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[42itous]

Yesterday I went to the rally in Copley Square protesting the ban on Muslims entering the US. I didn't get to hear any of the speakers, but I heard (and participated in) the chanting -- "Love, not hate: that's what makes America great!" and "Love, not fear; refugees are welcome here!" What impressed me about this crowd was that although we were

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[ron_newman]

That's Trinity Church, an Episcopal congregation.

[42itous]

Thank you!

[audesapere]

Do you really think there is any hope whatsoever? Asking seriously. Because i see no evidence for any, I'm paralyzed with despair, and all I can think is my dad was pretty lucky for not living to see this.

[42itous]

I personally do have hope for preserving some progress over the next four years. We're going to lose a lot of ground for sure, but I do believe that "the arc of the moral universe [...] bends toward justice."

But I also feel that hope is sort of beside the point. Whether or not my own presence made any difference at all yesterday, I can't just stand by and do nothing -- I couldn't respect myself if I didn't protest, if I didn't call my Democratic senators and thank them or prod them to work harder. If every individual whose presence meant nothing at the protest were to stay home, there would be no protest. So I went, and I'll go again, to stand in solidarity with people who would otherwise have their rights trampled unnoticed.

[audesapere]

I mean, yeah, it's important...and I've been trying to be as involved as I can given what's happened in the past few weeks...but it's only a matter of time til they come after us, too.

[42itous]

I also feel like it's a pay-it-forward kind of situation -- we who are privileged enough to be able to demonstrate do so now, so that when we are oppressed, there will be allies to fight on our behalf.

Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Kommunist.

Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat.

Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten,
habe ich nicht protestiert;
ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.

Als sie die Juden holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Jude.

Als sie mich holten,
gab es keinen mehr,
der protestieren konnte.

[lunacow]

Cool to read your report! I saw some overhead photos of the Copley Square crowd, and it was quite impressive.

[miekec]

Somehow, I didn't see you there :) And yes, I had noticed a lot of the same. A very friendly, cooperative crowd. I helped several people up into a tree too, and shared a park bench as a higher point of view. There were so, so many signs. 99% awesome. The only one I disliked (and almost went to ask the carrier to take down) was a hateful one: in blood-red paint "Gut the Fascists" with a dripping red line under it. Hateful. Painful. But after a while it was either out of sight or someone else had managed to talk it down.

The sign I wanted to make but didn't have the time and spoons for was one that I did see. Big yellow star of David with "Never Again" in it.

The protest left me physically tired (sore feet, hoarse from chanting) but emotionally buoyed. The goodness and spirit and resilience of people gave me hope. When I got home, I started translating my Jewish grandparents' book about their war experiences.

[42itous]

I feel like we ought to be able to ask people to stop displaying signs that aren't in the spirit of peaceful protest. But it's true that when someone displays violent intent, it creates a barrier to constructive criticism around them.

What language did your grandparents write in? I'd be curious to read your translation.

[miekec]

They wrote in Dutch. And thanks for feedback.

[hammercock]

Yay! I was there, too! It was heartening to see so many people turn out.

Now I want to know if we can get that many people to demonstrate against Bannon.

[42itous]

I think it's easiest to get critical mass of protesters if there's a tangible and immediate situation in the news. Bannon and the rest of the nightmare is less tangible and less immediate. Maybe the time to protest would have been when he was appointed. :(

But there will be other protests -- predictably enough that I could make the signs for some of them now. I'll make lots of signs, and then if obligations prevent me from going to the protests I'll give the signs to people who can.

[ron_newman]

This Saturday there's an official city-sponsored Sanctuary City Rally in front of Somerville High School, 10 am to noon.