by Roy Edroso
"Where's Reverend Billy?" asked a young woman with a camera.
The acolyte who'd handed her a flyer for the Buy-Nothing day event at the north end of Union Square (detailing the activist Rev's "10 Commandments of Buylessness," and including a "Fun Page" of BND activities) thought a moment, then said, "Where would you like him to be?"
"Right here," the young woman said, pointing at the ground.
The acolyte -- who, unlike most of his comrades, was not dressed as an elf in green and red motley and Santa cap -- made a disappointed sound; magical thinking only works if the crowd cooperates. But the Reverend was on his way, and meanwhile his elves were getting up a dance party, encouraging the hundred or so attendees to "dance your debt away" on and around a "NOT FOR SALE" sign taped to the ground. Not many joined in, but the elves put their booties into it, rocking, prancing, and even break-dancing as the public address blared Motown. The crowd was at least vicariously warm as the Reverend arrived in his white suit, busted a few moves of his own, and then proceeded to the day's lesson. His electric bullhorn was weak, and his paper "First Amendment megaphone" did not serve, so his set it aside and just bellowed, stalking within the circle of listeners. He announced he'd been to Macy's at Herald Square and could report that Black Friday shoppers were down to "25 percent as many as they were last year." The crowd applauded. "Something very exciting is happening," he said. "This economic system... is stunned, in retreat." He told the crowd that at a Wal-Mart in Valley Stream, "a young store clerk who had the responsibility of holding back the crowds" had become a Black Friday casualty: "Suddenly the doors burst open and the young man was trampled and killed." Some people laughed; others told them, "it's true, it really happened." http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2008/11/reverend_billy.php
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