My thoughts about participating in the NO KINGS rally and march yesterday:
It just really felt good to ‘do something.’ At a time when I sometimes feel hopeless about what is going on in our country, it made me feel like I was making a difference. Yes, a small one. But I was one of the millions who took the time, who made a sign, traveled, and ‘counted’ themselves in the numbers.
I was not paid to be there. In fact, I, instead, paid out money to go. 💵 I bought a ticket for a chartered bus that took us from our area to Columbia, the state capitol, about a 3 hour drive. Even though there were events closer to my home, I wanted to go to the state capitol and be there, in that HUGE crowd. I wanted to experience it on a ‘grand scale.’ I have participated in other political protests before but this was definitely the biggest one.
Although the reasons, the issues why we were there, for all the rallies and marches around the country, were very serious, the atmosphere was light and fun. 🎉. There was live music. 🎶 There were people dressed in costumes. 🦖 🐸 🦄 There were amazing signs! Oh – so many, many signs!! Some people are very creative and artistic. 🎨. It was fun to read all the signs.
There were also a lot of American flags! 🇺🇸 Everywhere!! The attendees were people proud to live in the United States. They were people true to our country and to our constitution. There were no other flags.
There was safety in numbers. I knew that everyone there, first gathered at the State House, and then on the march, were ‘my people,’ people who were concerned about all the illegal actions of our president. They were people, like me, frightened about the attack on our democracy. Worried about ICE grabbing people off of streets, deporting them without due process. 😬 I will say there was a police presence but not overwhelming. Officers were in their usual uniforms. I saw none in military gear. No masks.
There were all ages who attended in Columbia. There were lots of seniors, but also some families, and young people (teens and 20’s). It helped to have the University of South Carolina campus near by. There were some African Americans, but not enough. I sadly did not see that many that had appearances of Asian, or Hispanic ethnicity either. I wish there would have been more.
Proudly, there were rainbows on signs. 🌈 👍
We walked from the State Capitol building to the Governor’s Mansion, right now occupied by Republican Gov. McMaster. It was about a mile’s walk. The day was sunny ☀️ and the walk was easy. I will say it was a bit anticlimactic once we all got to the beautiful closed gates of the Governor’s Mansion. We stood and we continued our chants of “No Kings” and “This is what democracy looks like.” For a few minutes. And then people started to head out. Yes, we were feeling like a ‘job well done’ was just accomplished. But, we also know that this is not a one day thing. More work is to be done. Change must happen.
I wondered if the millions of Americans out on the streets and all of peaceful protesters yesterday got to the hearts of any of the government’s leadership. Did they watch? Did they care?
I especially wondered what Pres. Trump thought of the protests all around the country, in major cities, in small towns, in red & blue areas, and ALL WERE PEACEFUL!! I know the man is an egomaniac so he must not have liked it. Actually, I know he didn’t like it, because he put out a childish, mean spirited video last night dropping 💩 on marchers. Yes, he did. He’s such a classy guy. NOT!
Unfortunately, I truly don’t think Trump has a heart. He can’t see beyond anything that happens if it is not for his glory. In fact, the protests may just cause him to hunker down more, and to spew more of his hatred (he has admitted that he hates his opponents.). I am one of those that he hates now. ☝️ One he drops poop on. It’s weird to have a president who admits to want to hurt the other political side. A president who fires his opponents, and who sues them. 💔 Who openly express a lot of meanness. Who thrives off of division. Who is so very unhinged that he tweets out AI videos in the middle of the night.
As I told some of my fellow protesters yesterday, while we were standing there in the middle of everything, as I was someone out there protesting, I never thought I would be doing this.
I still sometimes still stop and think, is this for real??
Marla’s Musings 