- Mar 1, 2000
- 30,841
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So yesterday I had the day off and the wife and I decided it was our turn to step up to the plate and do even a little something to help the cause besides talking about it, watching it on TV/online and changing our social media pictures to black. So we packed up our water and snacks and headed for the scheduled (peaceful) protest march in Milwaukee. I figured I would share my experience and feelings... if it can get even one more person out there, then I will be happier.
First off, I'm white. Middle aged. Balding. Out of shape. Generally stable middle class. Live in the suburbs. Grew up in a rural town. Literally didn't know a POC until highschool (there was a grand total of one in my class... coincidentally, he's now a police captain in Milwaukee). So my experience with this whole situation has changed over the years. From complete ignorance to being aware. In my formidable years, I was somewhat a "rebel" and a wanna be "punk" with lots of true "punk rock" friends. All the music was protest based and "fight the power" mentality. And while I still have many friends that live in that world, and while I still closely identify with that mentality, I know I'm just a suburbanite. I will never ever pretend to know what it's like. I simply can't. I have no way to begin to comprehend the full depth of this matter. Nor will I ever. I can not have empathy, as I have never experienced an ounce of what they are their predecessors have experienced and feel. I can have sympathy though, as I can see it and because I (ironically) can't even imagine it.
That being said, yhe protest organized at a park a few miles out of downtown and about 5 miles from the "final" destination. Everyone gathered and the leaders had their megaphones explaining what everyone was to expect. And more importantly what was expected of them - Throw NOTHING. Confront NOBODY. Stick to the route. Listen and be alert. Take care of yourself and those around you. Just the night prior (Tuesday) there were serious clashes with the police in the late evening. One that was arrested gave a speech. And all were instructed that if you were at the front of the line to expect anything. Granted this was at 3pm and quite honestly, my wife nor I expected to be out "late" with the protest, and that is when the proverbial shit tends to hit the fan. Interestingly too, they said that at 7pm, at the very spot we were standing, a White Nationalist group was planning a rally as well, and if you had your car parked near, fair warning you may not be able to get out after 7pm.
Anyways, the walk started at 3pm. This was my first foray into such a thing. the first thing I noticed, and continued to notice through the whole march was the organization. I don't think there was some "master game plan" drawn out on maps and in secret code, but the people there knew what to do and how do to it. The support vehicles clearing and blocking the streets ahead of us, and those bringing up the rear were impressive. Other cars "leap frogged" ahead of the pack blocking of cross streets and other pulling over to set up water/snack/first aid stations. It was impressive and touching and powerful to witness.
People were 100% courteous and conscientious. I saw ZERO litter. I saw ZERO confrontations. Everyone stayed off the sidewalks (as to not get in the way of pedestrians). Nearly every business along the route, the employees/owners were outside handing out water/food. Cheering the march on etc etc. People sitting on their front lawns with babies and kids waving and clapping with signs of their own. It was fantastic to see.
Those marching were young. Like very young (comparably to me and my wife). Average age had to be 24-25. I'm 46. We were CLEARLY the elders here. But they had all the experience. And it was great to see that. Certainly, it gives me some hope that the younger generation(s) are making progress on this topic and things will change over the years (and decades) to come. Sadly, then the logical part of my brain realizes that the hippies at Woodstock are now the Boomers of today. So we'll see how this round handles the responsibilities the world thrusts on them. I have blind hope though.
To get to downtown, we have to cross the Milwaukee river. Being the 6th day of protests, the city officials finally got "smart" and as the group approached the river, they raised the bridges preventing us from crossing. So we were diverted and every block we went further up, they raised the bridge. Asshole move for sure. But you can't argue it wasn't a simple and smart tactic. I wanted a few of those support cars to go way ahead of us and park on a bridge so they couldn't raise it. Missed opportunity I think.
I admit, I wasn't chanting and yelling like everyone - I mean I never did that at concerts or anything. Just not my style. But being in the middle of it is just heart warming and breaking at the same time. There was such passion. It was anger and frustration no question, but it was focused, pleading and determined and no question impassioned and true. The chants were simple. Powerful and pointful. With no hollow or extra words needed. Names. Last words. Most have heard them before.
In the end, my wife and I marched for about 3 hours. Huge props to my sister who came and picked us up so we didn't have to walk all the way back! She may have had the best line of the day too when she said "supporting protesters is protesting too". We never made it to downtown, but when I got home I started watching the streams and by that time the group we were with met up with 2 other groups and were smack at the heart of Milwaukee on the corner of Wisconsin and Water. Still 100% peaceful, respectful, on target and with purpose. Nothing seemed to change except the size was now 10 times from when we left it.
In the end, there appeared to be no major confrontations with the police last night. The White Nationalists never materialized (even though there was indication and "rumor" that they were planning on meeting up with the march). The blackhawk chopper overhead (!) never came into play.
I'm beyond happy we participated. I will admit that based on the age and the color of skin in the march, I felt sort of like the "tourist" being there. And that term and feeling is often thrown around. Even by typing up this whole thing, I feel like I'm feeding that stereotype. But I guess that's the point, right?... realistically, it shouldn't just be the fight of the POC to carry. Nor just the youth. It should be us middle-aged, white suburban folk there with them. We can't fully comprehend what we're even fighting for, but we know that we're fighting for and supporting those that deserve it. We should let them speak and feel, and we should be there to stand behind, beside and even in front of them if we need to.
TLDR: Go protest. Peacefully.
First off, I'm white. Middle aged. Balding. Out of shape. Generally stable middle class. Live in the suburbs. Grew up in a rural town. Literally didn't know a POC until highschool (there was a grand total of one in my class... coincidentally, he's now a police captain in Milwaukee). So my experience with this whole situation has changed over the years. From complete ignorance to being aware. In my formidable years, I was somewhat a "rebel" and a wanna be "punk" with lots of true "punk rock" friends. All the music was protest based and "fight the power" mentality. And while I still have many friends that live in that world, and while I still closely identify with that mentality, I know I'm just a suburbanite. I will never ever pretend to know what it's like. I simply can't. I have no way to begin to comprehend the full depth of this matter. Nor will I ever. I can not have empathy, as I have never experienced an ounce of what they are their predecessors have experienced and feel. I can have sympathy though, as I can see it and because I (ironically) can't even imagine it.
That being said, yhe protest organized at a park a few miles out of downtown and about 5 miles from the "final" destination. Everyone gathered and the leaders had their megaphones explaining what everyone was to expect. And more importantly what was expected of them - Throw NOTHING. Confront NOBODY. Stick to the route. Listen and be alert. Take care of yourself and those around you. Just the night prior (Tuesday) there were serious clashes with the police in the late evening. One that was arrested gave a speech. And all were instructed that if you were at the front of the line to expect anything. Granted this was at 3pm and quite honestly, my wife nor I expected to be out "late" with the protest, and that is when the proverbial shit tends to hit the fan. Interestingly too, they said that at 7pm, at the very spot we were standing, a White Nationalist group was planning a rally as well, and if you had your car parked near, fair warning you may not be able to get out after 7pm.
Anyways, the walk started at 3pm. This was my first foray into such a thing. the first thing I noticed, and continued to notice through the whole march was the organization. I don't think there was some "master game plan" drawn out on maps and in secret code, but the people there knew what to do and how do to it. The support vehicles clearing and blocking the streets ahead of us, and those bringing up the rear were impressive. Other cars "leap frogged" ahead of the pack blocking of cross streets and other pulling over to set up water/snack/first aid stations. It was impressive and touching and powerful to witness.
People were 100% courteous and conscientious. I saw ZERO litter. I saw ZERO confrontations. Everyone stayed off the sidewalks (as to not get in the way of pedestrians). Nearly every business along the route, the employees/owners were outside handing out water/food. Cheering the march on etc etc. People sitting on their front lawns with babies and kids waving and clapping with signs of their own. It was fantastic to see.
Those marching were young. Like very young (comparably to me and my wife). Average age had to be 24-25. I'm 46. We were CLEARLY the elders here. But they had all the experience. And it was great to see that. Certainly, it gives me some hope that the younger generation(s) are making progress on this topic and things will change over the years (and decades) to come. Sadly, then the logical part of my brain realizes that the hippies at Woodstock are now the Boomers of today. So we'll see how this round handles the responsibilities the world thrusts on them. I have blind hope though.
To get to downtown, we have to cross the Milwaukee river. Being the 6th day of protests, the city officials finally got "smart" and as the group approached the river, they raised the bridges preventing us from crossing. So we were diverted and every block we went further up, they raised the bridge. Asshole move for sure. But you can't argue it wasn't a simple and smart tactic. I wanted a few of those support cars to go way ahead of us and park on a bridge so they couldn't raise it. Missed opportunity I think.
I admit, I wasn't chanting and yelling like everyone - I mean I never did that at concerts or anything. Just not my style. But being in the middle of it is just heart warming and breaking at the same time. There was such passion. It was anger and frustration no question, but it was focused, pleading and determined and no question impassioned and true. The chants were simple. Powerful and pointful. With no hollow or extra words needed. Names. Last words. Most have heard them before.
In the end, my wife and I marched for about 3 hours. Huge props to my sister who came and picked us up so we didn't have to walk all the way back! She may have had the best line of the day too when she said "supporting protesters is protesting too". We never made it to downtown, but when I got home I started watching the streams and by that time the group we were with met up with 2 other groups and were smack at the heart of Milwaukee on the corner of Wisconsin and Water. Still 100% peaceful, respectful, on target and with purpose. Nothing seemed to change except the size was now 10 times from when we left it.
In the end, there appeared to be no major confrontations with the police last night. The White Nationalists never materialized (even though there was indication and "rumor" that they were planning on meeting up with the march). The blackhawk chopper overhead (!) never came into play.
I'm beyond happy we participated. I will admit that based on the age and the color of skin in the march, I felt sort of like the "tourist" being there. And that term and feeling is often thrown around. Even by typing up this whole thing, I feel like I'm feeding that stereotype. But I guess that's the point, right?... realistically, it shouldn't just be the fight of the POC to carry. Nor just the youth. It should be us middle-aged, white suburban folk there with them. We can't fully comprehend what we're even fighting for, but we know that we're fighting for and supporting those that deserve it. We should let them speak and feel, and we should be there to stand behind, beside and even in front of them if we need to.
TLDR: Go protest. Peacefully.
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