To the strains of "Also Spake Zarathustra," the theme from "2001--A Space Odyssey," we gathered at the only public school left in Seattle where the art of community is still practiced--Seattle Central Community College on Capitol Hill. A Seattle Police Mobile Unit van was waiting to greet us as we met to celebrate the turning of the year. A fife and drum core circled the square, eagerly awaiting the Infernal Noise Brigade to lead the march downtown.

The Monolith people were there, fresh from a guerilla installation of a nine-foot black monument in Magnusen Park. The theme of the evening was Stanley Kubrick's "2001." We hoped for a reawakening of an evolutionary progression that, according to Arthur C. Clarke, should have happened millions of years ago. We chanted for a new millennium with "People Power" as its prime directive. International labor solidarity and human rights, freedom of public assembly, and freedom of the human spirit were our main topics of discussion.

Unfortunately, the Seattle Police Department shut down the main event. After marching gloriously down Broadway with the anarchist band, those of us who went to retrieve the New Year's Eve monolith were spotted by police surveillance helicopters. A large SPD officer smoking a cigar approached us and told us, "The Captain is down here and he doesn't want this to happen like last year. I'm afraid you won't be able to unload your monolith." He was referring to the protest march and fire display that took place on New Year's Eve 2000 after Mayor Paul Schell had canceled the city's official Millennium celebration.

As helicopter spotlights followed us up Pine Street back to the college, I was struck by just how familiar this whole scene has become. Living in Seattle in the last year has introduced me to the police state which Gore Vidal warned me about two years ago at a presentation here at Town Hall. I had complained about police state tactics used against me during my arrest at Benaroya Hall (at my own performance) and he said,

"Well, when did you finally wake up, dear fellow? I dare you to visit any US airport and travel without proper ID and a thorough search of yourself and your belongings. We have been living under a police state for quite some time."

Given my experiences at N30, 1999 and 2000, and Mardi Gras, I can readily agree. Pepper spray and projectile weapons seem to be par for the course by this time in our city. And when I saw the riot cops on the streets again for the New Year's Eve celebration 2001, I realized just how accustomed we have become to robocops and riot gear in Seattle. It has gotten to the point where I expect to see such displays of serious force at any creative public assembly. Have we really lost our rights to this extent?

Let's hope that when citizens gather at Westlake Center at 1PM on January 20, 2001, to participate in national protests against the inauguration of George W. Bush, the police will stay as far away as possible and allow people to gather peaceably to petition the government for redress of grievances as per the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution.

We should demand nothing less!