The election of Donald Trump to the most powerful office in the world is a terrible thingsome might even say tragic. But is it more tragic, does it necessitate a larger response, than the murder of a child by state agents? How does, I wondered, one rationalize taking to the streets for this and not that? Not donating a dime or a care to Standing Rock but throwing down a credit card for whatever shows up when you search feminist on Etsy. Coming out on this beautiful Saturday morning to demand basic human rights for all, while children in Flint continue to be poisoned by the most basic of resources. How does this compel you to action more than that?
In downtown Los Angeles, the lack of police presence was conspicuous and angered me acutely. As many have noted, the mostly-white Womens March garnered a completely different response from law enforcement than the more melanin-heavy demonstrations which promote with the exact same peaceful intentions. More frustrating were boasts about the lack of arrests on Saturday from people who somehow still dont realize the color of your skin is often the primary determinant of how youll be treated by police.
Sitting on my couch that evening and trying to decompress from the day, my dissatisfaction nagged at me. I knew and understood the feelings of many women of color who understandably decided to sit out this march, noting it was time for others to participate in the work theyve been doing for so long.
I am glad, if nothing else, that the marches dwarfed Trumps inauguration attendance and at the very least caused him a a sense of injury. I have an appreciation for any new engagement born from the march and I cant even fault those who enjoyed the dayafter all, there were food trucks. It feels good to feel good, particularly following the dark circumstances of the day before.
Still, what was really bothering me? Where was my sense of awe and hope? The next morning realized: I dont trust these people.
I dont trust most of the Womens March participants to show up again. I dont trust the resolve of their concern. I dont trust that all voted for Hillary Clinton or recognized the unprecedented threat of Donald Trump. I dont trust that they understood this was an election to do everything in our power to keep him out of the White Housetoo important to throw a vote away on Jill Stein or write in your mothers name on the ballot.
What I do trust, however, are bigots. I trust bigots to remain bigots. I trust them to continue sending me gloating, racist emails and harass John Legend and shoot black people for as long as they continue to get away with it. I trust them because theres evidence. History is riddled with proof. Their hatred has always persevered.
As nice as it may have felt at the time, theres no proof this march this time will spark the resistance we need. The excitement, then, felt somewhat hollow and premature. Writing for The Guardian, Occupy Wall Street co-creator Micah White urged us to consider the Womens March and its effectiveness in the context of other protests in history. Is this the means to the end we desire?
