"... to the peaceful, life-giving society we seek to create."

We pass by a line of police officers and slowly move downhill to the administration building, singing Holly Near's "We are a gentle angry people, and we are singing, singing for our lives!" In the brick-lined courtyard, we form a large circle, shielding the center from police visibility.

Someone tosses a boxed tent onto the grass, with its clear directive: "assembly required." Many pitch in, calling out numbers, aligning the poles. Finally the tent is completed and a community sukkah has been erected, that ancient symbol for those forced to wander in makeshift shelters.

Two hours have passed, and I am exhausted. I walk past the police line to my car in the vast, deserted lot. I learn later that several people have been arrested for sitting in this sukkah, but no mention of it is made on the evening news. I hear reports only of the "Blue Angels," a fire in the Mission district, and a poll conducted by the local newspaper listing the top ten names for dogs.

Abby Caplin, MD, practices mind-body medicine in San Francisco, where she helps people living with chronic illness lead empowered and vibrant lives. 

Please note: the italicized quotations in this piece came from a flyer produced by Religious Witness with Homeless People in San Francisco.