At right, that’s Rachel Glass, in the International Association of Machinists Local 751 hall, in the 13th hour of the marathon “Bend It Like Booker” event she organized, with dozens of speakers. The person at the podium now is talking about the Constitution, and its first three words … “We the People” … noting the inclusivity of that phrase. As we walked in a few moments, Glass whispered big news … the inspiration for this marathon, New Jersey U.S. Senator Cory Booker – who spoke on the Senate floor for 25 hours last spring – plans to send a video to be part of this megastream. Meantime, the speaker is examining Walt Whitman‘s reverence for democracy – writing of “the great American lesson” and about what he envisioned doing “For you, O democracy!”
This has been under way since 10 am. WSB contributing photojournalist Dave Gershgorn stopped by in the early going, when Glass introduced U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, joining by video:
This event also can be viewed online as well as in person (yes, the doors are open on the east side of the union hall at 9125 15th Place S.) – tickets are available here.
Meantime, the speaker has gone on to read from Whitman’s work.