I heard the crowd before I could see them. Walking through downtown Alexandria, Virginia, with my friends, it seemed like the whole city was going in the same direction.
It was June 14, dubbed “No Kings Day” by the organizations facilitating nationwide anti-Trump protests. I was going to a demonstration, one of many, watching the stream of people holding signs and flags and hearing the cheering and honking from down the street. The energy was electric.
When we finally got to the square where the protest was held, the crowd was so thick it was hard to move. We got as close to the main stage as we could, but could still barely hear the speakers over the din of the crowd.
As we stood there, sweating in the stifling heat and unable to see or hear much, I found myself wondering: what was the point? Was I making any difference being here? Was it really worth it to trek an hour out of the city, sweating and burning in the sun, just to stand here with a few hundred other people?
The next day, I saw the footage of the day’s events that had been organized all across the country. I saw crowds of people standing together, marching together, rallying and celebrating together. I saw the streets of Chicago and Cincinnati packed with citizens. I saw people who usually “stay out of politics” talking about the protests on social media.
It reminded me why I participated in the first place: to do something.
In this time of constant fear and uncertainty, I needed to show that I wasn’t OK with what was happening. Even though I was just one body at a small demonstration outside D.C., I had helped. If everyone across the country had thought, “What’s the point? I’m just one person,” nothing would have happened. No protest, no news articles, no public awareness. The status quo would have continued without this loud, public dissent. Our silence would have been mistaken for approval.
Author Eliza Sullivan said that, while walking to the protest downtown, it felt like the whole city was going there as well.
Aside from sending a message, participating in this demonstration was cathartic – it allowed me to take action and see how many other people were fighting for the same things I believe in.
The worst feeling is watching something happen and being unable to do anything about it. I know I didn’t change the world by going to one event one time. But I wasn’t sitting at home doom scrolling. I was outside, doing something – taking the anger and frustration I felt and turning it into civic action. And if enough people do that enough times, we can create real pressure for change.
I was sad to have missed the No Kings protest in Oxford. I saw my friends, family and people I vaguely knew from high school gathered Uptown, and I wanted nothing more than to be there with them.
But even in the crowd of strangers in Alexandria, I was able to find connection. I talked with my friends, and with their friends who I hadn’t met yet. I saw funny signs and dogs decked out in patriotic gear. Even looking at the strangers next to me, I felt a sense of connection. We were all here because we believe America can, and should, do better.
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Protests, and other types of collective action, are a way to survive in times of uncertainty. They allow you to amplify your voice. They allow you to look inward and say, I did something. I didn’t quietly disagree from the comfort of my own home, or just post on social media. I did something tangible. They allow you to meet other people, to be reminded that you’re not the only one who believes we can do better.
Everybody, myself included, should be taking action to make our voices heard more frequently. We don’t have to do something large or dramatic for it to matter, but we have to do something. If you’re interested in learning more, there are groups like 50501 and No Kings operating all over the country. Campus groups like the College Democrats, Young Democratic Socialists of America and Students for Justice in Palestine also regularly share information on local events. Find one you believe in and show up for your community.
Eliza Sullivan is a second year double majoring in diplomacy and global politics and Russian, Eastern European and Eurasian studies. She writes for the opinion section of The Miami Student. She is also involved with Model Arab League and Miami University College Democrats.
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