Instagram · Oct 22, 2023

in imageAt every protest, there's people who snatch the
megaphone just to hear themselves talk. They
drone on, preach to the choir or berate it, replace
energy with melodrama. But there's always folks
standing by quietly, the ones with clipboards,
cases of water, who get the permits, set up bail
funds, print the info pamphlets, organize voter
drives, work at tiny non-profits when the glory of
the day is over. Those are the real teachers...
Social media is in a protest formation right now.
An effective protest works as a classroom, a
funeral march and a parade. We don't berate folks
for how they learn, grieve or feel joy. We don't yell
at them for the legibility of their signs. Whether
you are "doing enough" is between you, your
conscience and your God (if you have one).
Tragedy and war help us to find teachers. Who is
asking if you need help with how to help? Who is
offering tangible solutions and who is selling
hysteria? Who is using the megaphone as a
microphone and who is quietly building
infrastructure? Who is making you feel helpless
and who is making you feel powerful?
@herreraimages
Leo Herrera
@herreraimages