Women's March Austin 10-17-20
I went with my wife to the Women’s March in Downtown Austin on nice Saturday. We had gone to the 1st one right after Trump’s sad and ridiculous inauguration. We’ve been to quite a few protests over the years, but the Women’s march in 2017 was special. It was huge and glorious! People were still shocked but resolved to save our Democracy and literally save our Nation from the darkest Impulses rumbling in our National gut.
There was a positive, hopeful energy. People formed and joined groups. People who had been politically apathetic saw what kind of ideas fill the void when they didn’t participate. This year’s version is Austin had the same energy, but unfortunately much smaller due to COVID and I think more than a little exhaustion. This has been an exhausting 4 years.
In nearly 4 years since we have seen Trump and his enablers trash almost every institution. He and the decadent party that propped him, up more than fulfilled many of our worst expectations.
We have also seen a rebirth of the Democratic Party and the progressive movement. We are about to change the whole direction of our Nation. That scares the hell out of some people.
Saturday, the worst of the worst, the Proud boys and their goonish hangers-on staged a “counter-protest”. There about 3 dozen vs 500 or so Women’s marchers. They disrupted and intimidated. They took the gazebo stage and blared sirens. They encroached on the speakers and marchers. They yelled ridiculous Trumpkin slogans and hurled vile insults at the women. Of course, they were armed with pepper spray, mace, bats and knives visible. I’m sure more than a few guns were in the backpacks slung over their tactical vests.
There was no “antifa” or anarchists for them to fight. The marchers marched, chanted, made a space for the speakers. The signs were great. We had strong, smart, sisters and bothers, and great speakers. We blocked off the morons trying to encroach. The goons were left to yell and insult impotently.
The police kept their distance. There were a couple of half-hearted attempts to goad protesters into fights, but nothing real broke out the two hours we were there. The police would have not been able to intervene quickly.
I could go on and on about how ridiculous these assholes are. What I’d like to relate after being face to face for way too long with these morons is they are deluded, dangerous, and are not going to be happy when their sides loses big this year. Some will slink away to rage online and never do anything. A few are going to keep at it. They think liberals are literally evil and worthy of killing. They are organized and some are prior military. As laughable as their beliefs are, these fascist goons are no joke.
Keep your eyes open at the polls. Attend progressive rallies and protests when you feel safe doing so. We must outnumber and out organize these goons every time and for a long time. See y’all at the next march!
