55 Days of Occupy Philly: Day One

I will be posting these for each of the 55 days of Occupy Philly on Dilworth Plaza, from October 6, 2011 to November 30, the night of our eviction.

To view all posts to date, Click  55 Days of Occupy Philly.

10/6/11
Thursday
Up at 5:15 AM 40 minutes to eat and be out the door. A personal grocery cart with poster boards tarps an upholstered cot mattress put out for pick-up outside the shop on Passyunk. Have blocks there too but will have to have someone with car to pick them up.
7:00 AM
… on Dillworth plaza police gates to courtyard closed

Glassy towers gleam in morning sun TV trucks helicopters – spread tarp SW corner loaf of bread 2 small jars of peanut butter – loaves & fishes! food for thousands 5:00 PM nap on cushion drummers drumming people gather to talk & talk & talk – numb from lack of sleep – quilted blanket under invisible stars to drum beats sliding into dreams approaching dawn how strangely quiet shadow form of sleepers murmur of the city waking buses queuing up on 15th Street for the first run street vendor’s carts back over the curb walk in morning darkness told the Mayor came to visit some time after midnight – two boxes of Dunkin on the table – breakfast under way. The day begins
7:50 AM
On Dilworth Plaza – Police—a strong but discrete presence. Not quite “invisible” but making a show of force not the plan. Entrances to City Hall closed. Sky absolutely clear—in the 50’s—say it’ll be 70 before day is over. First one here… waiting for peeps in Food Working Group. TV news trucks here – more visible force than cops.
5:00 PM
Took a little nap on the cushion I brought in my grocery cart this morning. Helicopters overhead. Drums, people talking. People talking. People talking.

Last meeting after breakdown—food put away as best we could manage. Boxes stacked on tables. Worry about rats. Plans for tomorrow. Turns for breakfast, lunch… food teams become servant class if we don’t give each other relief to go to GA’s, be part of the community conversation. Exhausted. A 19 hour day. More a part of food group end of day, less of the facilitators—exhausted. numb—so numb, sleep walking—deliriously happy—and ready for sleep.

Day One Occupy Wall Street to Philly October 4–LINKED HERE