Day 210

June 1, 2020

Today I went for a run the minute the curfew allowed, 5:30 AM. Ran my usual route and one would think nothing happened yesterday. Perfectly manicured lawns were undisturbed. Not a single broken window. All the Teslas and Mercedes were neatly parked in their driveways. Not a soul to be seen, just as any other morning.

At about 8:30 I grabbed my camera and headed toward downtown Santa Monica, there I saw very different story. There were lots of people walking around with brooms and dustpans, cleaning supplies and masks. All volunteers trying to help the business owners clean up. Busted windows were being boarded up, glass was being swept away. Spray paint was being wiped off. Seemed as if everyone was out to help with the clean up. It was actually very reassuring to see. A community coming together.

But as I got closer to the pier, a very disconcerting sight loomed ahead. The National Guard was everywhere, in full combat gear and carrying very large guns; mostly guarding the shopping mall and the pier. It was really odd to see military uniforms guarding Bloomingdales and the Arclight. Or City Hall for that matter. I never thought I’d see the day, but in this new world, clearly anything can happen. As I approached the pier, pictured above, I was told I couldn’t cross beyond the parked National Guard truck onto Ocean. So I went back around the mall, headed south and cut through Tongva Park. From there I worked my way north on Ocean to the corner of Broadway. Turns out there was a press conference happening and the clean up volunteers were being given instructions. Apparently, if I’d had a broom with me I could’ve gone anywhere I wanted. Regardless, I talked my way over. I did get a warning to stay away from the white powder on the ground because it was a very potent irritant. And yet, it was used on the protesters the day before. Once I made my way to the northwest corner of Ocean and Broadway, I realized there wasn’t much to see. Press vans and reporters doing interviews and volunteers cleaning up. But to see the National Guard at the pier, fully armed, was just disturbing. Definitely a sight I will not forget any time soon and hope to not ever see again.