What Were They Guarding Except Maybe Their Over-Time Pay Checks

After delivering, I go with my friends to the anti-bioterrorist laboratory demonstration and march. Boston university, I believe, is scheduled to be build a high-level bioterrorism lab in the middle of Roxbury, of course, a poor neighborhood predominantly of color. First of all, why should we develop such a lab anyway, and secondly, such labs normally exist in isolated areas not in the middle of cities.

The turnout in yet another neighborhood park was exciting – from the very young to the very old, mostly people of color, some white folks, lots of tables and I forgot my CodePINK bag of goodies - tears! The spinal cord is there, looking just as powerful. and of course the police, lined up on either side of the park, rows of bicycles this time, with corresponding rows of police. The biking men in uniform do not have on full riot gear – those full riot gear cops are lined up out front of the park.

It looks again like the police are out-numbering the participants, even though there are a couple of hundred demonstrators, I’m guessing. A couple of helicopters circle above. There is a stage where performers, spoken word artists and community activists present the case against the laboratory. The congresswomon from that district spoke eloquently and powerfully about the community’s responsibilities and duties in defeating this awful laboratory and how close they were to success! Several other community activists and leaders spoke about the continuing efforts to prohibit the building of this horrendous lab. We heard singers and poets, watched dancers and actors, and were inspired by the testimonies of young and old detailing their efforts to stop this lab. On the outer edges of the demonstration were tables with lots of organizations’ information as well as stickers that said “I live within _____ mile(s) of the lab and I don’t want it here!” Of course, I took a bright pink one and filled in 3453 miles!

Then we marched, following the loudspeaker that was actually great, unlike the obnoxious crackling ANSWER loudspeakers – grrrr. We marched around Roxbury, thru the surrounding neighborhood streets that were a few blocks away from the proposed lab site, gathering neighbors and support as we marched. When we approached the actual proposed site, yet another helicopter appeared as did tons of riot police in full gear. They stood shoulder to shoulder across the driveways and sidewalks surrounding the desolate lot housing only heavy equipment and towering piles of orange dirt and rubble (already contaminated?) – the site of the future lab.

What were they guarding, except maybe their over-time pay checks! It was unbelievable. The march continued on thru the BU campus. A short academic type white man in a dark suit yelled out something like “This will bring money to your community”. We roared, of course and yelled back: “Bring the money to your own community why don’t you?”

We returned to the park all too soon! That was rewarding and inspirational!!