Live from the Time-Warner Center

I just returned from the picket lines today in front of the Time-Warner center at Columbus Circle in Manhattan. Since I had dragged along my kids we only marched for about an hour. Somehow Ava and Chet, 9 and 6, already understood the concept of the strike as civil disobedience. Just last week when I told them that it was too late for more Halloween candy they started chanting in unison, "We want dessert! We want dessert! We want dessert!"

I thought, therefore, that they would be more enthusiastic about marching with me. They were not. Fortunately some angel had baked piles of homemade brownies for us marchers and when my back was turned my son inhaled half a pan's worth. It was also cold today, upper 40s, but everyone in the line (except my whining kids) seemed to be in good spirits.

Finally I bribed my kids with the promise of presents from FAO Schwartz just down 59th Street if they let us protest for a few more laps.

Again today I was very proud of not only my union but the many SAG members that marched with us. I missed seeing Julianne Moore chatting with our own Nora Ephron, or Robin Williams, David Duchovny, Richard Belzer and Tamara Tunie of Law & Order SVU. However I did run into two of the actors in my play currently up at the Lincoln Center Institute there on the picket line in between performances.

Tomorrow we strike at another of the beast's bloated bellies, this time Fox. From 9-5 we're picketing News Corp. headquarters.

If you'd like to join us it's at 1211 Avenue of the Americas between 47th and 48th Streets.

Read more about the strike on the Huffington Post's writers' strike page.

Comments

[reedmaker]

I'm totally behind the writers, and hope the strike ends well for you.

Having said that, if you want people to feel any empathy for your situation, you might stop talking about how you buy toys for your kids at FAO Schwartz. Even if a joke, not so funny...

[sabocat]

Excellent sentiment. Inviting the public to join you on the picket line is the way to go. I'm curious if any other unions beside SAG have offered support. I'm an old wob, so if you give us more of a heads up we could put the word out to other wobblies in the nyc area to join you guys. IWW's are always on the lookout for a fresh picket line. You know what they say: the longer the picket line, the shorter the strike. Someone could even bring the giant inflatable rat!

[MadMoll]

See you there!!