The March in San Francisco
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 1:42 am
I've been going to protest marches since the 1960's. The one today was exceptional in several different ways.
Focus: Most protest marches have a lot of ancillary issues that get addressed. The speakers today (with 2 small exceptions) were focused on the problem and solutions. Most of the speakers were young people from 11 to 19 years old. Most were amazingly articulate. I am north of retirement age, but I felt a kindred spirit from the young people at that rally that reminded me a little of the sixties. A lot of sixties protests morphed into anti-everything protests. The young people today were, quite frankly, more focused and reasonable.
How effective will this movement be? As someone observed online today, when Republicans start fielding gun control candidates that aren't in the hip pocket of the NRA, then inroads will have been made. It will be interesting to see the impact of gun control on the 2018 midterms. The figure quoted today was that only 18% of first-time voters vote in midterm elections. If young and first time voters can boost their output this fall, it has the potential to make a big impact in November.
Focus: Most protest marches have a lot of ancillary issues that get addressed. The speakers today (with 2 small exceptions) were focused on the problem and solutions. Most of the speakers were young people from 11 to 19 years old. Most were amazingly articulate. I am north of retirement age, but I felt a kindred spirit from the young people at that rally that reminded me a little of the sixties. A lot of sixties protests morphed into anti-everything protests. The young people today were, quite frankly, more focused and reasonable.
How effective will this movement be? As someone observed online today, when Republicans start fielding gun control candidates that aren't in the hip pocket of the NRA, then inroads will have been made. It will be interesting to see the impact of gun control on the 2018 midterms. The figure quoted today was that only 18% of first-time voters vote in midterm elections. If young and first time voters can boost their output this fall, it has the potential to make a big impact in November.