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NYCC 2018 Chaos

Opinion

By Trinity ShadowPublished 5 years ago 3 min read
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Photo by: NYCC Associate

Last month the second most popular convention came around, New York Comic Con (NYCC) had their weekend (Oct. 4-7) for fun and entertainment. The Jacob Javits Center once again didn't disappoint this year. Some faces that took a few years to come to NYCC such as Alex Kingston aka River Song from BBC's Doctor Who, David Tennant aka The Tenth Doctor from BBC's Doctor Who and Bartemius Crouch Junior from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, and Matt Smith aka The Eleventh Doctor from BBC's Doctor Who. The convention also had an old favorite and on Saturday (Oct.6) I experienced the longest intimidating line for this one person's autograph, Jason David Frank aka Tommy Oliver from Saban's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, which I took a picture with and got my white ranger limited edition boxed action figure signed.

Throughout the day, more and more people came through the doors of the Javits Center either with cameras ready, family cosplaying or the press picking and choosing which cosplayer they want to take for a photo shoot during the convention. Most people were creating lines in the lower levels of the conventions for autographs and photos for specific celebrities while other people were in the upper-level shopping for comics, books, action figures, shirts, jackets, etc. I was able to but new books, a mystery box as well as a mystery bag and other merchandise. After my heels caused me enough pain, my boyfriend and I decided to leave early to catch a movie once we got back to Stamford, CT.

Photo by: Me

As we made our way outside and left the Javits Center, right across the street on my right hand side I've noticed banners and a small handful of protestors. One banner was a "warning sign with two columns and listing in the two columns; homos, whores, porno freaks, m--bators, moneylovers, witches, liars, Muslims, drunks, sissies, the pope, ankle biters, gangsters, whoremongers, obey Jesus or hellfire" and below the banner are two chapters and their verses to indicate what they believe and what they are against due to the Lord's words. Another banner a young boy/man was holding which stated: "Feminists: Belong in the kitchen, are lousy mothers, kill their babies, promote homo, perversion, are whores, need to submit to their husband, support pedophilia, obey Jesus or hellfire."

Photo By: Me

I immediately felt wary, upset, and disbelief. I've seen protestors on V, but I never witnessed actual protestors and especially near the Javits Center. I had to look at my boyfriend a few times to really make sure that we were really seeing this together and wasn't a bad dream. More cosplayers and bystanders were moving along trying to grab the shuttle bus to get to the subway. One bystander told the protestor that he would be the one to go to hell.

I have nothing against Christians or protestors. We all have the right to the First Amendment: freedom of speech. Yes, I felt judged by these protestors as a female and as a cosplayer. It bothersome as an individual that this is their belief over a creative event and in some ways aiming this towards cosplayers and strong women role models. Because of the First Amendment and we are entitled to speak up for what we believe in, but that doesn't mean we have to actually agree with it.

Even though these protestors made me uneasy with their belief. I refused to let it try to fully ruin my day. Instead, I had a conversation with my boyfriend till we got to the bus in regards to how they are support systems that are judge free zones and a place to feel safe to open up to others. In all states, there's a place that is judge free and you can check on Google for a local area.

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About the Creator

Trinity Shadow

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