I named this Substack “POWERS” because I want to feel less powerless, more powerful. (And because my mother’s maiden name is “Powers,” which I think is cool.)
But I’m still figuring out my powers.
Watching protestors marching, chanting, singing, and dancing in LA this past week has been inspiring. These people are finding power in numbers. They are using the power of demonstration to amplify their voices, resist violence, and defend the America they want to see.
As a white woman in this country, I hold a unique power to protest. Police and the National Guard are less likely to target my body with violence. It’s just not a great look when so much of law enforcement is in the name of protecting white women.
But the truth is: I’m terrified of protesting. I did not grow up in a family that attended demonstrations or marches. Though I feel a bit embarrassed to admit it, the first demonstration I ever attended was the Hands-Off demonstration on April 5th earlier this year. Although I have had many opportunities to join protests in the past, I never found the courage to do so.
Seeing the national guard, tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs in LA over the past weeks has only made me more afraid.
I’m realizing that, instead of feeling ashamed of my fears, it’s better to name them. If I can name my fears, maybe I can navigate them.
Here are some of the fears I’ve been experiencing:
I’m afraid of feeling out of place because I don’t have experience protesting, and don’t have authentic relationships with people leading the protest.
I’m afraid of feeling overstimulated and anxious in a crowd of people.
I’m afraid of being trampled in a stampede.
I’m afraid of having tear gas in my eyes and/or on my skin.
I’m afraid of being physically beaten.
I’m afraid of being shot by a rubber bullet.
I’m afraid of being arrested. (Something I’ve never experienced before!)
Are you feeling afraid to attend demonstrations or protests? If so, I’d love to hear what fears you’re experiencing. You can send me a private message or leave a comment below.
While I’m scared to join protests, I’m also afraid of authoritarian rule in our country. The parallels between 1930s Germany and the United States today are eerie. When my fear of tyrannical rule outweighs my fear of protesting, I feel called into action.
My fear doesn’t need to be a hindrance. It can be a compass.
Using my fear as a guide, I’ve been exploring ways to reduce risk and stay safe at demonstrations and protests.
, author of When They Tell You to Be Good, has over a decade of experience as an organizer and participant in demonstrations. He recently published a YouTube video offering valuable suggestions on what to know, what to bring, and how to stay safe during a protest. You can check it out here:Watching this video made me realize how relevant my self-defense practice is for staying safe during a political protest — proper preparation, situational awareness, listening to my intuition, assessing my risk tolerance, finding safety in numbers, and knowing my exit strategy are all part of the game.
Not only does my self-defense practice make me a safer protester, but protesting also defends myself, my community, and my country.
Tomorrow, Saturday, June 14th, “No Kings” protests are scheduled in over 2,000 locations across the US. Is your fear of authoritarian rule greater than your fear of protesting? If you’re planning to attend, how do you plan to stay safe? You can send me a private message or leave a comment below.
Stay safe out there.
With fist bumps & fancy pumps,
Carolyn
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I’m afraid of protesting too. I’ve actually never been to a protest, and I’m a little embarrassed to admit it. But now as a non-citizen in the US, I don’t think those fears were completely unfounded, even though I am a white woman. Instead, I’ve chosen to go back to Canada and carry on the good fight from there, using my online platform rather than my physical body.
"My fear doesn’t need to be a hindrance. It can be a compass." Beautifully stated! You point out powerful similarities to your self-defense training, which I love.
I have protested in the past but I'm not currently in a position to march in a crowd. There are many ways to protest and have our voices heard in addition to a 'formal' protest--help someone who has lost their job, donate to the many non-profits who've lost their federal funding and need private donations more than ever, write letters or emails to representatives, use your creativity and voice to inspire (you are definitely doing this already!)--there are so many ways to protest and resist.