No Kings 3 Protest

A number of us are so ready to return to being able to disengage with the news because we know there are people in charge who have our best interest at heart. We might now always agree with how they go about accomplishing goals, nor should we, but we know they think about more than themselves.

Until that happens, I will continue to protest. I will continue to follow Heather Cox Richardson, Joanne Freeman, and Timothy Snyder. I will listen to NPR. I will keep up on the news and try to speak intelligently and passionately, while also staying calm and not yelling and screaming. Not always easy.

On Saturday I walked from my house to the closest protest site. It was nice to not have to struggle to find a parking spot. I also enjoyed walking down the line of protesters and recognizing people. As Joanne often says on her live streams, we are forming a community.

Stacy joined me for the walk. We could have parked closer, but walking feels good. Though it was 70 degrees on Thursday, by Saturday the weather in New Jersey reverted to winter with a high around 40, but wind chill making it feel below freezing. I wore flannel-lined jeans, a heavy coat, and scarf. To get in the spirit I wore my "Mad as a Box of Frogs" socks, and wrapped my hair in a bandana channeling the classic image of Rosie the Riveter. At the No Kings 2 protest in October I wore my Colonial Ball gown.

Meanwhile cousins in Colorado had sunny weather in the 70s and wore t-shirts and shorts. Go figure! Don reminded me of the Minneapolis protestors who stood in sub-zero temperatures for days and weeks on end this winter and encouraged me as he drove to work. At least it was sunny. At least I have the necessary clothes to wear in this weather. At least I am healthy enough to be out there.

I struggled with what to put on a sign. The signs that say "there is not enough cardboard to list everything" pretty much sums it up. I thought about "Pretti Good Reasons to Protest" in honor of Alex Pretti and Renee Good's murders. Then I was listening to Joanne's sign off. Be Strong and of Good Courage. It what Moses said to Joshua as he handed the reigns to him. Joanne, a Jew, says she uses it to honor her friend Richard who died a couple of years ago. Richard used to sign off their phone calls with "Be strong and of good courage." 

The message felt right. Favorite sign slogans I have seen since: "Send Barron First," and "Give the Finger if you Support MAGA" (since that's what they do anyway). 

Photo credit: Lawrence Community Activists

About 500 of us gathered on Route 206 as it crosses over I-95. We stretched on the northbound side of the road to the municipal building, where were urged to park. As Stacy and I left I noticed a smaller group of about a dozen at the intersection of Route 206 and Pennington-Lawrenceville Road.

Stacy and I arrived about 10 minutes before the official 2 pm start time. A good sized crowd had already gathered. 

Photo credit: Lawrence Community Activists

I saw Lauri and her friends, Tom and Diane from church, Sylvia and her bestie (Desiree), Leslie, Sue, and others. Some people came up to me and started talking as I tried to remember their names. Later that night I bumped into a different Sue who said she saw me there, but I walked by too quickly to catch my attention. We are all out there on a Saturday afternoon when there is much else we could be doing with our friend time. We do it to show others they are not alone. Us white women of a certain "rage," as someone on Joanne's latest post referred to us, stand on the front line because for the most part, it is safer for us than for anyone who looks like they might be an immigrant. As upset as I am, I am not in fear for my life, or for the lives of my family members.

Some pictures from the day:

Gotta love the 250th historic reference

Veto the Cheeto in faded orange

Photo Credit: Stacy
Her sign was a huge hit!

I talked to someone afterwards who said they are repurposing their Biden lawn signs by taping messages to the front and back. They are much stronger than card stock, and prettier than cardboard. I'll try that next time, since we know there will be a next time.

Five hundred is a drop in the bucket of 8 million protestors. Add in there were another thousand in Hopewell, 700 in Trenton, 3,500-5,000 in Princeton where our new governor spoke, and 3,500 in Lambertville and New Hope. There were 54 protests in New Jersey, over 3,000 throughout the country, and others held on six out of seven continents (assuming none were held in Antarctica, though they did have a lone scientist protesting last time). It is being stated as the largest protest ever in United States history. Final numbers will take several more months before they are available.