The mike broke down as Michael Tabor of the New York 21 got up to speak. A few people started chanting "Free Erika Fuck America," but they stopped after a minute.
When the sound system finally got going Tabor was angry.
"A couple of minutes ago you were chanting. Why has this chanting stopped? It makes no sense for us to be out here mumbling and silent."
"A lot of you out there just come to rallies and say 'All Power to the People' and go home and smoke dope and listen to Hendrix and wait for the next rally . . . but that's not how Bobby and Erika are going to be freed."
"After this is over some of you should go to your local gun store and pick up some M-18's or go to your local pig department and get some equipment there. Then you will really be ready to free Bobby and Erika."
I had been waiting for someone to say it. Really it is the only way the thing could be done now. But you knew it wouldn't happen out of this rally. In the background two cops, a black cop and a white cop, were telling jokes and laughing with a reporter. And that's the way it was the second time around.