clown's nose

the son leads the way to the park, to the scene of the demonstration. The sound of the speakers is to be heard from quite a distance, seeing that the demonstration is to take place in the park down by the river. There is a strange stage with coloured lights and a man talking there. It is cold, windy and it is snowing. The man has a captive audience of his followers and five small busloads of police.

Civil liberties are what they demand and restriction caused by the governmental attempts to contain the virus is what they are complaining about. It is a strange feeling to be facing people who believe that they have the right to spread what is a deadly disease.

Perhaps more than just a little bit selfish.

Take a picture of the stage, and a man approaches, he wishes to prevent pictures being taken . He is wearing a black mask. He is also wearing a ludicrous red nose. A nose made of plastic. A clown's nose. He raises his hands to form a heart shape in front of his face. This is the symbol that the Ukrainian protesters used. He is standing really close now. His eyes are narrowed, he is feeling agressive.

But things were different there, and they remain different. There in the Ukraine.

Take a picture of his hands, with the red nose showing through. Then walk back home with the son. It is too cold to watch these people, the demonstration is breaking up anyhow.