Scenes of Protest

I got off work at a reasonable hour for once, and needed to pick up olive oil at the downtown Minneapolis Whole Foods afterward.  On my way there, I saw crowds of people heading toward the plaza behind the city hall in what looked like the beginning stages of a march.  They carried signs denouncing our president, some creative and funny, some straight to the point, all carrying messages of dissent and resistance against the administration’s hate-mongering and regressive policies.  After picking up my olive oil, I made my way there added my voice to the choruses of “We want a leader, not a dirty Tweeter” and “Build the wall, we’ll tear it down.”  

The march was a protest against the president’s executive orders banning refugees and immigrants from seven Middle Eastern and East African countries.  No refugees from these countries have committed acts of terrorism against anyone in America, making this an act of Islamophobia and racism rather than a rational nation security decision.  The repugnant ban is an obstacle in knocking out these ills, which have reared their ugly head after decades behind the scenes.  Until policy changes are made, we must continue to stand up to fight for our neighbors, challenge our own fears and march until our feet give out.

5,000 spirited protests wound their way through the downtown streets, disrupting traffic while receiving friendly honks from motorists.  Resistance and protest make some people angry, but the overwhelming majority of drivers supported the cause or stayed silent and civil in their disagreement.  I ran into many friends and acquaintances - some who I hadn’t seen in ages - while marching along, which was a reminder that we’re all in this together.

In the words of Bob Marley, “Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight!”  We’ve only just begun, so let’s keep the fire bright in the days, weeks and months to come.