Hollywood Demo

The Hollywood protest seemed to lack something... ah civil disobedience, well, we solved that. There were about 70 of us, yet the police later on said 69... One by one we were picked out and plastic cuffs were placed on our wrists. On the bus we had to listen to the likes of the wave, which actually stated that 70 people were arrested at the Hollywood protest, leading to our cheers. We were detained on the bus for about 2-3 hours, with our hands strapped behind our backs and the circulation leaving our wrists. The two black men were treated very poorly, one's wrists were tied so tight that he began losing feeling in his shoulders, when he began to complain 4 cops forcibly took him away, we are trying to investigate further (NION). Some of us began to be booked, and instead of plastic cuffs they placed metal cuffs and chains upon them. They were going to be taken from the Hollywood station to Van Nuys because they didn't have any "space" or some bullshit. They began to call us one by one to book us, we got our mug shots, fingerprints, etc. Then we were taken to a room, for a few more hours, then we asked the police what is taking so long. They replied we don't know why you are here or what you're being charged for, we're trying to find this out (our tax dollars at work). We found out that the tickets and booking that the Deputies did is irrelevent and they have to put us into their system, the LAPD, so we would have to wait to be booked again. They took 44 people to the Van Nuys station, and there were 20 of us at the Hollywood station. There were also 8 juveniles being booked. We got out at 1am. I believe we were arrested around 4:30. The only torture we suffered though, was waiting, which I would do all over again. There are things much bigger than us at this time that we must recognize, bigger causes than the privelages we hold. In other countries right now they use police dogs, water cannons or tear gas to disperse crowds, we are very lucky to not have to go through the same mess. Why not sacrifice this privelege that so many take for granted and exercise our rights. Yet I could go on for the many reasons I decided to get arrested. All of us waiting in that room said why and still I believe we'd like to say more, because it's so important. Yet I believe next time I will wear warmer clothes. It was a great experience for me and I encourage everyone to perform the same action, especially if you believe you cannot make a difference or do anything, this is more a learning experience than anything else. Perhaps to dwell upon the Buddhist principle of enlightenment through suffering.