The Times They are A-Changin'
The year I was born, 1964, Bob Dylan wrote and released "The Times They Are a Changin'." Growing up in South African during apartheid, I clung to the songs lyrics (I left at age 14, so I didn't ever get a chance to DO anything).
Fifty-six years later, Dylan's words have been going through my head for the past two weeks as I've talked to, watched, and listened to young people in Evanston courageously and unapologetically leading the charge for change.
Tonight the group of young people--Liana Wallace, Nia Williams, Julia Shoaf, Mollie Hartenstein, Sinobia Aiden, Maia Robinson, and Amalia--who organized and orchestrated a powerful, peaceful march and rally last Sunday that drew about 5,000 Evanston to the streets with signs and chants will address Evanston's City Council at 6 p.m. with their vision and demands for change, for racial equity, and for accountability.
You can "attend" the City Council meeting tonight on Evanston's TV channel 16. It begins at 6 p.m. At 4 p.m. today, please also attend OPAL's car rally outside the Civic Center, 2100 Ridge, that has been called to demand that City Council keep its promise to conduct a search for Evanston's next city manager as they agreed back in February, rather than automatically hiring its current interim city manager.
DE's Allie Payne will be live-streaming the rally. Here's Bob Dylan:
Come gather 'round people, wherever you roam And admit that the waters around you have grown And accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone If your time to you is worth saving Then you better start swimmin' or you’ll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin' Come writers and critics, who prophesize with your pen And keep your eyes wide, the chance won’t come again And don’t speak too soon For the wheel’s still in spin And there’s no tellin' who that it’s namin' For the loser now will be later to win For the times they are a-changin' Come senators, congressmen, please heed the call Don’t stand in the doorway, don’t block up the hall For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled The battle outside ragin' Will soon shake your windows and rattle your walls For the times they are a-changin' Come mothers and fathers throughout the land And don’t criticize what you can’t understand Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command Your old road is rapidly aging Please get outta' the new one if you can’t lend your hand For the times they are a-changin' The line it is drawn, the curse it is cast The slow one now will later be fast As the present now will later be past The order is rapidly fading And the first one now will later be last For the times they are a-changin'
