On Monday June, 17thon the East lawn of the Capital building, which Governor Cuomo’s office looks out upon, Debbie Rodriguez, Louise Wu and I, joined with over 2000 other people from all over the state to send a message to the governor. We want to be an example for the rest of the country, by banning hydrofracking in the Empire State, and directing our focus toward more alternative, sustainable energy sources. The rally was both peaceful and a bit joyous under the clear skies, as demonstrators encircled the capital building. Enthusiastic speakers filled the podium such as actress Debra Winger, and local activist Susan Steingraber who was jailed for her activism (see Frack Free Genesee.org). Natalie Merchant, the singer, entertained the crowd and led us in singing “This Land is Our Land”, changing the lyrics to reflect New York.
At first, our trip to Albany was uneventful, with good traffic and weather. During our ride over to the rally, our army veteran, card-carrying NRA shuttle bus driver engaged us in spirited conversation sharing his experiences as an MP at the University of Mississippi in 1961 when it was forced to desegregate. As the rally concluded, gray clouds moved in, the winds were high, and a micro-burst hit the area. Seeking refuge in the Mall, we found that cell phone service was down due to the violent weather. We finally got cab, and made it back to our hotel, but found that it was-without power. The sun had returned though, and things improved quickly. Overall, it was an inspiring experience-being a part of democracy in action.
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