THE WETTEST J DAY IN CHRISTCHURCH EVER IN 12 YEARS OF J DAYS, AND SURPRISE
SURPRISE THE POLICE DID NOT COME!
Yes there have been wet J Days but never like this where we all got wet up
to our knees just by absorbtion of so much rain from the ground.
That morning we all agreed that it was too wet for the bands and they all
cancelled out. We looked out at the hail and sleet earlier on and thought -
no
way is this going to clear. Alan Liefting of the Green Party rang and said
to call him if it was going to be on.
We rang each other and decided that we still had to go down to Latimer
Square for host responsibility, since we had booked the Park and in case
somebody turned up.
We took the minimum of props with us as we did not think we would be there
very long. Pete with his bus would also meet us down there. We figured well
at least we can have a cup of coffeee and a piece of the 3 x cakes I baked
the night before, while thinking positive thoughts about the weather turning
around,
from wet to fine, as it can do that very quickly in Canterbury.
But it was not to be. The weather set in wet and there was no escape.
Paula, Mike and I turned up a little late as we were also stuck delivering
guests to the city at that hour. Pete was there in his bus, some other
people put up a tent, and others rushed back to their car to get that blue
tarp. OK we thought about 20 odd people tyrned up and we thought we would be
there for an hour at most. But no, to our surprise people just kept on
arriving in bunches of twos, threes, fours, fives and sixes, so we kept
rotating some of the people through the bus and the van to try and take
turns at getting out of the wet, windy and cold weather.
It was a good thing that we decided to come, as it did turn into a full on J
Day with 'hot boxing' Petes' bus several times over with lots of guests. We
managed to get around 30 people in there at one time. Pete said he was
impressed as to how well behaved all the young people were, by being very
respectful of his possessions in the bus.
To our pleasant surprise,we also reiceived some distinguished guests, an ex
undercover policeman who is speaking out against the way police under cover
operations were done, and also a couple all the way from Nevada turned up as
well as some European Buskers and Sugra.
Who would have thought on such a cold and bitter day ? We were impressed.
Everyone was offered coffee and cake. It helped warm us up and some good
conversations were had.
There were many' Highlights' of the day, as you will see by some of the
photos. Nev's flat tyre, guitar being played under the blue tarp, Hotboxing
the tent, Hot boxing Mum's car with "Blondie", and Mum waiting patiently in
the cold on the outside! ( Wish all Mums were like that), but the best story
was from a guy who brought some nice 'blueberry' to share.
He said they turned up at midday to Latimer Sq, but no one was there, ( we
were a little late), so they panicked and went rushing back to Cathedral
Square thinking it was there. However when they arrived in the Square, a
traditional J day protest venue, they saw nobody was there for J day.
So puzzled they jokingly sent one friend into the Police Kiosk to ask the
the Police if
they knew where J Day was? The Police answered confirming that the event was
being held in Latimer Square, not Cathedral Square and pointed him in the
right direction. Wasn't that nice.
All up about 120 people would have streamed through over the day from 12.00
midday to 5pm.
They were mainly young and enthusiastic. Many took voting information away.
We feel heartened and encouraged.
So the Police knew we were there, but left us alone, respecting our right to
our protest... or was it just too cold too bother? Whatever it was we feel
it was a Victory for us, the freedom fighters, on the front line of the
Prohibition/Drug War.
Thanks to all brave and hardy contributors.
Irinka
Thankfully the weather was better for an ALCP stall as part of International Hepatitis Day in Christchurch's Cathedral Square.
