An opinion piece by Elizabeth Roberts-Zibbel
The sight was arresting. Frightening, even. A solitary masked figure, seated in a red cloth folding chair near a busy downtown intersection, a black bowler hat on his head and a green, Guy Fawkes style mask covering his face. Both middle fingers extended, pointing directly toward the Bowling Green Police Department.
In the unremitting midday sun cars slowed while drivers and passengers gaped. I myself drove around the block twice, almost as though what I’d seen must have been a mirage, and would disappear. What struck me about this man was his resolute stillness. He had a statement to make, and he wasn’t going anywhere.
From a journalistic standpoint, there wasn’t much of a story. Chief of Police Tony Hetrick stated that the protestor is “upset with government corruption.” He explained to the chief that he has disabilities but felt well enough to be there, and as he wasn’t doing anything illegal, Hetrick let him stay. He would not remove his mask, but said his name is Alvin.
Struggling with a disability myself, I certainly understand the frustration of government red tape, and I can’t imagine what other specific indignities Alvin has suffered. However, it’s hard to imagine our Not In Our Town-involved, “Coffee With a Cop” approachable police department being the enemy in this scenario. I’m not sure it matters. Alvin chose a symbol of authority at which to direct his anger, in this case only his presence and an unmistakable yet nonviolent gesture. But his solitary protest is indicative of so much rising desperation and unhappiness in this country. For us today in BG, it was Alvin in a mask. Elsewhere recently, it’s mass shootings targeting the LGBTQ community; increasing cases of police brutality against people of color and resulting Black Lives Matter protests; the sniper targeting police at the peaceful demonstration in Dallas; even the Brexit vote in the UK… chaos is erupting everywhere. People are angry. People are scared. People may not even care exactly what they are voting for or that the targets of their fury are not necessarily the appropriate ones. People want change.
The story worth telling here is that fury; the increasing frustration with authority, the government, and the status quo. With the upcoming political conventions, and of course the presidential election itself looming ever closer as polls show Clinton’s lead narrowing in the all-important swing states, Ohio included, we should all be taking this desperation and frustration very, very seriously as we contemplate what may be coming next.
