Activism in a Pandemic

ActivismIN A PANDEMIC

I think it’s safe to assume that when the clock struck midnight on January 1st, 2020, that not even the pessimists among us could’ve predicted the turmoil and intensity of the year ahead. The coronavirus has caused an upheaval of the established way of life for much of the world. Even without COVID-19, this year would undoubtedly stand out for the ongoing and monthslong wave of Black Lives Matter protests that erupted within the United States in May and have since spread to numerous other countries around the world. With the shadow of the coronavirus looming overhead, the situation has evolved into something truly unexpected and unprecedented. The nature of the coronavirus and its spread has made the 2020 protests a more divisive topic than they would otherwise have been. Though research indicates that protesting has not contributed unduly to the coronavirus infection rates, there has been an ongoing debate over the safety of protesting during a pandemic. This question has been raised within my own family and I have listened to my relatives argue back and forth on the need for fundamental changes to how the United States deals with racial justice versus the omnipresent concerns for public health. I haven’t attended a protest yet, unfortunately, but I don’t think the protestors themselves are ignorant to the realities of the pandemic. Everyone who protests is aware of the risk of infection that they are taking on. Many of the people who protest can be categorized within higher risk groups, such as diabetics, asthmatics, and people with autoimmune disorders. The Black community, which has been at the forefront of planning and executing these protests, has one of the highest mortality rates for COVID-19 of any racial or ethnic group as reported by the CDC. Despite this, the turnout for the demonstrations has been nothing short of tremendous, even months after they first began. People are actively putting their own health

10 Fall 2020

America can and must do better

at risk by protesting and yet they do it anyway, and in increasing numbers. Some have called this ignorance or hypocrisy, but I choose to see it as bravery. There is something awe-inspiring about hundreds or thousands of people coming together over something they all value so highly. Solidarity between those that have never met, walking side by side and hand in hand in

the name of some unifying principle or idea. Especially now, I think it shows a great deal of trust: trust that the people around you have been responsible, have followed rules regarding social distance and have gotten tested. I think it’s brave to do this; to put so much faith in other people, to put yourself at risk during such a tumultuous and uncertain time. It has brought tears to my eyes to think about the millions of people around this country and around the world who have decided that justice and equality are worth the risk to their health and safety. If you have protested, thank you. What you have done is a truly courageous thing. I hope you understand that and I hope you continue to fight. The human spirit is indomitable. It can not and will not fold. In a period of history that feels defined by division and uncertainty, I see the 2020 protests as a manifestation of this principle. In a time of record unemployment, political unrest and a pandemic whose long term impact is unknown, people are still putting themselves on the line for the idea that America can and must do better. In the face of all that, the least we can do is keep moving forward.

“With the shadow of the Coronavirus looming overhead, the situation has evolved into something truly unexpected and unprecedented.”

Story by Brian Paulsen Design by Emily Miller Illustration by Emily Miller

Fall 2020