The Importance of Protests
Have you attended a recent protest? Fan-freaking-tastic!!! Rallies and protests are an amazing way to get invigorated, recharged, call attention to an issue, know that you’re not alone in your worry, and a dozen other benefits.
But, they don’t do a lot to move the needle, unless you follow them up with action.
What is happening in the country right now will be in the history books. History books talk about the Revolutionary War, Civil War, Civil Rights protests, Spanish Flu, Great Depression, and dozens of other devastating events from our past.
But they also talk about the Underground Railroad, those who pushed the Civil Rights movement forward, Vietnam protestors, AIDs researchers, and thousands of other people who stood up and said “no”.
What will the history books say about us?
Despite all the activism over the last too many years, here we are. Yes, we have contacted our elected officials in record numbers. Yes, we attended protests. Yes, we have been more vocal about our politics. Yes, we have been more active in campaigns.
Right now, at this time in history, that’s not enough.
Every person is in a different situation. We all have different responsibilities, different resources, different time availability, and different health conditions that must be protected. We also have different levels of privilege (especially if you don’t look like someone who might capture the attention of ICE).
Whatever your personal situation, right now, I’m asking you to do a little bit more tomorrow than you did yesterday.
I’m reminded of a high school track practice. The weather was bad, practice was indoors. We had to run up and down 3 flights of stairs, while being timed.
As a leader on the team, I “got” to go first. I ran as fast as I could. Upon completion, Coach announced my time and said everyone else had to beat it. As one of the fastest members of the team, I was concerned about the standard being too high. Then, the next person up beat my time. Then the next, and the next, and the next until everyone had been better than my initial time.
Luckily, I got to go again, and did substantially better. Was I taking it easy the first time? Absolutely not, I genuinely tried as hard as I could, or so I thought.
Was I capable of doing more than I realized? Clearly.
That’s what we need right now. Find a way to dig deeper.
Yes, you need to apply pressure to our elected officials, at all levels. Find a way to make it more frequent and more urgent. Refuse to be ignored.
Yes, work to get our candidates elected. Find a way to give them more time, and step further out of your comfort zone.
Yes, donate to the candidates and groups who need your money. Find a way to give just a little more if you’re able.
And probably above all else, find a way to show up publicly.
Your friends and family need to see you. People on the other side need to see you as well.
History will talk a lot about this period of time.
Let’s make sure the story starts with the horrible things that have happened, and ends with the people who woke up after a relatively comfortable few decades to realize that nothing is a given.
The people who realized that in order to keep “a more perfect union”, it required effort unlike anything before, and they were up to the challenge. Those who realized that politicians were making reckless decisions, but refused to accept them.
Those who experienced years of daily stress and the erosion of every political norm, who were exhausted, but still… they dug deep, stood up, showed up, and they changed the world.
History has its eyes on you, and Representative John Lewis gave us a stark reminder:
“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime.
NEVER, EVER BE AFRAID TO MAKE SOME NOISE AND GET IN GOOD TROUBLE, NECESSARY TROUBLE”
Are you ready to change the world?