January 20th kicks off the official Four Years of Protest and Resistance season. We have had some great preseason efforts but it is about to get real and we will all need to take our protesting game to the next level. One of the first events of the year is The Women’s March on Washington on January 21st. With sister events all over this country there is likely one near you. In this area there are marches in Santa Cruz, Monterrey, Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, and Sacramento. The mission statement is pretty broad:
“We stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families – recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country.” (https://www.womensmarch.com/mission/
If you agree with that, JOIN US! You do not need to be a woman! This is the type of event that you will want to say, “I was there.”
With a Trump/Pence presidency ahead of us, I have been thinking a lot about activism recently. Growing up with parents who ran a social justice nonprofit from the back of our house I have always taken it for granted that activism and protesting are things that everyone knows how to do and are relatively comfortable doing. I thought the only reason people weren’t active was because they just didn’t care enough. Now that we are in the age of Trump I can see that people clearly do care, people care a lot, but many still aren’t being active in visible ways. So what is going on here? I think there are four main reasons people are staying home.
Reason #1: Fear. Most of us don’t want to put ourselves in potentially confrontational positions. Getting yelled at can feel pretty shitty. If you are a minority it can be especially traumatic. That makes a lot of sense…but I don’t think it’s a valid reason to keep you home. It’s true, you might get yelled at by someone as they drive by, but so what? Are you really going to let that stop you? Plus, that’s exactly why you need to be there, to show those people: “I will stand up against your bigotry. I don’t care how loud you are, I don’t care how uncomfortable I am, I will stand up.” We have to actually show them this.
It is easy to see hate, we see the swastikas spray-painted on schools, we see reports about hijabs being ripped off women’s heads, we see black children being physically thrown by cops at their own schools. We can easily see hate, but it is harder to see values of social and environmental justice. This is the year that we become loud and visible.
I have also heard some people express fears of physical violence. I have never seen anything physical go down at any of the countless vigils, protests, rallies, and marches I have been to. I have seen nonviolent civil disobedience, spontaneous dance parties, strangers hugging, drummers drumming, and some intense yelling, but never physical violence. Of course, I can’t tell you violence never happens because it clearly does, but it is rare at your average local protest. If it were to head that way, it is very unlikely it would happen instantaneously, you would have time to see that it was getting tense and leave.
So if you are feeling nervous about joining your local protest/vigil/march, here is my answer: fake it ‘til you make it! Go to a protest despite your feelings, give it 20 minutes, and you will start feeling grounded and empowered. If you still feel uncomfortable after 20 minutes, push yourself to stay anyways. Don’t let a little discomfort stop you from doing what is right (**unless you are worried about personal safety, emotional or physical).
Reason #2: Doubting it makes a difference. The Unites States has a rich history proving protests create change, stretching back from the Boston Tea Party to the current No DAPL Protest at Standing Rock. Protests work. They may not instantly create the change they seek, but success is measured in other ways. Protests, marches, sit-ins, vigils all have the following immediate benefits:
It is transformative and motivational. Participants go home feeling stronger in their convictions and motivated to do more actions.
It increases visibility for the cause.
It makes a movement stronger by clarifying its voice and rallying the troops.
It makes life harder for your opposition.
Depending on the event, it can show marginalized communities that they are not alone, people do care, and that they have allies.
It teaches our children about values of participation and courage.
It sends out ripples that we can’t even imagine. I heard one of my favorite anecdotes about the power of protest at a Holly Near concert years ago. She told a story about how her commute to school took her by a woman who would stand by herself on the street corner once a week with a protest sign. Holly was so struck by this woman’s courage and resoluteness she decided to take the leap and focus her music on social justice issues. She has been a well-known folk singer for more than forty years now, touching the lives of countless people. That woman who bravely stood on the corner will never know the impact she had on Holly Near or the subsequent impact of Holly’s music; unimaginable ripples. (I actually started standing on the corner with my BLM sign because of the impact of that story, ripples!)
Reason #3: Laziness. It’s time to push through this folks, the stakes are too high. You need to suck it up and show up. I have a breastfeeding infant sharing my bedroom with me, I know about being tired, and that is not a valid reason to stay home.
Reason #4: People don’t know what to do or what to expect. No problem! Here is your primer…
Protesting 101:
Know your event: What is the purpose? What will you be doing? Read the entire event description to make sure you are in agreement.
It is all about signage! Go to the grocery store or your recycling bin and get sign making materials (unfolded boxes make great signs). You will want a sign. You will probably feel silly walking to the protest holding your sign but as soon as you join the group you will be glad you took the time to write out your message. It will help you stay rooted in why you are there and it gives you something to hold instead of just standing there awkwardly. If you are struggling figuring out what to write on your sign just google “Feminist quotes,” “Black Lives Matter signs,” “Gay rights signs,” etc., whatever is applicable to your event. You do not have to be original to have a great sign.
Plan what you will say if a hateful comment comes your way. My go-to is “peace be with you.” It is in alignment with my values, it works as a response to anything that may be said, and it fits at any type of event. Whatever you decide to say, repeat it several times and imagine yourself saying it before the protest. Now you don’t need to worry about that, you know what you’ll do!
Get there when it starts. There are often scheduled speakers or welcome messages and if everyone is late it’s hard on the organizers. But if it is between being late and going at all, always go! Better late than not at all.
Most protests are kid friendly. You can usually tell by the tone of the event description. Again, read the description.
Generally, be a decent human being. Know that you are representing whatever group or cause you are standing for. Don’t be that person that does something regrettable and tarnishes the entire event.
Protesting requires showing up. Don’t stay home. Don’t expect other people to do the work for you. We ALL need to put in the work. ALL OF US
If you are going to bring kids: start telling them about what you are going to do and why, well before the event. Read a book that relates to why you are protesting. Involve them in sign making. Let them have their own sign!
Now that my daughter is four and more aware of her surroundings I also give her a brief warning beforehand that we may hear someone say something that isn’t friendly. In a neutral voice I explain that it is ok, she will be safe, we just have different values than some people and that it's important to stand up for our values even if it is hard or uncomfortable. I don’t make it a big deal or use too many words because I know that for my kiddo the fear of it could be worse than the actual comment. (She has heard some unfriendly yelling at protests and it has barely been a blip on her radar screen, and she is a relatively sensitive kid.)
**Always practice crowd safety measures if it is a big event: take a picture of your child in the outfit they are wearing and write their name, your name, and your cellphone number on their arm (or get them something like this: https://www.roadid.com/ we just got one for Jo). When you get there, with your child identify the security/staff/police they should seek help from if they were to get separated; and if they are old enough, identify landmarks where you will meet if separated.
That’s it! You are a protesting pro! Now get out there and stand up for what you believe in!
And let me know what you are going to put on your Women’s March signs…
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