protesting

I haven't attended many protests or rallies. I've done a few union events. This fall I went to a protest against the university's non-support of university, and tonight I attended a protest called "Love Trumps Hate." It was an odd gathering because we weren't really sure what our purpose was. Is it anti-Trump? Is it healing?

Before we marched, some speakers said the purpose was to build bridges, so don't engage with anyone yelling at you. But then why did the front marchers chant, "No KKK, no fascist state, no Trump"? I thought that was a pretty bad idea. The back marchers were chanting "Love not hate," which is much better. I was in the middle, where it was pretty quiet. I always seem to end up in the middle. I wanted to be singing songs. We need song-writers for the liberal agenda. Like "This Land Is Your Land." But then I worry about the Native American perspective on that one.

I'm middle-class, native, white, cis, straight, yet as I was parking and walking from my car, I noticed I felt scared. How much more scared must anyone without my privilege feel? More afraid of confrontation though than violence, though that's a possibility lately at these events. Someone was punched at the UT protest Thursday.

I have to keep trying. I was so very mad all day Wednesday and just felt like I needed to do something. So I'm trying to do more.