Millions Turn Out

I was happy to see the numbers. I’m seeing everything from five to 11 million, still looking for official numbers, but so happy to see the turnout.

Suzie (pictured above) and I went to the protest in our town of 30,000, there was a great showing and a lot of support from people driving by. 

Being a more rural area we had a few dissenters as well. In contrast to the support we felt at the protest, we did have a negative experience while walking home. We were in the middle of an intersection when a man ran a red light, and yelled profanities at us as he sped past. He was only feet from us, we had to stop as he went by. I didn’t feel terribly endangered but it does highlight what some people will do when they are empowered with privilege and ignorance. He could have easily hit us or gotten out of his car and assaulted us. What an idiot! Of course I thought of all kinds of things I could’ve said to him, after he was out of sight. I didn’t think to get his license plate or I could have reported him. What a brave man to yell at three women walking through an intersection. This is the second aggressive incident we’ve experienced at McMinnville protests. We should be more prepared next time.

One of the disheartening things for me, is how I have become a person who doesn’t feel safe in my own neighborhood. I look at everyone and wonder if they are going to insult or harm me because of how I look or how I think. I have always been a trusting, positive person but now, I am distrusting and skeptical. I feel unsafe at the grocery store, the pharmacy and at the gas station. It does not escape me that people of color have always felt this way. I will always use my privilege to stand up for those around me, and to speak up when I see injustice. If feeling unsafe for a minute helps me understand what others live with constantly, then good.

Regardless of the mess, the chaos and the violence in our country; we still have privilege and opportunity to bear witness to those who suffer greatly in the US and in the world. I hope to always be brave and always reach out and be one of the good humans on this planet.