History: 02/26/03 Youth Rec Center Protest
02/26/03
Youth Rec Center Protest:
The Day the Rec Center Didn't Close

At 2:30pm today the Rec center got a call granting them a 2 month extension. They got this call in the middle of packing up their boxes, a stack of flyers all set to announce the "unfortunate" closing. Our protest was set for 3 hours later today. Miss Deborah and Rose had been running around to see HA director Kelley, Director of Rec Neil Albert and HA guy Paul Rowe, so each one had on their desk a copy of the petitions of about 300 kids' names, a bunch of letters, and warning of the impending protest. By the way Krystal's daughter, Latia had organized the petitions and the letters herself.

So at 5:30pm, the kids have already painted a large paper banner that says "Help Save The Rec" in red white and blue bubble letters. We had several people from the local media present. We decided to do the protest anyways - but more as a party than protest. Everyone was so happy that the rec center wasn't closing yet. So there was this real spirit of accomplishment. Because kids had also been calling the Housing Authority and Parks& Rec themselves to tell them "Don't close the rec." All of it culminated into a clear and unified voice to the Housing Authority.

The days before kids had made a bunch of signs plastering the inside of the rec. so today at about 6pm, about 20-25 kids went outside with this glee on their faces, carrying the banner, and chanting in unison and with good rhythm "Save Our Rec! Save Our Rec" with smaller signs in red white and blue as well. The person from the local radio station kept the recorder running, one of the kids led with the bullhorn, they jumped and clapped, holding their fists up and I took a roll of film.

Outside, it was so cold, but we all tumbled outside of the rec and celebrated out in the snow. Damn it was great!

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created: 01/31/03 (tk) | modified: 01/31/03 (tk)