“This one is for us”

It wasn’t on the itinerary, but the stars aligned and my family made it to the #HandsOff event downtown San Diego. Fresh off a long plane ride, with a little baby, I wasn’t sure we’d have the stamina to attend a gathering, much less the largest organized protest this year. But by the time we strolled over, saw the signs, the people cheering, the positivity in the air was an immediate and welcome reprieve from the past few years of indifference I’ve felt from so many.

Perhaps it’s no surprise this many people (3.5 million last I saw that attended globally yesterday) are feeling compelled to take to the streets when science, education, healthcare, military, minorities, services for the disabled, the economy are being targeted…it’s structurally overwhelming by design.

However, unless you get outside the online discourse, very few are willing to talk about these issues. Traditional news organizations and cable TV seem to downplay national sentiment towards protest (though maybe this changes with the sweeping tariffs + gutting of safety agencies). In my experience, only a small handful of friends/family are willing to have discussions about the rapid, questionably legal changes to the federal government, disappearing of political dissidents, law firms and universities conceding to Trump admin threats. Perhaps it’s the threat to free speech itself that stops people from talking with one another. The more common refrain I hear is people simply saying they don’t “follow the news”. Why? It could be fear, indifference, etc. But unfortunately, burying our heads in the sand in a time like this can have generational effects for our families and communities.

This lack of dialogue is what made this gathering feel so cathartic. In The Atlantic’s coverage of the protests, a woman was interviewed and answered a question about what she thought the impact of the protest event would be. She noted that the protest isn’t so much about creating immediate change, but finding each other, showing the opposition exists. That’s ultimately what I was looking for, and found with abundance downtown.

There is real comfort when you see people from all stripes of life, younger people, older folks, people in wheelchairs, military veterans, families being present for values you care about. We felt welcome, with multiple folks being kind and cheerful with our baby (who was excited by all the cheers).

It all ended up only being an hour of my life, but I feel better just knowing - and seeing - other people care and willing to express that care for the country and fellow humans. The onslaught against our government’s laws and agencies won’t stop anytime soon, it’s a stated goal of the far right to do exactly what is happening. But knowing there are many others that want change out there is reason enough for me to stay grounded, keep my eyes and ears open, and continue to seek dialogue with others that want the same thing: be a people that helps and vies to understand each other.