I remember when I was 13 years old, I saw my first protest. It was 2011 and the Occupy Wall Street Movement was in full swing. I had seen pictures and video on the news from the comfort of my home, intrigued by the issue and the dedication of those involved, however I still remember the nerves I felt for the protestors, hoping that they wouldn't be too harmed. I could grasp the ideas of these demonstrations, yet I never truly felt the impact until I experienced it for myself 5 years later.
My parents always taught me to support others and to stand up for what I believed in. My senior year of high school, I became friends with a wickedly smart girl whose interest and passion for politics inspired me to become more active. She invited me with her to peaceful gatherings, but whenever she extended the invitation, my anxiety kept popping back into my head, making me too nervous to actually participate. I saw the tear gas on my TV screen, watching fires erupt, and didn't want to be apart of something that could result in myself or others getting hurt.
It wasn't until Donald Trump won the presidency that I found myself compelled to participate.
The day after he won, two of my friends invited me to come with them to the peaceful march on November 9th in San Francisco. I finally decided that now was the time that if I was ever going to become truly as involved as I'd like, this was the place to be. I met up with a large group of girls from my dorm who were all going to march, got on the bus, and tried to find the group.
What I saw next will forever be seared in my mind: One of the largest groups of people I've ever seen in real life marching towards me, with police escorts and flashing lights. I could immediately feel my adrenaline start to rush, and as I ran into the crowd, I immediately felt safe and in solidarity with an amazing group of people.
From this experience, I learned a few things that I think everyone who goes to an event like this should know:
1) Come prepared.
Bring a backpack with water, a bag with some cash and your ID, and fully charged phone. I also always make sure to turn on the "Find Your Friends" app on my phone with the people I attend an event with to make sure we can find each other if we get separated. I also make sure to write down numbers of people on a post-it note just in case.
2) Have fun participating...
And feeling the moment, but try not to get into any confrontations or arguments with someone who may be unsafe. It's important to feel passionate, but safety is the most important things.
That being said,
3) It's totally okay to leave or take breaks
If you feel uncomfortable or nervous in the big crowd. It's an amazing experience, but can certainly be a bit overwhelming.
With everything going on in the country and around the world, it's important to get out, get involved, and make your voice heard. As long as you feel comfortable, get out there and do your share to make the difference you want to see.
