Lest anyone think the cops don't know what's happening on the streets, read this: Avalon Bar's anti-sobriety protest was slated to begin at 9 p.m. Friday. And it did. By 9:05, there were four people holding signs that read stuff like “There's a party in my pants” and “I'm drunk.” There was also a Costa Mesa Police Department van that slowed down to look at what was taking place. The officer took a good look at potential DUIs before making a left into the parking lot where Detroit is. Then the same cop exited the parking lot so he could drive past Avalon again.
I'd like to think the CMPD knew about the anti-sobriety protest because of the interview I did Friday with bartender Phil Popper. And since I don't know any better, I'm going to keep assuming that because it makes me feel good knowing the cops read my work.
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The cop didn't do anything because there wasn't anything for him to do.
All he saw was a few people holding signs and last I checked, that
wasn't illegal. Yet.
Because it was an anti-sobriety protest, someone from Avalon wrote
“Protest Here” in chalk in front of the bar. Other protests don't need
this sort of instruction because, basically, wherever you're holding
your sign is where the action is. But this was an anti-sobriety protest,
so people needed some guidance. And it worked.
The original protesters worked up quite a storm of momentum. They were
yelling stuff like, “Whew!” and “Hey!” at passing cars. Most vehicles
had no clue what was happening, but neither did the drunken protesters,
so it worked out well. A few cars slowed to see what the commotion was
all about, but can you believe not one single driver pulled over to join
the protest? I, for one, cannot. I mean, who doesn't want to stop what
they're doing to get impromptu drunk? That's the best kind of drunk.
The protesters were smiling and in good spirits, but no one protests
sobriety by walking in circles, so it didn't take long before they put
their signs into the dirt in front of Avalon and got inside, where the
real protesting took place.
Soon after, three new sobriety haters picked up the cardboard and
pounded the pavement. The ladies were very enthusiastic in their march,
but similar to their predecessors, a few minutes of vocal protest
quickly morphed into a protest of the liquid variety.
Inside the bar was your average Friday night anti-sobriety protest. And
by that, I mean there were people ponied up to the bar getting drunk.
Avalon Bar has these really cool coasters that say something like, “Hey.
My name is ___ and my number is ___.” I thought about sending a few of
these to some of the females in attendance, but I hadn't been protesting
hard enough to get the courage for that sort of thing. In all honesty,
there ain't an anti-sobriety protest loud or strong enough to give this
shy guy that sort of backbone. Had a lady sent one to me….
