Protest as Patriotism
- Irma Herrera
- 5 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
The United States of America, long known as the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, doesn't feel that way for many of us at this time. I have a mix of emotions as the 4th of July approaches. How can I not be alarmed seeing masked men (and a few women) wrestling people to the ground, dragging them away in unmarked cars? People are forcibly taken to prisons in other countries without due process. Hoopla to mark the opening of Alligator Alcatraz. Who could imagine that cruelty and humiliation of fellow human beings would a core design of government policies? Who hasn't heard about US citizen children with cancer deported along with their mothers, sure to die as the medical care that could cure them is no longer available? And watching California Senator Alex Padilla, for whom I voted, being tackled and handcuffed at a Kristi Noem press conference where she was spewing outrageous lies about Los Angeles and California, wow, that was too much.
Entire communities, including those of us who have lived in this country for generations, fear for our safety and that of our loved ones. There is a disconnect between the myths about our country and the reality of living in the United States. Of course, this is not a new experience. For generations, our families have been treated as second-class citizens, regardless of how many generations we have lived here or that our grandfathers, fathers, brothers, uncles, and cousins fought and sometimes died defending the freedom and liberties of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Patriotism runs deep in communities of color, particularly among Latinos, African Americans, Native Americans, and Asians of all backgrounds. The Japanese American sons and daughters (whose families were in internment camps during WWII) courageously fought overseas, even as their families were treated as traitors.
The United States belongs as much to us as it does to anyone else, and my form of patriotism is protesting injustice. Let's remember that July 4th celebrates breaking free from the injustices that King George III and the British Empire wrought upon the colonies on the Eastern seaboard.
I became a lawyer to challenge discrimination and unfair treatment, and I have done this alongside many colleagues, including organizers, elected officials, lawyers, policy experts, and business leaders. During my lifetime, ordinary citizens who showed up for themselves and others have created a more level playing field for people from all walks of life. I have witnessed the power of the law to redress wrongs. We have worked diligently over the decades to make sure the ideals behind the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are a reality for everyone, not just some Americans. There is a full-court press to take away our rights, and countless people are fighting to uphold the principles of a country that has a system of laws, not a King who rules by fiat.
As a playwright and solo performer, I tell stories about our community, sharing how we are part of the American story that has evolved alongside the country.
I confess that sometimes, I get discouraged and overwhelmed. I was feeling enormous despair yesterday. And then a chance encounter with a neighbor, I'll call Carlos, lifted my spirits.
I emailed several neighbors asking if anyone had available space in their Green Bin (we recycle many things in Northern California). Carlos was the first to respond, "Any of our neighbors are welcome to use our Green Bins if there is space." As I approach Carlos' house, he's there spiffing his front yard, and we start chatting. He's outraged about a specific ICE abuse in his father's neighborhood in Southern California. He says, "I'm just sorry I wasn't as outraged at other injustices as they were happening to other people. I wish I'd been more active around Black Lives Matter or the attack on Ukraine. I remind him that what matters most is what we do moving forward. We agree on the importance of speaking up against outrages and keeping each other informed of the goings-on. At my request, he sends me the video of the incident near his father's home in SoCal. Have a look for yourself by clicking here. Fortunately, the resident of the house and her two young children were not injured. Such excessive use of force is definitely intended to terrorize our community.
Carlos says the words I hear so often, "I feel so helpless, like there is nothing I can do."
"I imagine that this is what was happening in Germany and Poland," a Jewish friend tells me the previous day. "I used to think, why didn't people resist and fight back? Maybe the Holocaust wouldn't have happened. I'm beginning to understand that when people are so overwhelmed, they might want to keep their heads down and decide that there's nothing they can do. What can I do? I'm just one person?"
She shrugs her shoulders.
"There is always something we can do," I tell my friend.
There were protests in Nazi Germany, both by individuals and groups. Those who were caught were fined and/or imprisoned, and in some cases, executed. In the end, not enough people stood up and said “no” to the cruelty and injustice forced on them.
"There is one thing I will not concede: that it might be meaningless to strive for a good cause."
~Vaclav Havel
I've been carrying this Vaclav Havel quote in a little red notebook where I write random things I want to remember. This morning, I transferred the quote into a new notebook.
Even small things are not meaningless. Carlos sharing that story with me allows me to forward it to you. We bear witness to what is unfolding in our country.
Podcasters and Substack writers offer various suggestions on things we can do.
Speak Up
Stand Up
Show Up
Speak Up. You hear lies or disparaging remarks about gays, Latinos, African Americans, trans kids, Muslims (the list is nearly endless). Speak up, don't stay quiet; you can respectfully tell your uncle, neighbor, or grandfather that some things they have heard are not true. No one is out there eating their neighbors' dogs and cats. Public schools aren't offering surgeries to make kids trans or indoctrinating children to become gay. No one is proposing we adopt Sharia law. Refute the lies.
Staying informed allows us to speak up. There is no significant shortage of great writers out there with newsletters or Substacks. Here are a few I follow: The Contrarian, Carlos Eduardo Espina, Heather Cox Richardson, Katie Phang, Jorge Ramos, and Anand Giridharadas of The Ink. Many on-the-ground journalists and community activists are reporting from around the country on Instagram, Facebook, BlueSky, and TikTok. Carlos Eduardo Espina is a true standout, but there are many others. Ask trusted friends who they recommend you read and follow.
Caution: Limit the amount of media you consume; it can overwhelm you.
Stand Up. We have and will continue to do so. More than five million people took to the streets to protest this Administration on No Kings Day last month.
Red and Blue states, small towns, big cities, people in rural communities lined up on farm-to-market roads. Hundreds of people have been showing up at town meetings all over the country, often to protest their elected officials, who do NOT come to the town halls. Onerous and repressive laws, primarily in the form of Executive Orders, are being imposed at a rapid pace. The Supreme Court is enabling much of the worst actions of the Trump regime -- more reason to take to the streets. We continue to make our views heard, and eventually, we will turn this ship around.
I protest in front of my house once a week, on Monday evenings at 6 pm. Sometimes it's three or four people; other times it's ten. I've made new friends in my community. We receive supportive honks and waves from drivers, nods from folks on bikes, and thank-yous from pedestrians. We occasionally receive a thumbs down or a middle finger salute, but we have a 99% support rate. There are protests in your future. Standing up in protest has made a difference and will continue to make a difference: that's how the people secured major civil rights laws and ended the Vietnam War. I recognize that many vulnerable people are not able to protest; they are rightly afraid, and some may have health limitations.
So, those of us who are willing and able to speak out make our voices heard by standing up. Please feel no guilt if you can't attend every protest; go when and if you can. There are July 4th Free America events around the country, and July 17th is a Good Trouble Lives on Day of Action. Learn more about future protests here.
Show Up. Fostering a sense of community is an essential step in showing up for one another. Some folks volunteer at food banks; others give money to civil rights organizations. If you belong to a community of faith, attend services at your local church, mosque, or synagogue, and check in on members of your congregation who may be ill or elderly, suffering from depression, mourning the loss of a loved one, or unemployed. Invite neighbors over for a meal or gather to experience the connection. Read books together. There are numerous ways to engage with people in our neighborhood and broader communities.
Another way we show up is by donating to causes that are near and dear to us. Our contributions make a difference. I'm listing several organizations where you might consider donating if your resources permit. All these Immigrant Rights Organizations are doing great work, and I can personally vouch for them. There are many others (including the ACLU) that are at the forefront of defending immigrant communities around the United States. All these groups need our support; click to visit their websites.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
Center for Gender and Refugee Studies
East Bay Sanctuary Covenant
And we show up by living as authentically and joyfully as we can. No one can rob us of our joy. Last weekend, I attended a dance party in Berkeley that drew a broad cross-section of the Bay Area's civil rights community. These events (there have been others) are called Shut Up and Dance Parties and feature live music. The Cooperators is a collection of talented musicians that includes judges, law professors, civil rights leaders, and distinguished practitioners in the legal community. Gathering to enjoy each other's company, with good music and dancing, refuels our tanks. We are in for the long haul, fighting the good fight, and opportunities to celebrate friendship and solidarity are joyous occasions.
Recently, I saw Dolores Huerta, an icon in the Chicano community, being interviewed by Diego Luna, who was hosting the Jimmy Kimmel show. Dolores is still out there protesting and speaking against injustice at 95 years young. I was inspired to watch this conversation. Click here to see.
During the interview, she dropped many pearls of wisdom:
"You can cut all the flowers, But you can't hold back the Spring."
~ Pablo Neruda
No matter how challenging things are, keep the faith. Dolores Huerta reminds us that it is us -- WE the people -- who will make change happen. Si Se Puede.
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