I'm back from the Bates protests. Arrived at 6:20, all decked out for journalism. Had my camera, santa hat, flask, and everything. (I don't actually drink from the flask, but I feel like a war-hardened correspondant when I have it with me.)

Two separate protests. One was organized by about 20 or so middle-aged white people. They looked like experienced protestors, queuing up to give statements to the news folks and all carrying various signs. That one broke up by 6:45 or so to get some of the few remaining seats in the City Council room. That's a tiny room, incidentally.

The other protest was Students for Ethical Leadership. SEL was organized by Mr. Arsen Kitch, widely known as the blonde, dreamy looking member of Berkeley College Republicans. Hence, most of the attendees were Republicans, about 20 again.

Here's some crappy pictures I took. Why are these things always at night, when my photography skills are at their most meager?





News media dominated the attendance. All major local networks were there, plus **CNN**. Both the Patriot and the Daily Cal were there, with almost all of the latter's Editorial Board attending. Fun moment when the dapper Channel 5 guy directed the SEL protest to get on the steps behind him 'if they wanted to be on TV.' I saw Councilman Wozniak walk in, and an upbeat Mr. Katz hanging around outside. The meeting was so packed that Mr. Worthington had to push through to get in the doors, which were closed to anyone new coming in.

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