Del Mar says No Luna Ticks
- Arthur Olson | Avenida Primavera
On October 18th, just like last June 14th, millions of Americans hit the streets to protest the policies and actions of the current president and his administration. In typical Del Mar fashion, our citizens were already ahead of the trending movement. Beginning this last April, a group of Del Mar neighbors and friends has gathered weekly to hold such rallies every Saturday from 11 am to noon. Through a network of face-to-face and email communication, this group has formed a consistent and growing effort to make their voices heard by the larger local community. On October 18, they joined the crowd of thousands in Carmel Valley. To this point, they have rallied in Del Mar 26 times and take the name “Del Mar Democracy Defenders.”
With signs, flags, whistles, cowbells, and shouts, a growing group of 30 or more gather on the sidewalks at the corner of 11th Street and Camino Del Mar, near the Del Mar Civic Center, in a spirit of neighborly friendship and solidarity. They show their signs and wave their hands to greet the steady traffic that halts at the stop sign there. An estimated 3,500 vehicles that pass in an hour stop and see the smiling faces of the individuals holding signs, some sobering, some humorous. They range from the polite to the provocative, pronouncing their feelings and opinions on the threats to democracy from issues such as funding cuts for science, health, and education, to corruption and the abuses of power.
According to the participants, reactions from the passing cars, trucks, and bicycles have been overwhelmingly positive, with lots of horns honking and thumbs up. Occasionally, there have been a few that register other hand gestures or vocalizations in opposition. Those gathered are guided by an understanding that they ignore negative reactions and avoid engaging in confrontation or debates, while politely sharing the sidewalk with any passersby. Both the City Manager, Ashley Jones, and the County Sheriff have supported the legality and free speech rights of those gathered on the city’s sidewalks. The sheriffs have been kind enough to observe the rallies, making sure that everything is peaceful and legal. The Del Mar Defenders of Democracy intend to continue to meet every Saturday and hope to see other neighbors join them.