Activism and leadership

Activism is rising and how to get involved is an individual choice, particularly since there are so many ways to express your views and stand up for what you believe in. I joined 100+ residents of the Chicago North Shore who were part of the U.S. Tesla Takedown demonstrations that took place across the country at Tesla dealerships. I learned about the protests through Indivisible Chicago, one of many local groups organizing protests, boycotts, and other initiatives to push back on Trump's chaos. So there is no question, violence and property destruction were not advocated to the slightest degree and I would not have considered participation if any was implied.

I wanted to do something but didn't know where to start and how to get connected. What I learned was that it was easy, networks exist for those who are concerned about where the U.S. is headed, and it feels great to find other people who are concerned as well. Flatly stated - it restored hope that the Trump Project 2025 implementation is not unstoppable. Trump will become unstoppable only if citizens don't step up.

What did it feel like to go to a random spot where I might not know anyone else or not know how to plug in? I arrived a few minutes early and saw individuals and small groups milling around the Tesla dealership, sizing things up for what was to come. The police showed up a few minutes before the start time and simply sat in their cars, awaiting what would come. People then started converging from everywhere, some carrying signs, others just showing up. We assembled on the public property in front of the dealership and the police came around to tell us where we needed to stay to not violation private property rights of the Tesla dealership. Protestors with signs lined up on both sides of the roadway, striking a chord with a cheer every few minutes. I started asking questions of people around me and got into numerous informative conversations as I became more comfortable sharing my concerns. Although I was there to protest an unelected billionaire's takeover of the U.S. government, I am deeply concerned about attacks on higher education and I am concerned about the peoples of Ukraine and Gaza having a chance to live as I do - secure safe, and prosperous.

I met a number of really fun and interesting people, two of them I knew from previous events. We introduced each other to continue expanding our networks and we talked about the things that concern us most. The encouragement of passersby who honked their horns in approval bolstered the positive feeling of being there for everyone. When I left, I made sure to thank the policeman as I walked by - expressing appreciation for their protection of our civil rights. There is no doubt that I will continue to watch for opportunities to speak up and I hope many more will join in the days to come.