No Kings Day ended as a success across the nation, with local organizations gaining more support (including the Southwest Virginia Data Center Transparency Alliance) and creating a stronger community in the process. The GOP later said that the No King Protests were “Hate America Rallies” and riots caused by the radical left. I wholeheartedly disagree. If anything, I had never seen such patriotism and the desire for our country to prosper for everyone that inhabits it. Even so, the protests were not organized by a Democrat led organization—it was all done by the people who care about what’s happening. No Kings Day inspired hope, not just in myself, but in millions of others around the country and the world.
We will not go quietly.
All of this may leave you wondering what it is that you can do to contribute to the cause. As it was my first time attending an official protest, I was definitely nervous about preparing properly. I wanted to ensure that I had everything necessary to have a good time while I was there. Alongside Iliana Martinez (OPN), I asked protesters about how they recommend preparing for protests. Along with that, I asked about ways to use your voice if you are unable to attend a protest in person. As mentioned earlier, there was an overwhelming feeling of positivity during the protest. Those who were there truly believed in the cause and were more than happy to help others learn how to participate themselves.
Upon asking protesters how they prepared for the protest, I found a great deal of the same point being made: creating a sign. This is a way to create a personalized message stating your beliefs as a member of the protest. Knowing that protesting may seem intimidating to those who have not partaken before, I asked protesters if they had any tips for those wanting to attend for the first time. The following are responses that I received, with an emphasis on protection from the sun and safety in numbers;
Protester: “Keep a driver’s license with you, wear comfortable clothes, try to find other like-minded people so that you can go in numbers.”
Protester: “Sunscreen, hat or a pair of sunglasses so you don’t get burnt and just come with love in your heart.”
Protester: “Talk to other protesters and see if you can organize more.”
While some responses were more literal, like the ones above, I received a few answers that focused on the mentality that you bring with you. One protester said, “Be positive and stay informed.”. Another echoed a sentiment that I shared going to the protest that day by saying, “I thought it was going to be really intimidating, and I didn’t realize how joyful it was going to be and how liberating.” I could not have agreed more. I was preparing myself as best as I could. The media largely reports the chaos of protests, but No Kings resembled joyful resistance and a community learning to rely on one another which is highly important on campus. Another popular sentiment that was shared by another individual was, “be willing to get out there and stand up for what you think is important.” Although it can be nerve wracking, it is better to use your voice when you can rather than watching on in fear.
I understand that attending a protest is not always an option– maybe there were other plans that you had to put first or other personal reasons that make you unable to attend, and that is okay! Participating in protests is far from the only way to use your voice to advocate for causes. Many of the protesters interviewed suggested reaching out to government officials. One woman mentioned, “there are post card writing campaigns. Signs of Justice, they even print them up for you, all you have to do is find your local legislature.” Signs of Justice is a business that prints signs for people to bring to protests. Their other products include yard signs, bumper stickers, and banners. They run a mailing campaign called The Majority Project with the goal of sending 12,000,000 postcards from their website to congress. They offer a collection of three post cards for $6 in total to send to your state officials. Under the post cards on their website is a comprehensive guide on what to do with the post cards and why the campaign is occurring. As one protester suggested, “stay on top of what is happening locally because that’s where it all begins.”
Be loud, be proud, and be peaceful. Using your voice may feel like shouting into an empty cave at times but understand that each time you do, there is someone shouting with you.
J Rohland
Staff Reporter
