Mass Protest and Intimate Celebrations
This past weekend was filled with rage and joy in parts large and small. On Saturday October 18th, I ventured out to two of the 2,500 nationwide gatherings under the banner of No Kings.
My first stop was the corner of Hollywood and Ventura in Hollywood where a few thousand people carried signs, wore costumes and urged drivers to honk for democracy. The second was the mass gathering in downtown Los Angeles where tens of thousands gathered and marched to Gloria Molina park by the LA City Hall.
The sounds of music by an immigrant-led band singing anti-ICE ballads mingled with the antics of inflatable costumed protesters. The scent of bacon wrapped hotdogs--a signature LA street-cuisine--hung in the air. People wore Palestinian kuffiyahs and waved upside-down US flags. There was a spectrum of messaging, from signs urging the passage of California's proposition 50 to calls for a General Strike.
Later this week, I'll be sharing some of the interviews I conducted with attendees of the No Kings marches in LA.
The day after No Kings, my family and close-knit community celebrated Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, signifying the triumph of good over evil- an appropriate celebration in these times. While my family is categorically atheist, Diwali was a festival I grew up celebrating and it's a time of year my children are helpfully reminded of their immigrant heritage.
Tired from marching and interviewing people, I spent Saturday evening making a large pot of spiced lentils to take to a friend's Diwali gathering, and a huge batch of my favorite Indian mithai (sweet) made from cashews and cardamom. I laid out my vintage silk sari, ironing the folds smooth.
My half-Indian sons know the drill– they donned their silk kurtas and we gathered with friends and ate delectable foods until we could eat no more, then gorged ourselves on sweets, and talked and danced. And when the sun went down, we lit sparklers and danced some more. (In 2021, I wrote about my family's Diwali traditions for YES! Magazine).
Being an immigrant in the United States has always been a fraught experience. But, at times like this, when culture can be an armor and a well-spring of shared experiences, we assert our power and revel in the richness we bring to this land.
P.S. We are still collecting signatures for my special correspondent, Dortell Williams' freedom. Read my latest piece for LA Progressive about him and please do remember to sign the Change.org petition and write to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
