Freedom of Speech - My First Rally

On Saturday I attended my first political rally and march in downtown Portland, Oregon.  I decided that I wanted to take a stand on what I feel is right. 

I began my peace activism during the Vietnam war, when I saw all of those wonderful young men sent there and so many were killed - 58,000 of our military - gone.  No one could really explain why we were there.. it seemed like such a senseless war.  

Dayle is such a good man, he drove me there and dropped me and my folding chair off and found a nearby parking spot to wait for me.  He even walked over to be with us for a while.  I met my younger sister Denise and 3 of her friends there.  I made the 2 florescent pink signs for us.  I must say, it was a great day of solidarity and I came away filled with hope for the future.

Dayle and Denise took turns taking a photo, this one she is behind me.

My sister was a favorite of the photographers and ended up being on the television news and in lots of photos I found on the internet!  :-)

These two little girls walked around the Terry Schrunk Plaza where many of us chatted with them and snapped a photo.  I am glad to see young Hispanic girls learning to stand up for their rights.

We rallied and marched in opposition of the man who is living in the White House and embarrasses our country on a daily basis.  This particular march was called the "Impeachment March".  All of these people came here to say, enough is enough, we need to remove this man from office who does not represent our country in a good light.  Who is bringing our world to the brink of nuclear war.  Who cheats on his wives, who bragged about grabbing a woman by her private parts because you can do that if you're "famous", the list goes on, you know it all or you should.  His disdain for people of color is obvious.  This is not okay.

This guy was in a wheelchair and he made the effort to come to this rally, several others in wheelchairs and walkers and canes came to make their stand too.

One of the highlights of this rally was this little girl.. some music was played and an old man was dancing.. this darling child came to the middle of the plaza and turned to look at everyone.. then she began to mimic the movements of the old man and raised her arms and did a slow dance.. everyone was charmed.

She is being raised to be involved.

Cute little darling.

I was one of the first people there but people kept arriving and filling the place.

One of the speakers at the rally, I did not get her name but she was from one of the countries that 45 called a "shit-hole country".  I simply cannot imagine a sitting president saying such things.  It has got to stop.

She had a powerful message, racism is not acceptable in our America, the "melting pot".

The guy in front of me had the MOST amazing photographic set-up, his iPhone was in a frame, and there was a big zoom lens in the front of the camera lens on the phone, it was all connected up to a battery pack in his backpack.  

The crowd grew and grew.. 

There were several other speakers, all beseeching us to fight racism and support each other's rights.  And to VOTE.  To get good people in office who will represent ALL of us, not just the billionaires in our country.  

I can only hope this administration that is tearing down our environment, inciting racism and division will be the call to action of the good people in our country to change things for the better.

And then the march began, and it was peaceful and strong and there were no arrests.  I made my way to the street where Dayle picked me up after the march moved north.  

We watched the local news and on KATU, there was my sister Denise carrying her sign in the march!  :-)

I know there are those who disagree with me on this, and to you, I'm sorry if it upsets you.  But I must speak my truth and shout out how I feel.   This is a chant from the march -- "NO TRUMP, NO KKK, NO RACISM IN THE USA!!!

((hugs)), Teresa :-)