A weekend day in a major city is a sight to behold indeed. The city of London today proved no different; the energy was palpable. Tourists and locals alike filled the Tube stations and sidewalks, double-decker buses careened down the street filled with eager travelers and their equally eager cameras. Vendors were doing there best to make each transaction as uniquely memorable as possible for those looking to bring home anecdotal stories on their "perfect purchases." Yes, the usual suspects were all here today. There was, however, another group of people that I almost overlooked.
Prominently situated on the perimeter of Parliament Square near Westminster Abbey, sat 12 to 15 protesters. From what I could tell from their motley encampment of chairs and tents, the protesters were well-settled to make their message a strong one.
These protesters had signs and pictures protesting the wars of the world. Specifically mentioned were the loss of life in Iraq and the Israel/Palestine conflict.
During my observation, there was no dialogue or shouts of opposition to their demonstration. In fact, no one even approached the group. The average spectator just watched from across the street and many took pictures.
What I choose to interpret from this particular response of spectator-inaction to these protesters is that people accept these subjects to be legitimately protested. In other words, I choose to interpret that their inaction affirmed a shared idea with the protesters.
Andrew Martinez
Writer
Magazine Journalism
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