Today, all across the country, in over 700 locations, people gathered together to protest the Trump regime’s cruel and inhumane family separation policy, that has ripped thousands of children away from their parents at the US/Mexico border, and put many of those children in cages and detention camps.

Although it was searingly hot here in Asheville, NC, today, there was a large turnout, at least a few hundred people — and this is a small city!     This was the first protest event I ever attended with an actual sign I made.   Early this morning I went to Dollar General and picked up some inexpensive art supplies and then worked on my sign.  Here’s the finished result (I decorated both sides).  I’m not much of an artist, but I think the drawings managed to capture the emotion I was trying to convey.

Several people took photos of my sign, which was a nice feeling.   I also took photos of the signs other people were carrying.  I’m always so impressed at the creativity I see whenever I attend a protest or rally.   Here’s an example I really liked (this was also a two-sided sign).  The bottom picture is a depiction of the two year old Honduran girl who has become an icon of both the immigration crisis and this important movement (it’s hard to see the red of her shirt).     I love the way Lady Liberty has taken her hand and is guiding her to safety — something that is unfortunately far from the reality that is actually being practiced at our southern border.

The photo at the top of this post is one I took of a beautiful toddler and her mother who were standing in front of me at the rally.   They were Hispanic (I don’t know what country they are from) and I thought this sweet moment was so perfect (I did get permission from the mom to take their picture).

The rally lasted about an hour and a half.  We listened to some great speeches from local activists, a few immigrants, and finally, a beautiful song sung by a woman from El Salvador.   There were booths set up to help people sign up to vote in November (make sure you are registered and VOTE BLUE!).  The crowd, in spite of the heat, was motivated and passionate!

I returned home feeling like I participated in something important that can help change things.   It sure beat lying in bed being depressed and feeling like our situation is hopeless and we are all doomed.