Blogfinger

Paul Goldfinger, Editor Blogfinger.net

June 5, 2020.    Several thousand protestors were expected, and the police were out in force, but the disorganized and impotent event in Asbury Park, N.J. was washed out by a rain storm. Despite the weather, an estimated 1,000 orderly demonstrators showed up.

We were driving on Asbury Avenue late in the afternoon through an inner city neighborhood, but none of the local citizens showed any sign of readying for the event. On Main Street, some merchants were boarding up their shop windows.

We saw three young women walk by our porch after parking in the Grove.  They were dressed in black and carrying signs under their arms.

Most of the protestors were white kids from out of town whose signs said “No justice no peace” and “Black lives matter.”   Police tracking the origins of the event identified two high school kids who were pushing the gathering on Facebook, but their emails revealed poor planning with no provisions made for speeches, prayers or music.

The youthful revolutionaries were mostly well behaved and their idea of activism was to flip the bird at passing cop cars and yelling “F*** you.”

We wondered how many of those kids could actually enunciate a lucid point of view explaining why they were there.  Some were borrowing signs to pose for selfies. For them it was a social event.

It’s great to say, “Black lives matter,” but most of the demonstrators  probably have no idea that the AP Police Department is comprised of over 50% black and minority officers.  And that is true of many police departments around here where protests were held.

The official statement of the APPD says, “Members of the department are committed to the highest ethical standards and to providing public services with honor, integrity and respect.”

Why in the world did they pick A. Park?   This is the second time in one week.

Sami’s on Main Street in AP plays host to some wet stragglers. Paul Goldfinger photo.  Blogfinger.net.

At 6 pm a remnant was staying dry under a Main Street awning, yelling obscenities at passing cars.

One officer who was hoping for some excitement was just hanging around, waiting for his shift to end. He had concluded that this event was “a big nothing.”  And, a big nothing is just what was needed.

And, ironically, the rainy weather was truly lovely after all…..

DONALD O’CONNOR with an Irving Berlin tune: