I was a Vietnam War Protester. Here We Are Again.

I was a young teenager during the era of the Vietnam War Protests. I remember protesting with kids from my high school, New Trier East, in Winnetka, Illinois, which is more like a small college, with a very smart, turned on student body. Truthfully, I really didn’t understand the reason we were protesting but I had some vague idea that we were on the right side of history. The people who were protesting were the fun, cool, anti-establishment kids, and I loved the anti-war music. We had the support of music community, Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger and so many more. I wanted to be part of this movement. Those nationwide protests had a big influence on United States policy.
Fast forward 60 years and here we are again, and by the look of the crowd on Saturday in front of  the Tesla dealership in Mt. Kisco, I think that many of these protesters were also anti-Vietnam War protesters. 
The difference for me, this time, is that I fully understand the reason why we are protesting. I know that our democracy is at stake because of all the reasons anyone who is awake and paying attention understands. We, the citizens of the United States, have finally come out of our shock and have started to do one of the only things we can do, protest in the streets, make noise, rise up and make our voices heard. We must be brave and combat this authoritarian government. We have to push back and hope that when our politicians see us being loud and brave, that they will find backbone and courage to help us fight for our democracy.  Right now, most of our politicians seem stymied and afraid to act. Even our universities and law firms are capitulating to the demands of this administration, something that is absolutely confounding to me. If we don’t have the law or the freedom of thought and speech that I thought we had at our universities, what do we have as a democracy? I hope that when our politicians see the fortitude of their constituents, they will find their strength and moral center to fight along with us. At least I pray they will. 

Read more about the Tesla Takedown here: https://yonkersledger.creativeopen.net/wp-admin/post.php?post=52361&action=edit