Choice of words in news report was misleading
If anyone understands the power of words, it is a newspaper reporter.
So when Daily Bruin contributor Anthony Asencio describes a group of protesters walking three abreast at an almost strolling pace as a “mob,” I wonder why he wants to create the image of a large, disorderly and unruly crowd (“Workers demand rights,” News, April 4).
And then I wonder why Asencio writes that the “police patrolled the streets attempting to maintain the civility of the protest” when in fact the police were standing in groups along the periphery, looking almost bored. These very self-disciplined protesters responded appropriately to every one of the monitors’ directions to stay on the sidewalks, cross only at designated intersections, and keep moving in a given direction.
I even wonder why this reporter writes about a “huge” protest when there were probably no more than 100 people at any one time assembled on the small grassy area just south of the Medical Plaza.
Although I am neither a member of AFSCME Local 3299 nor a union organizer, I attended this amazingly well-organized rally because I am concerned about the plight of low-wage workers and the difficulties they face in getting fair pay.
I attended this extremely peaceful rally because I know that our very well-being depends on the people who clean our buildings, provide us with food, and ultimately create a habitable environment for each of us.
And now I wonder if this Daily Bruin reporter and I attended the same rally.
Lynn F. Kessler, Ph.D.
Clinical Research Associate
Department of Neurology
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Westwood protest inconveniences residents
As someone who regularly experiences the social activism in the Westwood area ““ especially around the Federal Building on Wilshire and on campus ““ I am exposed to a lot of issues and causes. I think this is a good thing.
However, I think activism can go too far when it completely interferes with city life and function, exacerbating already existing problems such as traffic.
Last Friday, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees labor union staged a protest at the intersection of Wilshire and Westwood boulevards, blocking one of the West Side’s major transportation corridors ““ during rush hour!
The union represents different employees of the University of California and is routinely active at UCLA. Apparently, the disagreement on contract specifics could not be worked out so the union decided to take to the streets ““ literally.
And leave the rest of us innocent bystanders mired in traffic for hours.
This kind of social activism and political expression does not generate any sympathy from me; it’s not some “honk for a free Tibet” protest that simply grabs your attention for 30 seconds when you drive by.
It’s one that obstructs the function and movement of this metropolis for hours and puts the lives of everyone on hold just for some small contract benefit.
I love the great country that we live in and in which we have these great freedoms, including the freedom to obstruct Wilshire Boulevard during rush hour.
However, I ask that these groups that wish to do so would consider the rest of us and find a means of expression that doesn’t interfere with our lives so much.
Mike Downey
Fourth-year, political science