Laura Jedeed (Misanthrophile)

An announcer steps forward to announce the agenda for this gathering She thanks Joey Gibson, David Anthony, Audra Price, and a couple names I don't catch for making this event possible

My mask stands out here. "Are you a BLMer?" an older woman asks. I say I'm a journalist. She is not impressed She tells me her daughter is a BLMer but she loves her very much. We talk about how sometimes families disagree with each other but love each other anyway

A prayer for Jay. It talks about how Jay was on a quest for justice, and compares his quest to that of Paul the Apostle The prayer asks God to grant that everyone here seek the same kind of justice with "kindness yet firmness"

The older woman takes a video of me and describes me to her audience as "a BLMer" Cool

The crowd here is mostly what I'd describe as the family-friendly face of the right. Men and women who look like they could be your aunt or uncle--as opposed to the militants who look like they belong on an Idaho compound A few folks in body armor. No obvious weapons

The kids performing the acoustic number are clean-cut: that Christian look I remember from my own childhood in Colorado. All the kids here have that look I remember the shit I was up to while I looked that squeaky clean. I hope they're being careful. Christ I'm getting old