On Saturday, October 18, 2025, 7 million people stood up and sent a message to our President. It was the largest protest in the county’s history. There was no reported evidence of unlawful behavior, yet we were labeled as terrorists by the administration. I wonder if adding that to my resume would give me a sense of “savoir-vivre”.
On the Wednesday before, I told Rich I was depressed. My typical attitude is one of optimism, accompanied by energy. These days, I’ve been watching Netflix and taking naps. Not a good look. But on that day, I was alone, as this was my journey. It was important to me, not to my family or friends. It was about me raising my voice to say, “This is not my country. This is wrong”.
It was a beautiful day, and with the volume of cars, traffic was visibly slowing. I detoured into the Swimming River parking lot and decided to walk the rest of the way. I cautiously merged with the couples carrying colorful signs, making our way to the designated site. As I crossed the Joe Kyrillos walkway, the Red Bank bridge came into view and captured my breath. With my eyes focused on the horizon, I stopped allowing the crowd to continue on. Quiet tears began to fall. If you had asked me how I would react when attending my first protest, tears would not have made the short list. I called Rich and said, “I am not alone anymore.”
The crowd stretched as far as the bridge and into the side streets. Baby Boomers carried handmade signs. Soccer moms, coming straight from games, meandered, still wearing team t-shirts. Children in wagons blew bubbles, and teenagers encouraged passing cars to honk their horns. Costumes, music, and genuine joy filled the street. I was surprised by the amount of engagement and overwhelmed by the positive vibe of the crowd. The air swirled with hope.
I went to the protest because I chose to stop sitting in anger and sadness. I knew it came with a price, but for me, silence is always too steep a price to pay. Just like the sign says, “What will I tell my grandchildren?” I will tell them I did it for them.
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