My deep blue politics are no secret, and a look at the 2024 election map results confirms that I come by these beliefs honestly. Broward County, and more importantly, Wilton Manors are one of the few Blue (Democrat) spots in a predominantly Red (Republican) state. Although I’m more than happy to read, write and contribute a few dollars to the causes of my choice, I never wanted to demonstrate with large numbers of people for a variety of reasons. Mainly I don’t like crowds, and I’m not comfortable with crowd think.
One Point of View
Lots of Red and a little Blue
About a month ago, I broke my own rule and attended a peaceful, cheery demonstration that manages to make its point by persistence.
My comfort level changed when I realized that 100-200 people had been meeting every Saturday at Five Points, a major intersection (Dixie Highway and a several state and local roads) in Wilton Manors on Saturdays for at least seven months to protest Trump administration policies.
This was the week, before the record-setting March 28 national protest, and I was happily surprised. The South Florida Don’t Worry, Be Happy mindset that I thought was the creation of a tourism board permeated the event.
Rules included no guns and respect for police, who were nowhere in evidence beyond an occasional drive-by, was encouraged. It was predominately older, white and some offbeat minorities (belly dancers and trombone players, for example) were represented. Sign wielders marched across the five-highway intersection in time to the lights. Signs, costumes and inflatables were pointed and funny.
Although the party atmosphere makes the protestors’ efforts sound trivial, the faithful attendance of most of these protestors over the course of months adds to the weight of the growing voter dissatisfaction with the current administration. This relatively small gathering contributed significantly to the national protest which was held in another location on the east side of Ft. Lauderdale the following week.
My own takeaway from the event was complex. Crowd participation doesn’t have to be traumatic, and engagement can be calibrated to suit the event and the individual. A crowd can be inclusive, and fun.
This blog is the next step for me, and we’ll see where my lessons from the Island City go.
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