Let’s Keep On Showing Up

By Susan Wiley

I received notice of the demonstration in my small town of Harleysville, PA
planned for the upcoming Saturday morning. A team of folks at Indian
Valley Democrats have organized rallies in the past beginning with the first Trump administration. Given the current climate it was felt that many people wanted to be together and express their dissatisfaction with so many of the administration’s policies. I considered going but it conflicted with my favorite yoga class. Surely, taking care of my body would be more effective than waving a sign at passing traffic. What would THAT accomplish?

But my heavy heart, filled with a deep sense of sorrow, choking fear and boiling anger which I have been holding inside me since the election, needed air and light. So, I showed up with my sign.

And people came. Lots of them! More than I have seen gathered together since the war in Iraq. And they kept on coming! There were over 100 of us in our little town. Parents with kids, veterans, young people and older folks like me. Each carried a hand-made sign, an expression of their own outrage, like “What are YOU going to DO about this COUP?”

“The only minority destroying America are the Billionaires!”

“When tyranny becomes law, Freedom becomes Duty!”

So many issues were highlighted: Standing with Ukraine, protecting LGBTQ rights, for the right of privacy, for the rule of law, and for the love of democracy.

“What brought you out here this morning,” I asked other rally participants. “I have felt so alone in all this, so helpless. Showing up was something I could do.” And person after person echoed similar sentiments. One man said,

“There isn’t enough cardboard to fit all that I have to say!”

We chanted phrases and waved flags at the traffic. We received some guff from passersby. Someone, seeing my sign, “Reject Hatred” shouted “drop dead!” and I wondered why such a statement would engender so much hostility. But most of the feedback from the drivers was very positive. “Right on!” and “Thank you!” They waved and shouted back.

My heart felt light, lighter than it had in months. We are not alone in our outrage. Our love for democracy and for our country is shared by many other good folks. And showing up and joining our voices together DOES make a difference because we feel our conviction grow stronger and because we inspire others to stand up too.

Of course, we need to take care of ourselves. And, we need to show up and take our part in the resistance. Let’s keep on showing up for each other.

If people are interested in future events in the Bucks-Mont area of Pennsylvania write to IndianValleyDemocrats@gmail.com

I hope to meet you there.

Susan Wiley is a retired physician living in Montgomery County. She is a wife, a mother and grandmother but also “a concerned citizen who desperately wants to preserve our democracy and make our country stronger, safer, healthier and better educated.

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