Continued from Tuesday.
The protest succeeded. We are in jail.
I cannot overemphasize how often we, the protestors, were, in our training, reminded—and subsequently reminded each other—of the supreme importance of maintaining silence in interactions with law enforcement. Silence or banalities, and even banalities were suspect. (Anything you say can be used against you.)
A chat in the back of the police van on the way to jail went something like this:
“Have you enjoyed the weather lately?”
“Wait. [lowers voice] Climate change…”
“…Does anyone know anything about sports?”
We did not.1
After several hours, we are released from jail.2
A few weeks after that, we are summoned to a meeting at the office of the district attorney.
We sit at a conference table. At the end of the table stands a representative of the state.
She says, “Do you know why you were arrested?”
Before I have time to remind myself to be silent or banal, an instant and shocking reply from the other side of the room:
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