It's April 1965 - You're Gonna Start A Band - People Laugh - You Don't.

It's October 1970 - You're A Teenager - It's A Protest - It's Teargas

Seemed like a great idea at the time. Months away from turning 18 - months away from the Draft Board - Months away from getting "the telegram".

Everybody you knew was against the war - except for the jocks, none of the guys you hung out with were big on the war.

Everybody was protesting - marches, strikes, sit-downs - police. You wore a black armband to school.

Teachers looked at you sideways - the cool ones nodded quietly - the uncool ones threatened to call your parents.

You were a joiner - so when they stood in front of your school, handing out flyers for a big demonstration at UCLA, you were there.

You'll admit; it was fun. You and your friends jammed into your buddy's VW bus - girlfriends, signs, a joint mysteriously appearing - BMR on the radio - protesting was a lot more fun than watching it on TV.

Traffic jam into Westwood. There were thousands of you - you felt like family. You parked at the Federal Building even though it said No Parking. "Fuck authority figures!" was the reaction. You were defiant. You all grabbed placards and joined the march.

A lot of laughing - a lot of yelling - a lot of chanting - joints passed back and forth. A lot of cotton mouth. A lot of Cops lined up; stone-faced.

Bullhorns - you're too far back, you can't hear them - everybody's yelling - you're buzzed, people stop laughing.

And then there's running - right at you. Cops wearing gas masks, swinging billy clubs.

Clouds - eyes sting like a sonofabitch. Hacking. Everybody's yelling and screaming. Your feet feel like cement blocks.

You start to run and you feel like you're trying to get out of a vat of Pancake mix.

You're hit square in the face by a wet towel and two people are dragging you off.

Feels like hours - you stop coughing - your brain is clear and the car is gone.

They weren't kidding. The van got towed, just like they promised. You'll fish it out tomorrow, just as soon as you all raise the money.

You hitch a ride back home. Captain of your High School Football Team is driving. He thinks you're idiots. He's really against the war but don't tell anybody.

You find out the one who hit you with the wet towel was your girlfriend. You're taking back your vow never to get married - you want her to have your children.

You finally stagger home. Your parents saw you on the news. You're lucky you're turning 18 in four months. Your dad has given up. Your mother grumbles about how bad you looked on TV.

You collapse on your bed and flick on the radio. Face down in the pillow and the faint sounds of The Obscene Steven Clean wander into your head.

Maybe if you got married you'll get a deferment. She saved your life. She has a wonderful smile.

There's another demonstration in two weeks.

Can't wait.

And while the world is spinning quietly out of control, the sounds of KPPC and The Obscene Steven Clean fill the air for the next 25 minutes. All compliments of October 7, 1970.

https://pastdaily.com/2024/11/02/demonstration-its-october-1970-youre-a-teenager-youre-protesting-you-discover-teargas/