Well, I got curious, as did some friends, so we headed over to the frat house to check out this protest. There were about 25-30 people there when we showed up about 2pm, holding handmade signs bearing messages denouncing the frat boys and mtv, while a couple of the protesters on hand held camcorders. To be honest, there were a few people on hand from a group called the Animal Liberation Alliance, an allegedly new focus group in town. There were also two sherriffs deputies "protecting" the house. Within about fifteen minutes of our arrival, a car pulled up with two women, a man, and a German Sheppard. A tall, shirtless, young man got out, kissed his girlfriend, then proceeded to walk toward the frat house, only to be told by the cops that he couldn't go in yet. He was shouted at and jeered by the angry group as he got back in the car. A few people tried to block the car and then another car pulled up behind the first, boxing it in. Things looked like they might get ugly when the second car suddenly moved and the first drove off without incident. As a witness to all this, I must honestly say, that certain of the demonstrators exhibited poor tactics, acting macho and tough without provocation or without first attempting dialogue, but that's just my opinion. Anyway after a little more macho posturing and a couple of chants through a bull horn, the crowd disassembled. We headed back to our car and drove off. Well, anyone familiar with Lake Ave knows it is a one way street which curves around and goes by the beach. As we drove, we noticed there were some of the protesters walking back with their signs. Two cars ahead of us was a grey, Buick Le Sabre. The occupant of this car, who looked to be about 45 y/o, wearing SF Giants hat, had 5 oclock shadow, and was heavy set, maybe 225 #'s. Anyway, this asshole, in the Buick, he slows down when he sees the protesters, and splashes them with something. They in turn picked up some rocks and promptly started throwing them at his car, connecting every time. He stopped to inspect the damage, briefly, shrugged his shoulders and took of again. Only when we drove by did we notice that he had thrown live fish at them. After a brief chase, this asshole was pulled over by the cops, but he claimed the rocks caused $1500 damage to his car, and so all parties declined to press charges. It is unclear how many fish were injured in this incident or if they survived. We can only hope.... The officer who was involved was quite candid, saying that the whole thing was stupid. The cop felt this guy was very immature, but that it wasn't a real big deal as "they were ONLY feeder fish." (emphasis added) For me, the entire incident is a sad commentary which highlights how humans believe they are the most important species on the planet. That a police officer thinks it not really a big deal if someone kills a live creature as joke is quite telling how they view you and I.
Until all creatures are free,
Vinny