Some people may think protests are pointless. To those people I would say, have you ever attended? Have you ever experienced the pride of knowing you are not alone in your disgust at the current world, and simultaneously not alone in your hope for a better one? Did images of the April 5th Hands Off March, with a vast turnout across the country, not make headlining news for multiple days in a row? Were creative protest posters not adorning your social media feed, swipe after swipe? Do protests not get people engaged? Do they not lead to meaningful discussion? Do you not feel the change in the air?
I can tell you what attending protests has done for me, and it certainly has not been pointless. I have known nothing closer to a place of worship than taking to the streets with my neighbors. From small town Black Lives Matter rallies in central Massachusetts to marching for a free Palestine in the streets of Raleigh, to the Hands Off March in Boston to protest fascism in the US, I have been surrounded by people with shared values. I have been surrounded by people who make “good trouble” by pointing out injustice and instead of offering hatred, offer tangible solutions. They offer an outstretched hand and say, come with me, we can do this, together.
Arm in arm, I have chanted with amazing minds, I have marched with strong hearts and with eyes wide open I can see that a brighter future is possible thanks to the visionaries around me. How profane that we should have to build this collective to fight tyranny rather than prevent it in the first place, and how incredible that we continue to show up in such great numbers, and with such spirit, regardless. Protests keep me from sinking into despair because I see the value in collective action. Protests keep my fire alive, and allow me to feel purpose in a world that profits off our listlessness. Protests give an outlet for collective outrage, and with rage in numbers as vast as we saw on Saturday, comes action towards social change.
On Saturday, I saw marching:
In support of immigrants
In support of a free Palestine
In support of protecting our one precious planet
In support of LGBTQIA+ rights, especially trans rights
In support of education
In support of affordable housing for all
In support of social security
In support of science
In support of equity
In support of healthcare for all
In support of free speech
Against hatred, bigotry, violence & fascism
None of this will ever be pointless to me. Now is the time to start getting involved if you haven’t done so already, I hope to meet you in the streets.
All my love,
-Katie
Music Recs:
Mad Girl’s Love Song by Under The Rug (and Sylvia Plath)
Can we talk about Isaac? By Rachel Chinouriri
Symptom of life by Willow
Odie Leigh & everything she has ever written
The First Time by Miki Fiki
Book Recs:
It’s Ok To Be Angry About Capitalism by Bernie Sanders