APRIL 22, 1970: THE FIRST EARTH DAY

A marvelous recollection from Richard Grayson of the first earth day in Prospect Park. Grayson, the author of, "TO THINK THAT HE KISSED HIM ON LORMER STREET," copied a page out of his diary from the very first Earth Day in Union Square in 1970. I remember that day - vividly and vaguely if that's possible - I was in Union Square with I don't remember who. That was a long, long time ago. Another time.

I don't know what I will be doing for Earth Day in Prospect Park this year, Louise, but this post made me get out my 1970 diary. If this is not too cheesy, here's an excerpt from the entry for Wednesday, April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day:

A warm & sunny Earth Day. Mark called & asked me to come with him to the Union Square rally. Mayor Lindsay closed off 5th Ave. & 14th St. to traffic & the crowds were enormous. But I didn't feel like getting into so big a crowd & went by myself to the smaller Prospect Park rally.

I parked the car on 8th Ave. & walked to the meadow. A singing group called the Smubbs, dressed as pigs, sang about pollution. They also sang a song to the tune of "Give My Regards to Broadway" that was "Give my regards to Brooklyn / Remember me to Bartel Pritchard Square."

Then Gov. Rockefeller made a speech saying, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the pollution." He had a lot of trouble with hecklers...

Walking back to the car when the rally ended ended, I was stunned to see Rocky waving to me from a bicycle! Too bad I'd used up all my film.

Dad came home and said he was booed by the crowd as he drove through the streets near Union Square and people banged on his Cadillac. The TV reports said the crowds were disappointing. It remains to be seen what will be done about our environment.
--Richard Grayson

PHOTO FROM 1970 EARTH DAY

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