March 28th marked a day of solidarity for many across the nation.
Whether Republican or Democrat, young or old, white or a person of color, millions of people across the United States stood up in a fight to preserve our democracy.
This was the third No Kings protest, the first and second having taken place in June and October. It’s been a series that, with the massive turnout, has marked American history as some of the largest protests, the latest one having had an estimated eight million attendees.
The first protest I attended was the No Kings protest in June in my hometown, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, of roughly 50,000 people. However small it was, it was empowering, to say the least, to know that I was taking part in something so massive.
To think back on that experience and know now that I not only attended the one in Chicago but had the opportunity to cover it is something I will never take for granted.
Thousands of people gathered in Grant Park Saturday for a No Kings rally before taking to the streets of Chicago to march to Trump Tower. To see so many people gathered for a shared goal is something I will never forget.
You could feel the anger there, radiating off of people who are mad about their neighbors being taken, their rights infringed upon, and their democracy threatened. You could feel that underlying fear of what might come next—of that darkness before dawn.
But most importantly, you could see the joy on people’s faces.
You could see the pride of people knowing they were participating in something bigger than themselves, the faces of people, young and old, proud that they are taking part in standing up for their rights and freedoms.
Protesting in this day and age brings on a lot of fear. There’s so much that can go wrong, and so much that already has. But there’s a special feeling of pride to be held in overcoming that fear and being courageous enough to show up.
And that’s what thousands did in Chicago, and millions more across the nation. This is only another stop on the long road we have ahead of us, one filled with obstacles and uncertainties.
But it’s moments like these that give us hope for a brighter future and a better America.
It’s moments like these when I, and many others, can believe that America will be great again, in a time after Trump’s reign of terror has concluded.
When interviewing people for a separate article regarding advice for younger protestors, they all gave similar answers. If we want there to be change, we have to show up, we have to vote, and we can’t let the fear of what has happened or what is to come hold us back. If we do, they win, and now’s not a time when we can afford that to happen.
There will be more protests to come, and more opportunities to stand up, use our voices, and fight back.
If you can’t protest, consider canvassing, calling, or joining a group. If there’s one thing I and many others took away from the protest, it’s that silence will get us nowhere.
It takes courage to push for change, and now is as good a time as ever to show it.
To keep up to date with everything Decaturian, follow the Dec on all socials.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Decaturian
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedecaturian/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.decaturian
