what? so what? what now?
The marches and protests I have attended over the years are “Forest Gump-like” snapshots of the intersection between my life and politics.
October 11, 1987: Senior Class Trip (from New Jersey) to Washington DC coincided with the 2nd National Gay Rights March. Although the highlights of the march included the AIDS quilt connected to the tragedy of the crisis, my most poignant memories included riding through the city on a tour bus. There were high school comments as we passed people wearing androgynous clothes and same sex couples holding hands. However, the most awkward moment for me was when I was offered a cigarette by my roommates and declined.
April 28, 1990: I was invited by a college roommate to take an all expenses paid trip to Washington DC (from Michigan) to attend the Rally for Life, an anti-abortion protest. Ironically, the most searing memory from that trip is a fetus in a clear ball that was bouncing around the crowd. The self-righteousness that didn’t seem to offer real solutions for those in crisis (other than adoption) started me on my journey to a more complicated pro-choice stance. Today, my north star is access to reproductive health for everybody, as a human right.
I thought I had dreamt this image.
It brought into focus what was most baffling and disturbing about the protest.
May 30, 2020: After the murder of George Floyd during COVID, the first in-person community gathering for me was a silent protest against police brutality. A child from my church sat on her father’s shoulders holding a sign that read, “Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly.” I also remember distinctly the bruised and battered faces of 2 young men in my small midwestern town on posters who had been the victims of police violence. Later in the evening, some people caused property damage. The next day, community members came to help clean up the streets.
March 28, 2026: “So tired of living in an Onion article.” Clever protest signs, petition signing and impassioned speeches by the daughters of someone in detention were what I found yesterday at the No Kings rally at Rosa Parks Circle, a downtown gathering spot. I left wondering if my vote and my voice (5 calls) were enough. I came home and cancelled Amazon Prime.
The future will include more friction, but it will be what I belatedly gave up for Lent as well as democracy. To be perfectly clear, I’m not sure how long I will hold out. I will need to remain in community with others who are working just as hard to uphold freedom.
My protest sign.
Resist the Rejoin!
