This was my first major political rally, I don’t think I even went to a local political rally before.
The first of many rallies to come for Kamala Harris arrived in Oakland, CA Sunday and it attracted an estimated 20,000 plus attendees. The location is at the popular protest and Black Panther rally location, Frank Ogawa Plaza. I live so close I could walk there in under an hour, not that I would want to while carrying heavy camera equipment. Unfortunately, my cameras were useless, since the location was not built for more than maybe 500 people to be able to see the stage.
I arrived at 10:30 am, standing in a line that developed blocks back from 14th street to 16th and Broadway. There was no media access when I got there, and after going through a security check at around noon, I was not able to get press credentials. I was not like I tried too hard, I could have called some connections but was more content trying to get in on my own as a journalism student.
I walked up to what looked like a staff in the media area, and two journalists looking down at their phone just shrugged their shoulders and said they couldn’t help. I found two staff members who were given access. “Hi, my name is Michelle Snider I write for a local college newspaper called the Laney Tower. Is there any way I could get access so I can take a few pictures for the article I am writing?” I was told no, but maybe next time if I chase around a red-headed woman who was busy talking and walking away. Sure. I figured they had enough mainstream media there and a few local reporters at well-known outlets and attempted to find another way to get a decent picture.
I later learned that the same people who recently trespassed onto Nancy Pelosi’s lawn for a right-wing political stunt did get media credentials. There is a lot to learn here when it comes to gets political media access. In the live stream, Taiho Decker goes into an anti-media rant in front of journalists. About 40 minutes into the live stream, Decker is gradually moved out of the rally. It’s actually quite amusing. You can watch it on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/FrontlineUSA/videos/251128939147508/
What most journalists do is ask people questions like “Why are you here? Are you voting for Kamala Harris?” I’m going to ask less generic questions from people in the future. For now, I’m still just practicing and observing.
I like the idea of being street level with the people doing reporting. I will do more in the future. It was pretty amazing fellow journalism student Saskia Hatvany found me in a crowd of almost 20,000 people. Hatvany is one of my fellow Laney Tower staff writers and last years design editor. She does a great job following along and reporting with me.
My own take on this rally; bourgeoisie progressives. Take it as you will, but as someone who goes to rallies in Oakland all the time, what I saw was some very nice, well-intentioned people who came out for a political fashion show. They want to do what is right for the country but do not seem like the most severe issues like homelessness and hunger affect them more than what they may see going to work. I looked at myself as one, since I like to have nice things myself. But I realized the difference, I don’t have to have the most current tech, the most fashion-forward look, and I have suffered and struggled with housing in the bay area. A lot of people came from outside of Oakland.
I overheard one man excited he came from New York and was able to use his flyer miles to get here for under $5.00 somehow. That is worth bragging about if you can travel that much in life.
I was questioned several times while minding my business who I wanted to have for president in 2020. When I said I was just observing and letting the candidates show what policy ideas they had, that was not good enough. “Well if there was a candidate other than Kamala, who would you go for?” I had to prove myself knowledgeable enough to know politics before I’d get a nod of approval and was left alone. Personally, I don’t think it’s any strangers business to ask, but then again, that’s just politics and there really are no rules to the game of politics. Just ethics built on cultural approval. We all get lost in the mainstream, will we be able to check the rivers and ponds in our rush to elect a new president just shy two-years from now? It will be interesting to watch as we develop a new political culture.
