilts, wearing masks and singing songs.

“I haven’t seen this many people in Detroit in years,” she said. “It’s nice, isn’t it?”

Bellezza feels the week-long Social Forum will be a wake-up call for the city, which she says is in desperate need of change.

Some have taken that idea of change to the extreme, calling the Forum a new revolution.

A man identifying himself as Samuel Prescott said it was time to take back the state from large corporations. Much like the Revolutionary War Patriot, he was decked out in full colonial garb.

But instead of proclaiming that the British were coming, as his namesake did nearly 500 years prior, he boldly shouted that “the people” were here — at least until Saturday.

—Mike Martinez

(Photos by Travis Wright, Sandra Svoboda and Mike Martinez)

Tags: USSF