Create Jobs, Not Drama

On August 1, 2011, a group of 26 activists from VOCAL NY, Community Voices Heard and the National People's Action embarked to Washington D.C. to draw attention to the economic needs of the citizens of the United States. On this day, the House of Representatives was conducting a debate on the National Debt Ceiling. This debate would determine if the U.S. would default on its current debt. It also meant that I may not receive my disability check on August 3.

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Robert Tolbert is a board member of VOCAL NY (formerly New York City AIDS Housing Network), a North Star Fund grantee since 1999.

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(In many ways, this prefigured the Occupy Wall Street encampment, which began six weeks later, on September 17.)

We originally planted to protest in front of the Republican National Club, hoping that influential Republicans would be in attendance. On arrival to D.C., we determined that we would have a greater impact by going to the debate and expressing our views there. Knowing that there was a risk of arrest, five participants were still willing to unveil a banner reading "Boehner, GOP, create jobs not drama. Tax the super-rich and make Wall Street pay!" The job of the other 22 people was to be present and observe the proceedings on the floor. My particular job was to be a media spokesperson for the group.

Upon entering the Capitol Building, we were escorted to Gallery 10, in the rear of the arena. We noticed that Capitol Security profiled us the moment we entered, and put us through security measures that no other visiting group had to go through. The ladies were not allowed to carry their handbags and no one was allowed to carry a cell phone or camera. When we were seated, we noticed that other groups were allowed to bring their personal articles. Sitting in the last two rows, the 26 of us were watching the proceedings when the five designates stood up, unfurled the banner and started to chant "Boehner, get off it! Time to tax those corporate profits!"

At that point, security personnel tried to wrest the banner from the protesters' hands. While doing so, an officer yanked the banner and flipped one of the protesters, Jaron Benjamin, over a row of seats and on to the floor. The rest of the contingent was told to exit the gallery, and while complying with the order, our 22 observers were arrested, too. I sat in the corner of the gallery and did not move or speak during the entire action, but after everyone was escorted out of the gallery, another security officer pointed at me and said "Take him, too. He was one of them."

While being processed at the D.C. Metro Police station, the arresting officer, Michael Fox revealed that he had profiled the entire group when we came to the floor saying he thought he recognized us from another action. (The nerve!)

The group hereto known as "The Catch 22," was arraigned on August 19 and were offered a diversion program that included community service and, get this, three negative drug screens! Stay tuned to see if the "sacrificial lambs" will be slaughtered or vindicated.