Juneteenth and a protest

It was a great day for a parade and a protest.

The Black community gathered on the lawn of the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center for a Juneteenth celebration supported by the city.

Protestors gathered on Goat Island at Stedman’s Bluff to protest against President Trump on the day of his vainglorious birthday parade.

There were about 250 protestors gathered by the Tesla statue including people from Lockport, Grand Island and Philadelphia.

Several clever chants broke out, for example, “small hands, small feet all he does is lie and cheat” and “the only king is Burger King.”

Signs were creative as well “A Million Dollar Parade for a Draft-dodging Felon?”

Meanwhile, over at the NACC, there were at least 30 vendors and a crowd that seemed larger than the Goat Island gathering with food trucks, trivia games, presentations on Black History in Niagara Falls and more.

Asked why there were so few Black people at Stedman’s Bluff, one organizer said “because the Black community is all here.” He may have had a point.

If there was a law enforcement presence at Juneteenth I didn’t see it.

Meanwhile, on Goat Island, we had Park Police, Troopers and Sheriffs. A drone monitored from above. A half-mile away at the Park Police barracks more law-enforcement was staged with ATVs and a military style assault vehicle. They were ready to act or at least take an opportunity to sit around on a nice day and, I presume, collect overtime.

It was the biggest show of readiness since the Eclipse. Nothing bad happened then, either, but they were ready.