Tesla Protest

I'm starting to recognize people and signs. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Our nation is still divided, at least based on this conversation I had with someone I think used to have a favorable impression of me, at least favorable enough to let me pull his boots off after an event and tell me long stories about how proud he is of his son. Now he can't talk to me without shouting.

I'm sad. 

I'm overwhelmed.

I'm stumped.

I want to crawl under a blanket and hide.

I want to leave the country and possibly not return.

Meanwhile, I protest.

On a Saturday morning, March 8, I learned about a protest taking place at the Tesla dealership in town. I went at the tail end. There were about 300 people lined up along the roadway as cars exited Mercer One (formerly called Mercer Mall) holding signs and chanting. No paint was thrown on Teslas. No bad words shouted. Once again, participants were in my demographic. We stayed off the street and obeyed the law. Police were on hand to make sure we stayed within the law.

Looking at the police cars I thought about the 1965 march starting with the bridge in Selma. Nineteen days of protests from Selma to Montgomery, AL. Police attacked 600 unarmed protestors with batons and tear gas. Would I have been strong enough to put up with that? If/when things turn violent (T has just defied his first court order regarding illegally deporting people to Venezuela), will I still come out or will I hide either at home or someplace safer?

At least for now, we can still protest in Mercer County, NJ, so I do.

Here are some pictures:

I do look forward to the day we are on the other side and are living happier lives.