Today, we stand together. While certain historical precedents can be cited, most historians acknowledge that our political times are unprecedented. The challenge now is to find an effective way forward.
The groundswell of dissent made a mark today with the Hands Off! protests across the United States. 150 different organizations coalesced tens of thousands of citizens in over 1200 cities across America to send a message to the president of the United States, the representatives in government, and to the people around the world that we will not remain silent or be complicit in what is happening in our nation. (By contrast to where I stand, the president spent his day in the sun with the Saudis on the golf course while several thousand people in Kingston, New York stood drenched in the rain to speak out against the last 8 weeks of his executive actions.)
I came with my recorder to talk to the participants and asked them to share with me their concerns. My intention in doing this is to go beyond the surface of the gathering and provocative protest signs and hear the range of protests and emotions in the voices of the people assembled. The concerns varied from worried, fearful, distraught, angry, sad and confounded. I admit: those of us on the “losing side” felt like we were sucker-punched on November 6 when the election results came in. We felt a strong sense of defeat, exasperated by the fact that Trump could sling such cruel aspersions on Democratic candidate and repeated lies and still win the election. Until after the inauguration, most of us did not fully process the consequences of his “victory.”
Tonight, I sit alone writing this and wondering again to myself, just as I did before the rally, what difference will any of this make? I hear most of the voices in a tone of desperation and anger. I hear a few reasoning voices telling me that these gatherings will make a difference by virtue that they are bringing people together physically in large numbers to reinforce each other’s commitments to the resistance.
What may be unique about this time of protest is that the place is not a single venue like Washington D.C. but 1200 venues across the country in which organizers have joined together and enlisted social media networks. The successful turnout of multiple gatherings fortified the network of peoples in a common cause.
My immediate concern is that it’s a protest against what Trump is doing, and not focused more on what is needed. I would have been more encouraged if I’d seen more people of diversity, young people and immigrant people in the midst. Yet, I do realize that without Trump, the return fight for democracy might not happen because of a kind of complacency that settled after the 1980s and remained intact until Covid and now the second Trump presidency.
So where does this one day in the continued struggle to protect our freedoms bring us? The experience today leaves me with a sense of obligation to spur others to join the resistance, to show their support for what we might pay lip service to. This protest stands for what is vital to the American way of life: civil liberties, immigrant rights, social security, health care, freedom of speech, fairness and equality, reproductive choice, and protection of the environment and public lands.
However, we must not forget the voices of the people who have fewer privileges, less access to health care, education and fair wage. Looking at the demographics of the people standing today in this park, we should rededicate our efforts to a future that includes people of all “walks of life.”
At the end of the rally, I encountered a participant who expressed distrust when I asked them about their concerns. How unlikely it must have sounded when I told them that I was recording sound bites to shape a more meaningful memory of the day’s event. And I hoped to share it with the organizers.
“How do I know who you are? What organization are you affiliated with? I will not talk to you,” they said in a disdainful way. I glanced down at their sign that read “Resist Tyranny, Oppression and Aggression”. Surprised by their suspicion , I replied, “I find it disturbing that I come to this event as an individual without affiliation with any group but the Democratic Party, as a citizen of this country concerned about our freedoms and democracy, and you will not engage in civil discourse. I understand that your distrust prevents you from sharing your feelings and thoughts.” And for a moment, I felt a profound sense of discouragement that Trump and his loyal entourage had succeeded with their intent; to silence people with his intimidating tactics.
April 5, Kingston, NY