How Freedoms Disappear

There was just a sidebar notice in the paper from an AP wire:

“HONG KONG — The distributor of a popular protest song in Hong Kong has decided to remove the music from all platforms because of a court ban in the city, the group that created the song said Friday, a week after YouTube blocked access to its videos.

Dgxmusic said on Instagram that it expressed its opposition to the decision by EmuBands, the distributor, to remove “Glory to Hong Kong,” which was widely sung by demonstrators during huge antigovernmental protests in 2019.

The group said the song has already been removed from iTunes and Apple Music in various regions. Most versions of the song were also unavailable on Spotify in Hong Kong on Friday.

This month, an appeals court granted the government’s request to prohibit the broadcast or distribution of the song to advocate for the separation of Hong Kong from China.

“The song itself is not banned by the injunction. We hope to have the song reinstated as soon as possible,” Dgxmusic said.”

 

The words of the song are straightforward:

 

We pledge No more tears on our land
In wrath, doubts dispell’d we make our stand
Arise! Ye who would not be slaves again:
For Hong Kong, may Freedom reign!

Though deep is the dread that lies ahead
Yet still, with our faith, on we tread
Let blood rage afield! Our voice grows evermore:
For Hong Kong, may Glory reign!

Stars may fade, as darkness fills the air
Through the mist a solitary trumpet flares:
Now, to arms! For Freedom, we fight, with all might we strike!
With valour, wisdom both, we stride!'

Break now the dawn, liberate our Hong Kong
In common breath: Revolution of our times!
May people reign, proud and free, now and evermore
Glory be to thee, Hong Kong!

 

In 2019, many of the eleven million residents of Hong Kong believed that they still had a chance to live independently with the so-called “one nation, two systems” structure promised by the Beijing government. There was in place an agreement of a 50-year transition period from the date in1998 when the British government turned over its lease of the territory to the Chinese mainland. However, as the leaders in Beijing disliked the free press and free speech demonstrated, especially by the young, governmental interference with the independent leadership and elections began. It demanded that police stop the protests, sometimes with brutal force. As a result, especially in 2019, there were widespread protests for weeks in the city. The song above was their rallying cry.

The link here from the Guardian shows in a video clip the passion and the crowds, said to be up to a million residents, at times, taking their beliefs to the streets.

In the five years since these demonstrations happened, authorities implemented Internet controls, raided and closed press operations, and bookstores, and jailed editors. The authorities captured some 'troublemakers' and took them to the mainland, where they tried them in secret courts. Pro-Beijing electees have taken over the governing bodies for the city. (The candidates who did not support these changes could not even be on the ballot.)

 

Did you catch the line: may the people reign, proud and free? This is what America promises: government of the people by the people and for the people.

 

These freedoms should seem to be with us forever as we have a Constitution with Amendments and a Bill of Rights that should be our expectations until the end of time as we know it. Today, some who aspire to higher office do not believe in these stated rights and do not wish to allow a free press or media. They want free speech, for only a few. Others prefer to make it more difficult for all citizens to vote because they can do so. So you might say, what happened in Hong Kong cannot happen here, but look around. We are already seeing rights for women under attack, teachers under duress, election workers, and federal agents being threatened as they do their jobs.

Listen to our elected officials parroting remarks from their MAGA leader; they are not standing up for democracy. Look at those who are leaving Congress because it has become dysfunctional. See the arrogance of the Supreme Court Justices who disregard their oaths to uphold Constitutional principles and be fair, so much so that Justice Sotomayer recently stated she sometimes goes home and cries at night over their actions.

 

Do you remember the poem The Hollow Men by T. S. Elliot? The closing lines are:

“This is the way the world ends

Not with a bang, but a whimper.”

 

This could be the way our democracy ends if no one pays attention to what is going on all around us now. It will not be a violent revolt, but more like death by a thousand cuts; a nip here, a slash there, and suddenly, the structures we thought would hold us together are in tatters. Those who oppose democracy are trying to normalize the breaking down of expected behaviors, such as respect for the Rule of Law, the Legislative, and Judicial authorities, and the processes of the Department of Justice, to mention a few. Those who promote disrespect for candidates by flying flags that say “F….whomever” demean our political process and coarsen our civil dialogue.

So before you leave, take another look at the video from Hong Kong. Those people had hoped to save their independence and five years later, it is mostly gone and people are fleeing the territory if they can. Where could we go, should we need to flee?

 

That said, Memorial Day is tomorrow. On this day, we remember those who are no longer with us. The holiday began during the Civil War – a war between ourselves that brought the highest casualties of any war fought by our country. Then, the war was North vs. South. Let’s not have one of Red vs. Blue in any form. Let’s make this country work for everyone.

 

Til next week-peace!

The Sycophants Chorus

Or Scenes from the Courthouse

(sung to the tune of: M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E club)

“Oh, we are the sycophants

As you can see

Selling our souls

To become VP.

Wearing red ties

Our messages to send

To DJT

We’re your loyal friends.

Disparaging rules

We vowed to uphold

Bobbing our heads

We hope justice unfolds.

It does not matter

How many lies we might tell,

We’ll follow our MAGA leader

To the Gates of Hell!

Because we are the modern GOP

Value-free for all to see!”

© SKDooley

Most of us have seen the spectacle unfolding on the courthouse steps in Manhattan as our former president stands on trial for filing false election reports, altering official business records, and making misstatements, among other charges. Grown men and women, many of whom are elected officials and members of Congress, are standing outside the courthouse, echoing words that their dear leader is under court orders not to say. The absolute idiocy of many people reading from the same script, and pretending to be bothered by the charges, legally approved by a grand jury, and being validated day after day in the courtroom cannot be overstated.

This has become a theater of the absurd. Some are granted special access to the courtroom and enter en masse as if to intimidate the jury, which probably does not know who they are, except to note they get VIP seating.

I hope that next week Judge Juan Merchan puts a stop to this circus as he has been running a tight trial so far. When the defendant demanded that crowds in the streets show up to protest what he called an unjust trial, and none appeared, he apparently developed this alternate playbook. He has paid for crowds before; it was said that those attending his Tower ‘down the staircase speech’ were mostly from central casting. And this time he doesn’t even have to pay; the American people pay most of these folks to legislate!

He just called in his lackeys the compliant GOP! Just look at who is vying to be his Vice President: Here is Senator Scott from Florida, then JD Vance from Ohio, Tim Scott from South Carolina, who already sold out long ago, Governor Burgum from North Dakota, oh and that dumb Tommy Tuberville from Alabama-(he can’t possibly be in contention, can he?) Later arrivals have included that noisy, squawking, and sellout Representative Elise Stefanik from NY, the sleazy Matt Gaetz from Florida, Byron Donalds, also from Florida; one best known for groping, Lauren Bobert from Colorado, and of course, MTG from Georgia. Even Vivek Ramaswamy, a previous candidate who was not elected to anything, came by! All the GOP Illuminati, so to speak, topped off by the Speaker of the House, Michael Johnson from Louisiana, who stated: “that they have weaponized and politicized the American Judicial system to go after a political opponent.” He did not even try to stand up and support the Rule of Law. But then, Gaetz came back with his best rendition of a Proud Boy response. Somehow, I think, even the Proud Boys (many of whom are already jailed for their Jan 6 activities) would not be impressed.

As Johnson is an attorney, and supposedly a devout Christian, I wonder how he can make such a lying statement with a clear conscience. According to the Hill, many non-MAGA Republicans believe that this was not a proper role for a Speaker to take on. Senators Lisa Murkowski, AK, and Mitt Romney, UT, each spoke out against this action.

Last week, the House Oversight Committee rescheduled a sham hearing against Attorney General Merritt Garland for contempt so that these House actors could appear on the make-shift NY stage. When Democrats contested these actions, MTG spoke out, perhaps attempting to redeem herself after her move to unseat the Speaker went down in flames. However, when she went after Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas about Crockett's false eyelashes, one might think she was auditioning for Mean Girls! And when Crockett threw out her reply, all decorum was lost in what was supposed to be a House of Order and Rules.

(The Republicans on the Committee were supposedly upset that Garland would not release the audio tape of Special Prosecutor Hur’s examination of President Biden during his classified document review case. They were given the transcripts but wanted to have the audio, some say, to make political points against the President. Biden negated all of this by citing a presidential exception with an Executive Order and kept the audio from distribution. This also essentially released Garland from any contempt charges.)

Are you like me, beginning to wonder if we are looking like a banana republic or a caricature of King Arthur’s Court? We are supposed to be a nation of laws based on a Constitution where no one is above the law. Where a poor person can receive the same consideration in court as a rich person -well, we know that isn’t so; delay, deny, and divert, are not valid legal defenses, but they have been employed in excess in each of the trials where the former president has been charged. Most people appear in court and do not attack the judge, his family, or staff before or during the proceedings. Traditionally, defendants appear in court and do not make a circus of the process. Defendants usually try to behave in court according to the expected civilized societal norms.

From what I have read about this trial, I believe the Prosecutors have made their case. They have documents, tapes, and statements from believable witnesses that seem to validate the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. I just hope the jurors agree. Guilty!

Otherwise, when out on the rare campaign trail stop, the former president seems to lose a step or two or three as his speeches make less and less sense. While right-wing media is quick to point out whenever President Biden stubs his toe, they are often reluctant to note the slurred speeches and meandering dialog of their favored candidate. Deviating from his teleprompter, he suddenly spoke in favor of a fictional criminal called Hannibal Lecter, coming to dinner with incoherent remarks. And his finger might be on the nuclear button?

Both candidates have agreed to appear for two debates to be held before early voting begins. While the rules are still being established, there will be no audience and the use of controlled microphones will be enforced. We’ll see how that works, as the former president was out of control in previous debates. Some pundits even predict he will find a pretext that allows him to back out at the last minute. President Biden is aggressive on this issue, but I don’t think he needs to be; his opponent can mess this up without Biden’s help. There also is a tentative VP debate.

Judge Merchan appears to be a skilled and neutral judge. However, as recent news reports show, some on our Supreme Court cannot claim such neutrality because of their actions. The Supreme Court is our highest court and the last word in disputes. The justices who serve there must be above the political fray and held to the highest standards. This court has lost a lot of public support with many recent decisions that I have discussed in previous posts. But recently, the court has been criticized for taking favors from those with concerns before the court. Justice Thomas has been asked to recuse himself on issues relating to January 6^th as his wife was active in promoting the protest, but he refused to do so.

Now, a news report this week from the NY Times informed us that, on the dates following the January 6^th insurrection, an American Flag flew upside down outside of Justice Alito’s home. An upside-down flag has been used as a symbol of the “Stop the Steal” movement promoted by the MAGA crowd and is sometimes seen as a sign of distress. When asked, Alito claimed his wife did this in response to anti-DJT signs placed by neighbors in their yards.

Both justices are supposed to rule shortly on the former president’s petition about absolute immunity. How in this world can either of them claim to be impartial? They each should step aside and recuse themselves from the immunity decision. For those who might laugh this off, this is no laughing matter. It goes to the core of our judicial system, where the justices are supposed to decide according to the Rule of Law and our Constitution. Lower courts have guidelines and regulations about recusal. The Supreme Court is expected to self-police as necessary. It strains belief to expect that Justices and their spouses do not communicate and do not voice opinions about their actions.

As a principle, we expect justice to remain blind, fair, and equal under the law. Americans, I believe, still expect this from their courts at all levels. The Chief Justice must step up and remove these two justices from this immunity decision if he ever hopes to regain the trust of the American people regarding the decisions of this court.

Despite all of its flaws and imperfections, I believe in our country and our democracy and want to see it work. And I think most Americans do also, aside from the MAGA cults, the Qanons, anarchists, and other conspiracy theorists. So, Americans, you have a job to do. Get out there and speak up for your country. Make it work for each of its citizens. Make it work for our immigrants, guests, and residents. Hold officials accountable. Get out there and VOTE!

Speaking of voting…Congrats to each of the winners in the MD Democratic Primaries. You also have to get out there and make yourself known and give the voters a reason to vote for you. Congrats to Angela Alsobrooks – you did it against great odds! Go after Larry -I don’t really want to run for Senate – Hogan. Who suddenly has an affinity for Roe? Congrats to April McClain Delaney, get out there and win that race for the 6^th District!

As for the Frederick County School Board race, I have not seen the final results yet, but am saddened that a Mom for Liberty candidate seems to be among the top finishers. Frederick County should do so much better than this by November! This happens when there is a low turnout in a primary and the zealots show up.

Til next week-Peace!

Happy Mother's Day-Maybe!

 If, like me, you are a mother; I hope you enjoyed this special day. I know I did. And, today, many families also celebrated with brunches, family dinners, or backyard barbeques. Others applauded their generations and assembled extended family gatherings of great-grandparents and new infants. There is, of course, no one way to commemorate this day. However, I frown on those who would put mothers on a pedestal.

People see pedestal dwellers as aloof and apart, which is just what a mother should not be. Pedestals are, in my way of thinking, antithetical to where motherhood should stand. They are also isolating, inhibiting, and perhaps even used to control. Motherhood is nothing, if not a state of activity, as one engages with little people who have many needs and require care, comfort, joy, and love to grow well.

I see a dichotomy of words and actions. Society tells us to admire our mothers, yet places many impediments in their pathways through motherhood. Where does the line in our societal structure fall between the admiration of mothers and defining the rights allowed to women? The United States has seen particular assaults on the rights of bodily autonomy only for women, but not the men who live here. According to a report published by the Dallas Morning News in January, Texas had an estimated 26,000 rape-related pregnancies since the state enacted its abortion bans. Rape is a crime that often goes unreported or uncharged due to the lack of prompt follow-up or prosecution by authorities. So, society dictates that a woman must carry to term the result of an assault which is usually terrifying. Although some states allow abortion exceptions for rape, again, proving the crime is difficult. One can only wonder what the mother of a child conceived through rape or incest must feel as she is forced to raise this child. Does society truly believe that this is in the best interests of all involved?

Although many people were aghast at the trials of Harvey Weinstein (one now reversed on appeal) and the issues seen in the “Me Too” movement, others dismissed them cavalierly. Some discuss the double standards society applies. I find this juxtaposition interesting, as it speaks volumes about power and intimidation. The defense attorneys in the election interference trial taking place in New York with our former president as the defendant chose to ‘slut shame’ Stormy Daniels, who worked in the pornographic film industry. Just wondering, who keeps this billion-dollar industry afloat? I doubt mothers are its target audience.

Heather Cox Richardson wrote this week about the origins of Mother's Day: (Remarks are truncated)

“From her home in Boston, Julia Ward Howe was a key figure in the American Woman Suffrage Association. She was an enormously talented writer who in the early years of the Civil War had penned “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” a hymn whose lyrics made it a point to note that Christ was “born of woman.”

But out of the war also came a new sense of empowerment. Women had bought bonds, paid taxes, raised money for the war effort, managed farms, harvested fields, worked in war industries, reared children, and nursed soldiers. When the war ended, they had every expectation that they would continue to be considered valuable participants in national affairs, and had every intention of continuing to take part in them. 

Howe was drawn to women’s rights because the laws of her time meant that her children belonged to her abusive husband. If she broke free of him, she would lose any right to see her children, a fact he threw at her whenever she threatened to leave him. She was not at first a radical in the mold of reformer Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who believed that women had a human right to equality with men. Rather, she believed strongly that women, as mothers, had a special role to perform in the world. She threw herself into the struggle for women’s suffrage, understanding that in order to create a more just and peaceful society, women must take up their rightful place as equal participants in American politics.

Richardson concludes her remarks with this paragraph.

While we celebrate the modern version of Mother’s Day on May 12, in this momentous year of 2024 it’s worth remembering the original Mothers’ Day and Julia Ward Howe’s conviction that women must have the same rights as men, and that they must make their voices heard.”

So, how are we doing as a society with this challenge?

It is already known that women frequently make less than men who do the same jobs, because as some bosses say: ‘they will leave to have children and cannot be counted on to be in the workplace.’

But is this true? Both men and women now take leave to care for infants; some couples choose to take leave in tandem to be with their new infants. Today, it appears most families have two working parents, and this has become the new norm.

We already know that poor women have less access to daycare, since they may work shift jobs when centers are not open or do not have the means to pay for it. Society tells women they must work to qualify for certain benefits, but again, rarely provides the stability for them to work and care for their children. Single mothers who must appear at their jobs in person every day often struggle to cope with changing schedules in the schools when teachers have in-service days and classrooms are closed. Middle-class moms who can work from home do better with this issue, but it remains a problem. Middle-class parents can send their children to summer camps. Options are fewer for single mothers during the summers when schools are closed. Some school systems are already trying to provide weekend meals for children since the best meals they receive are found in free lunch programs at school. Many have added summer lunch programs to meet the needs of students who are not getting adequate nutrition at home. Food insecurity is a known issue, but frequently it is just ignored. We say we value mothers but rarely support them; the same goes for children who cannot provide for themselves.

So, society says it values motherhood but repeatedly places obstacles in the paths of mothers and their families. Many of the southern states that have now denied abortion care for their residents are also among the states that decreased benefits under Medicaid. So, when a mother gives birth, she finds there are fewer healthcare benefits or options for her and her new child. If the state demands a woman give birth when she might have made a different choice if she had bodily autonomy, does the state then bear some responsibility to assist in the care of this child? Many women who look to terminate a pregnancy do so because they already have children and believe they cannot afford to raise another.

According to a report by the United Way, in 2022 over nine million children were estimated to be in poverty in the United States. A total of 37.9 million people were in poverty. In 2022, the highest child poverty rates were in the following states: New Mexico -18.2%, Mississippi -17.8%, Louisiana -15.9%, and Kentucky - 15.8%. Racial disparities also account for many of these numbers as the child poverty rate was 25.9% for Native American children, 19.5% for Hispanic children,  17.8% for Black children, 11.2% for white children, and 9.9% for Asian children.

During COVID, the Expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) was widely applied and moved millions of children out of poverty with monthly payments to families.

According to a 2022 report by the Urban Wire produced by the Urban Institute:

“Research shows monthly CTC payments made since July provided substantial relief to families during the pandemic. The first monthly CTC payments reduced food hardship by 25 percent among households with low incomes with children, and other research shows the share of families who had trouble meeting their weekly expenses declined after the first CTC payment was distributed. Survey data also demonstrate that the CTC reduces financial stress among families with children. Reviving the monthly expanded CTC could help combat the economic hardship created by the current COVID-19 surge.

Our research has shown that if the child tax credit were permanently expanded:

• child poverty would be reduced by more than 40 percent in a typical year, unaffected by other federal aid or pandemic job loss;
• child poverty would fall by at least 30 percent in every state and would fall by at least 50 percent in 11 states;
• children of all demographic groups would be better off as well; and
• child poverty for Black children would fall by more than 50 percent.”

However, despite efforts by many in Congress, these credits were not renewed, despite the overwhelming evidence noted above about the effectiveness of these programs. As reported by the Nineteenth, the current bill, which extends only to 2025, pairs these credits with corporate tax benefits. Some Republicans believe the bill would discourage recipients from working. The tax relief is calculated to be around 525 billion dollars while the child credit is valued at 180 billion. Doesn’t seem fair to me. The renewal passed in the House but is stalled in the Senate.

Once again, society is showing us what it truly values.

Til next week-Peace!

Protests Across Time

Some might say that protesting is as American as apple pie. Certainly, when one looks back at our country's history, mass protests occur with some frequency.

Now, I grew up as a member of the 50s Silent Generation. I remember no significant protests during my teen years. However, when I look at the following decades and also review our history, there were certainly prominent protests over the years.

Recently, we celebrated National Press Freedom Day where the ability to have a free press to report on issues such as protests, marches, and uprisings is lauded. In many countries, these actions are not permitted. Hong Kong recently lost its long-enjoyed ability to hear news critical of mainland China and many reporting outlets are no longer. Apple Daily, one of the last, was shut down in 2021 and its owner, Jimmy Lai, is still jailed. Currently, in Russia, there are no outlets for news critical of the War against Ukraine; several press offices moved to other countries to report on the war and other issues critical of President Putin.

According to The Freedom Forum:

“Famous protests have shaped government policies, public opinion, and future protest movements.

Two First Amendment freedoms are the least known: freedom of assembly and freedom to petition. Freedom of assembly protects the right to gather peacefully. Freedom to petition protects the right to tell government officials without fear of punishment if you think a policy is good or want something to change.

When people have a protest, march, or rally, they use the freedom of assembly. They may also use the freedom to petition.

Famous protests have also raised questions about when these freedoms may be limited to protect public order and safety.”

Marches for Women’s Suffrage

Early in the 20th Century, the Marches for Women's Suffrage occurred from 1913 onward until women finally won the right to vote in all states in 1919 with the passing of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. One of the most prominent happened in Washington, D.C. just before President Wilson's inauguration in 1913. Women in the UK and elsewhere were also marching then for the same causes. At times, the marchers were treated violently and arrested. Some were jailed and force-fed when they went on hunger strikes in protest. So, while the ultimate goal was obtained, it was not a quick or easy battle.

WWI Bonus Marchers

The Veterans from World War I marched to Washington in 1932 asking for a promised bonus for 1945 to be expedited because of the Great Depression that was then gripping the nation. Many set up camp near the Capitol. Since President Hoover was in office then, the site became known as Hooverville. The veterans were called agitators and communists, and their quest failed when Congress did not authorize the changes. The president called in the army and the police to break up the camps and disperse the protestors, causing much shock and dismay.

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

This was the formal name of the March in 1963 where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Hundreds of thousands of marchers from all races and walks of life came to Washington on that day to demonstrate that they supported racial equality, justice under the law, and opportunities for jobs, education, and housing. Many advocates spoke that day, but we probably most remember Dr. King and John Lewis today.

Other significant Civil Rights Marches during that era were the Children's March in Birmingham, which, sadly, ended in violence against the marchers, and the March from Selma to Montgomery, which also ended in violence and galvanized a nation. That march is commemorated still.

Opposition to the Vietnam War

Throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, there were protests against the Vietnam War. One of the largest was in 1967 with the March on the Pentagon. Although it started in a mostly peaceful manner, when protestors broke through fences and tried to enter the Pentagon, they were met with force and hundreds were arrested.

Students Strike to Protest Cambodian Invasion

After news of the invasion of Cambodia in 1970 by American forces, there was widespread condemnation, student on-campus strikes, professor teach-ins, and a march on Washington. Demands included impeachment of President Nixon, suspension of the national draft, immediate withdrawal of all troops from Southeast Asia, amnesty for protesters, and cessation of military actions on campuses. Violence broke out on several campuses against ROTC sites. But when National Guard troops were called in to quell peaceful protests at Kent State, their presence caused tragedy. Four students were killed and nine others were wounded. Millions of students across the country from over 1300 schools walked out of classes in protest of the killings. None of the Guardsmen were convicted for the incident.

The New York Times described the events at the time:

“Tens of thousands of students in dozens of educational institutions here and in adjoining states halted their studies yesterday to show their bitterness and anguish over the invasion of Cambodia and the killing of four Kent State University students.

Peaceful protests ranged from the occupation of buildings at New York University and Niagara University to a solemn memorial service for the slain students at the Prince ton University Chapel, where the congregation expressed its sense of crisis by reciting this verse from a poem by James Russell Lowell: “Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, in the [stjrife] of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side.”

Elsewhere, the strife took place in the streets. Youthful antiwar demonstrators pelted mounted policemen with stones at the United Nations Plaza here. Policemen in riot gear were called to City College after a small group looted Townsend Harris Hall, the regional headquarters of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), of uniforms, boots, and pamphlets, which they used to fuel a bonfire.”

Abortion Rights Marches

According to History.com:

“A march and rally in support of reproductive justice for women draws several hundred thousand people to demonstrations in Washington, D.C. One of the largest protest marches in the nation’s capital, the pro-choice rally came as the U.S. Supreme Court was about to consider the constitutionality of a Pennsylvania state law that limited access to abortions. Many abortion rights advocates feared that the high court, with its conservative majority, might endorse the Pennsylvania law or even overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that made abortion legal.

By 1992, 12 years of Republican rule in the White House had weakened abortion rights, and the Supreme Court threatened to overturn the 1973 ruling. In April 1992, a massive pro-choice rally was held in Washington, and soon after, the high court refused to endorse Pennsylvania’s new restrictions and left the Roe v. Wade decision intact.

On April 25, 2005, more than a million abortion-rights activists again hit the Mall in Washington as part of the March for Women’s Lives. They protested what they saw as attempts by President George W. Bush’s administration to chip away at women’s reproductive rights, as well as the U.S. ban on aid to abortion clinics abroad. “

The Dobbs decision almost made these protests in vain.

Every year, anti-abortion marchers come to Washington to push their causes.

March for Our Lives – Protests Against Gun Violence

In 2018, the Times also reported on the student’s protest against Gun Violence, led by those who survived the Valentine’s Day massacre at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

“If they continue to ignore us, to only pretend to listen, then we will take action where it counts,” Delaney Tarr, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where a gunman killed 17 people last month, told tens of thousands rallying in Washington. “We will take action every day in every way until they simply cannot ignore us anymore.”

“That reality helped drive the Parkland survivors to Washington, as they led a crowd that filled blocks of Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and Capitol Hill. Thousands more rallied at about 800 “sibling” marches around the country and abroad, where students, like those in the capital, made eloquent calls for gun control and pledged to exercise their newfound political power in the midterm elections this fall.”

The Women’s Marches

In 2017, to protest the inauguration and rhetoric of the newly installed misogynistic president, women across the world spoke up and marched in protest. The descriptions and scenes below are from CNN.

“A day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, a sea of demonstrators poured into the streets to advocate for equality and human rights.

They were mothers, sisters, husbands and friends.

They walked in snow, rain, and sunshine, across state lines and international borders.

Some donned pink cat hats, faces painted brightly, some held signs calling for justice and protesting Trump’s rhetoric on immigration and a myriad of other topics. Walking shoulder to shoulder with thousands of others from different backgrounds in a shared desire to be inclusive (although some pro-life groups were controversially uninvited to the march) and make their voices heard. The images below show the scale of the protests.”

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/01/politics/womens-march-photos/

So, in conclusion, I am not disturbed by campus protests, as long as they are peaceful and non-violent and allow free expression and opposing views. Intimidation of those who disagree should have no place, nor should there be destruction of property, nor obstruction of education for those who seek to continue their learning. When police or other authorities are called onto campus, the chance for violence and injuries is increased.

I believe anti-Semitism is wrong. I believe the killing of civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in the wars in Ukraine and Gaza is wrong. Certainly, kidnapping and killing of children deliberately or inadvertently is wrong. Withholding food, medical care, and sanitation is wrong. Killing, jailing, or targeting press members is wrong. Israeli, Palestinian, and Ukrainian citizens all have a right to exist and live in a peaceful world. I so wish that the wise diplomats in this world could make these wars end and allow all to live in peace.

Maybe the noise made by the students’ protests can fall on receptive ears. I hope these events will fade over time without further violence and that authorities will consider some of the demands the students are making. Certainly, a pause in ammunition shipments to Israel made this week by the Biden administration is a start, as are efforts to ensure a cease-fire, even though Netanyahu is said to have turned it down.

Til next week, I wish for peace on campuses and elsewhere.