My Gen X son said it looked like a Boomer convention when my friends and I went to the first one, a few weeks before that was directed towards Veterans. My reply was - who else is going to do it? However, April 5 people of all ages were there, and the number of people was encouraging. I knew by how many were there, bigger locations must have really big numbers. Later watching social media , that was proven true! It was not a surprise that main stream media under reported the numbers. But the pictures proved otherwise. Hoping folks won’t get jaded or worn down and show up again and again.
When people ask me “Why are you doing this - here in MA? What do you think you’ll accomplish?” My answer comes from the feedback I get from attendees sometimes days after the event. Many people simply feel helpless and isolated and are thankful that they can join in community with others who are feeling the same way. It shows our neighbors that we are willing to put ourselves in a public space and be loud to support the HUMAN BEINGS who are under attack by OUR government. An immigrant friend of mine pulled me aside in the grocery store and said when he drives through the corner where the protests and rallies are held and reads the signs, it makes him feel loved and safe. That’s enough for me.
It is as important as anything else, that people who have not yetbeen motivated to act, people who have not yet been hurt personally, that all of those people will know there is a place to go when the proverbial sh*t actually does hit the fan, their fan. Using your metaphor, they’ll know there’s a fire burning that they can add fuel to. They’ll have seen it, and won’t feel so all alone, so hopeless.
Who else is going to do it
My Gen X son said it looked like a Boomer convention when my friends and I went to the first one, a few weeks before that was directed towards Veterans. My reply was - who else is going to do it? However, April 5 people of all ages were there, and the number of people was encouraging. I knew by how many were there, bigger locations must have really big numbers. Later watching social media , that was proven true! It was not a surprise that main stream media under reported the numbers. But the pictures proved otherwise. Hoping folks won’t get jaded or worn down and show up again and again.
When people ask me “Why are you doing this - here in MA? What do you think you’ll accomplish?” My answer comes from the feedback I get from attendees sometimes days after the event. Many people simply feel helpless and isolated and are thankful that they can join in community with others who are feeling the same way. It shows our neighbors that we are willing to put ourselves in a public space and be loud to support the HUMAN BEINGS who are under attack by OUR government. An immigrant friend of mine pulled me aside in the grocery store and said when he drives through the corner where the protests and rallies are held and reads the signs, it makes him feel loved and safe. That’s enough for me.
I heard a lot of people say these protests would not change minds (I was there) but how do you know that?
It is as important as anything else, that people who have not yetbeen motivated to act, people who have not yet been hurt personally, that all of those people will know there is a place to go when the proverbial sh*t actually does hit the fan, their fan. Using your metaphor, they’ll know there’s a fire burning that they can add fuel to. They’ll have seen it, and won’t feel so all alone, so hopeless.