August 27, 1968
by Amy
at 10:30 a.m.
Word is that Johnson is coming to Chicago. Everyone has been talking about it all day. "We have to make sure he isn't coming! He can't come! They want to nominate him!" The Yippies are going to have their Un-Birthday Party for Johnson, since it's his birthday. I don't know what the plan is with that, except it's going to be funny. That I do know.
I also know that we're going to march to the Amphitheater tomorrow. We plan on being nonviolent. Still. But honestly, no one is turned on by nonviolence anymore. No one wants to get their heads bashed in. They want to fight back. There really is no point in going to slaughter. Or, as Glasses says, "There's nothing more useless than a dead organizer."
So people are beginning to arm themselves, at least for defensive measures. They have vaseline for the tear gas, football helmets and padding. Women don't wear jewelry. There's a whole lot of people here who aren't regulars at our Induction protests. They tend to be the troubling ones. I don't know what we can do about this, as it feels like things are out of control. Glasses assures me that it isn't. It's only the illusion that things aren't in control. They want us to be afraid and confused, but it feels like this is far bigger than we are.
****
at 1 p.m.
I have not gone to many of the speaker rallies. We have had quite a few people give some great speeches about peace and nonviolence. I bumped into Lesley, who told me that our women's group will be meeting tomorrow afternoon. We want to use this time to talk to other women about how things are within the Movement. There is no time like now to reach out to women from around the country. There is a diverse group here.
****
at 6 p.m.
Glasses is still being followed and he's given his notes to Coleman and me. I'm still being followed by Kid, who wants to know (constantly it seems) if I need help. Or maybe we can go on a date. Good God.
****
at 9:30 p.m.
The ministers and priests who support us, who are appalled at how many people are being beaten up here at Lincoln are now gathering in the park. They are going to challenge the curfew. People have pleaded with them to PLEASE not do this. The police don't care about God or ministers or nuns or nothing. I'm so afraid someone is going to get killed. These people don't deserve this. They don't deserve it.
I don't want to know what happens next.
