Then they brought in the fire department and sprayed the crowds with water to disperse them. Just watching the images made it seem like a battlefield. I'm sure everyone's intentions were to be peaceful, but the police that were engulfed in the early hours were understandably overwhelmed. It doesn't excuse their actions, but it definitely explains them. People got hurt, and the crowds didn't react any better. Part of the reason the city reacted with such force was because a couple of officers were trapped in their car. The crowds were literally rolling it over with the officers inside.
It made for a terrifying morning. The whole city seemed to be in an uproar. By the time Mom got me to work, Bryan was standing outside and was just sending everyone home. Max said all of her classes after lunch were cancelled since so few were even showing up. Campus security was everywhere making sure nothing started up on school grounds.
It's hard to believe all of this happened over a tree. I have to remind myself that the tree showed up fully grown, over night, in the middle of an intersection. Religious groups are calling it a miracle, a sign, an omen, or whatever other term they want to use to express the hope or fear they believe it should inspire. Apparently a lot of talk had taken place in the pulpits yesterday.
So while there were a lot of people protesting cutting the tree down, very quickly it seemed there were people who wanted to see the tree come down. They had even brought their own axes and worse. The fire department had to bring in multiple engines, and one of them got hit by a molotov cocktail. That's one image that has been seared into my brain is the side of the fire engine just erupting in flame. A second cocktail had been thrown at the tree, but it fell short and exploded over one of the barriers.
An officer had been hiding behind that barrier too. Firemen at the scene were able to respond, but she's in the hospital now recovering from burns. The police in the patrol car were beat up pretty hard, but nothing broken. That said, many more protesters were hurt. The officer that had pulled out a baton should face charges, he had broken more than one persons arm. But the injuries to the crowds were mostly self inflicted. A lot of people were trampled, fights had broken out and weapons were involved. Though I think the real miracle today was that no one was shot. Most of the weapons that had been confiscated were axes.
That went on for most of the day, but by three or four the city seemed to calm down. The police and fire department had enough force at the tree to discourage any further action there. Once the crowds fury died down, people seemed to quickly gather the sense to disperse on their own. What small groups remained actually stepped up to help those who had been injured.
While the people were helping out the injured, the city brought in a crew to cut down the tree. By five a new crowd had gathered around the tree, much more subdued given the events of the morning. The police were on high alert but no one tried anything. There are a few video's floating around social media of people filming the guy as he approached the tree with his chainsaw. As he started it up, it's like everything else went silent, and on any video the only sound one can hear is the growl of the saw.
I'm watching one now, the guy revs the engine making sure the saw is working, and then he looks around at the crowds before approaching the tree. Still, no one makes a noise. Though it almost seems like I can hear the wind as it rushes through the boughs of the tree, like the tree itself is sighing. Then the saw revs and screams like some terrifying beast. The man braces himself and brings the saw to bear. And as soon as the teeth touch the tree, it shoots sparks. Bits of chain shot out everywhere like shrapnel, and the saw itself was pulled from the guys hands. There was some scoring, and it seems some of the shrapnel actually came from the bark, but otherwise the tree remains unharmed. At the end of the video I can hear the guy who was going to cut the tree thanking God that he's completely unharmed. Never mind the injuries to the crowd and the fireman who was struck in the back by the chainsaw. Fortunately the fireman was protected by his gear, he got knocked over pretty hard, but is standing as the last frame of the video.
After that the tree has been pretty much left alone. The crowds that surround it now are much smaller, and more peaceful. The latest news reports them singing or chanting, I think someone mentioned them being a pagan group, Wiccan or something. I keep looking for Melia Floros, but I haven't seen any images of her or heard her name. I know she had been leading the protests early on, but she doesn't seem to be making the news now. I'm curious what's happened with her.
I'm also curious what Hal has to say, but I'll have to wait till next Saturday to find out. Unless he responds to my email. Or Friday, I almost forgot we were going to hit up that bookstore.
Max has been incredulous, and she's going on and on about any conspiracy she can think of. I feel like a bad friend for not telling her what I know, but at this point I'm not sure where to start. Maybe Wednesday when we get together. I don't know if we'll be able to see the tree, but hopefully we'll still meet up.
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