I’ve been an activist most of my life. I’ve been in marches that ended with cars overturned and I’ve been tear-gassed, those things sometimes happen. Saturday’s protest was beautiful until it wasn’t.
My son went with me and after some great speeches we started the march. We didn’t realize how long the march would be (I clocked it, and we walked 4 miles) but even with tired legs and feet we were feeling the joy from standing up for democracy. Over 10,000 people took part.
My son turned to me with a smile and said I’m really glad I came. Sharing that moment was heartwarming. Then shots rang out, people started screaming, shooter, run! And people scattered in all different directions, all of us running for our lives.
I fake like I get around pretty well but my body is riddled with arthritis and because of that I’m in a lot of pain all the time, and, as I found at that moment, I can’t really run. My son kept turning around to make sure I was right behind him with a look of absolute fear in his eyes. We ran until we could find a building to duck into to hide. We stayed until we knew it was safe, then made the somber trek with hundreds of people back to the park. The color had drained from everyone’s faces and it just gave me the sickest feeling ever. It’s one thing to fear for your life, it’s another watching your child fear for his.
My heart goes out to the man who lost his life, I’m still shedding tears for him. It didn’t have to happen but this administration has made this behavior not only permissible it has encouraged it.
I’ll never stop fighting. But a man lost his life last night doing the same thing. I hope no one forgets that.
Ann Clark, Millcreek
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