Last week Hartford had a scream circle, various other healing events, and a monthly Showing Up for Racial Justice meeting that saw a surge in attendance.
More is yet to come.
A “Peaceful Pro-Love March” is planned for today, November 18, on the University of Hartford campus. Participants will be wearing black for the event that begins at 3 p.m. at Gengras Student Union. They say: “We want to convey a message that UHart stands up for inequalities across all spectrums. Whether it be concerning minorities, members of the LGBTQ community, women’s rights, Muslims, etc., we want to ensure that everybody at this school feels that they have the right to be loved and accepted.” Participants are asked to use only hand-held signs (no sticks) and to refrain from including profanity on the signs.
Saturday, people will be gathering at the Connecticut State Capitol for a “Not My President” gathering starting at 6 p.m. They say this event is being held to “show solidarity with all our brothers and sisters. For all who are concerned over the election results.” The organizer says “Anger, messages of hate/intolerance, and of course violence will not be tolerated by people on either side of this dispute” and that this is a peaceful protest.
An “Equality March” will be held on Sunday, November 20, at State House Square in downtown Hartford at noon. Of this demonstration, organizers say: “In light of all the pain and hurt that many are feeling post-election, we thought it would be best to call this an equality march versus an “anti-Trump” protest because it is counterproductive to be ANTI. We should all be FOR equality and justice. This is a rallying call for all the environmental, human and animal rights groups to come together and march peacefully for equality.” This march will go to the State Capitol, which is roughly a one-mile walk, depending on the route.
Later on Sunday, the Metropolitan Community Church of Hartford (155 Wyllys Street) is holding a vigil for the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. There will be speakers and a candle-lighting. Organizers say this event is to “remember the lives lost during the year as a result of anti-transgender fear, bigotry, and hatred. We gather to honor those who lived authentically. We gather with hope…and to promise that we will continue to work toward a society that truly values acceptance, inclusion, justice, and love.” This begins at 6 p.m.
Connecticut Immigrant Rights Alliance has organized the “United Against Hate March of Resilience” for Monday, November 21. People will gather at 3:30 outside of the Abraham A. Ribicoff Federal Building and Courthouse (450 Main Street). At 4, the group will march to the Old State House where they will rally.
Richard
Love, love, love all we need is love. Kiss the abusers hand, live in denial, love will bring down this dreadful new regime in DC. These are dangerous criminals, neo-Nazis that we are dealing with, this isn’t the dawning of the age of Aquarius. Enough of this “we are afraid attitude.” It will get you nowhere but a thorny place under their thumbs. I had a good laugh when I read about the march, Not My President and the executive order from the organizer says, “Anger, messages of hate/intolerance, and of course violence will not be tolerated by people on either side of this dispute” and that this is a peaceful protest. Okay so let’s all be nice and tolerant of these folks and not show our anger. Don’t folks have every right to be angry? Aren’t the words Not My President angry?
We will never persuade these criminals no matter how many times we blow kisses to them. Love trumps hate yeah, yeah, but how many people who are directly in the way of this beating stick will have to suffer while some folks wait for love to trump hate? What a privileged statement love trumps hate is! Kiss the bully and oh please don’t be too outraged and disgusted, please don’t show any ANTI-trump as we march for equality, don’t be to angry, we gotta be nice folks for you know that love wins and someday peace will come.
Now I like peaceful protest as much as the next gal, as I refuse at my age and years in the movements to ever again be pepper sprayed, tear gassed, beaten upside of my heads, get arrested, go to jail or become a martyr and give my life over to their power. I certainly will not be a fool about it all and think that love will win with neo-Nazis, white supremacists, the KKK, or the likes of the new regime. This old queer knows ourstories to well for that nonsense.