10. The White Night Riot
New year, new thoughts, Terrible Writing.
Gobusata gomen
That means, “Sorry for not writing for a while”. You know how it is.
I hope life remains well for you, or even a little better than the last time I wrote. My life is continuing apace. It’s mostly contra dancing and reading books, though today is the start of 15 days with no contra dance in the whole Chicago area. *stress*
How will I cope?
May 21 is the anniversary of a riot
TL:DR: In 1979, Dan White was given the lightest possible sentence for the assassination of San Fransisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. In response, the queer community rioted.
There’s a lot to this story and I just can’t do it justice by retelling it myself, so please consult the riot’s page on Wikipedia. There’s also a great film depicting the events leading up to the riots. You can probably get a DVD from your local library.
https://twitter.com/charlotteirene8/status/1660483480525094918
Every time I read about this riot, I learn something new.
Here are some tidbits that I’ve learned:
Dan White was a cop. There’s a history of police oppression of queer people that continues to the present, so that’s why you might hear some people say, “No cops at Pride!” (and I agree).
Dan White was the origin of the “Twinkie defense”. I remember hearing that phrase as a kid, and even then knowing that it was a ridiculous thing. Of course, the moniker is a mischaracterization, but nonetheless, the relative “slap on the wrist” for those crimes was egregious.
Cleve Jones was there. Cleve came through Chicago a few years ago and spoke at Sidetrack. I got a signed copy of his book, and then it was nominated & selected by my book club.
The conviction came one day before Milk’s birthday. It would have been his 49th.
(new fact for this year) The riots helped get Dianne Feinstein elected as the first female Mayor of San Fransisco. And now she’s the longest-tenured female Senator in office!
End Qualified Immunity
Dan White, former cop, killed those two elected officials with minimal consequences. Still today, cops across the country are protected from prosecution of crimes because of the doctrine of qualified immunity. It means that cops can commit all kinds of crimes with impunity. And it has to stop.
I first learned that word in high school
“Impunity” that is. We read it in Poe’s, The Cask of Amontillado. The main character has a family crest and motto that translates to “no one attacks me with impunity”, meaning “no one attacks me without getting punished”. This all comes up as he murders his enemy over an unspecified insult.
This is what’s happening again and again when cops (or an ex-marine) (or homeowners) kill people over any little thing. It’s horrendous and it’s evil.
Montressor is a villain.
Finally, a list
In issue 01, I talked about making lists like those in The Pillow Book of Seishonagon and I will continue the practice. Here’s one of my own prompts.
Songs which can be sung in a round:
Row row row your boat
Frere Jaques
Three blind mice
Have you seen the ghost of John
I love the mountains/I love the flowers
(By the waters of) Babylon
Rocka my soul in the bosom of Abraham
Make new friends, but keep the old
Please leave a comment with a round that I forgot!