Member-only story
Have the Angry People Just Switched Places?
Is this inauguration something hopeful and new?
The sights and sounds of four years ago are a deep scar on my soul. I was angry.
Four years ago my family and I took to the streets of New York City to protest an election. It was estimated that 400,000 people were marching. The march was loud, forceful, and peaceful.
Today, there were 25,000 armed National Guard troops in Washington, D.C.
Four years ago New York City was a place of resistance by private citizens. It was a place of anger and outrage, fear and uncertainty. It was disbelief. There was no nationwide manhunt for people of “interest” by the FBI.
Today, the arrests are published daily for the events of January 6th.
Four years ago the streets were packed so tightly in protest that at times it was difficult to breathe.
Today, we run from each other and keep our distance because of a worldwide plague.
It is still difficult to breathe. How many who were hopeful four years ago are hopeless and exhausted today? How many of us that were angered have found comfort? How many who are now hungry were once well-fed?