On March 16 at noon, Foothill’s Social Justice Club hosted a sign-making event in the Free Speech Center. Students came by to meet new people and make a sign protesting against the current injustices society faces today.

The event was fairly laid back, with Allison Herman’s class stopping by. Students, teachers, and other faculty chose from a box of markers and over a dozen of posterboards to create their very own protest signs. 

Attendees were from all walks of life, backgrounds, and majors, from humanities to STEM, and everything in between. Some were deeply involved with the Social Justice Club; for others like Marty, a dental health major, it was their first time participating in the club.

The event allowed students to make signs that they can bring to the third upcoming No Kings Protest on March 28. “I was very excited about [this event] because it comes a week before the No Kings rally,” said Gavin, former media turned engineering major. “So it was a chance to literally materially prepare for that, and also a chance to talk to people.” Reiss, an English major and president of the Social Justice club, had a similar, if more cynical view. “but they are still a good way to build community.” 

However, simultaneously, people feel like the pushback against the current state of the world isn’t going hard enough.“I wish we were in the streets instead of on the sidewalk,” Marty said. “In California, we are so fucking polite. Politeness is the end, the death blow,” she said. “At least here in California; Minnesota’s been fucking killing it.” Reiss said. “I use the word political activism as a cover for revolution. Oh, I’m going to go into political activism, but no, I’m getting fucking angry.”

There’s a deep feeling of anger and exhaustion against the current state of the world.

“When there are kids in cages and a prevalence of diseases we’ve almost eradicated and, you know, people getting kidnapped while showing up for court cases or at hospitals,” Gavin said. “I try so hard not to just scream at everybody I know.” Marty could only not help wondering how it felt like, “everyone’s just pretending it’s okay. And everyone’s just pretending it’s okay. And what’s going on? Everyone’s just pretending it’s okay.”

They still remain optimistic for the massive scope of No Kings, seeing up to five million turn up, the second becoming one of the largest single day protests in American history. “This is the only [protest] I’ve been hearing about since like January;” noted Marty, “[and] it’s been building,”. Amar, a biology major, notes how the prior two had sent the “message to El Presidente.” Gavin also wanted to send a message, but not to Mr. Trump. “This is about me putting my sweat where my mouth is.” 

No Kings is the result of thousands like Gavin, putting in the sweat. Groups like It’s Blue Turn, which, as Gavin jokingly said, “is a bunch of boomers in living rooms, who are very serious” about the current issues that the country is facing, have been working behind the scenes, among other community based activist groups, all under the banner of Indivisible, to help bring people together against the current administration. “It’s like a PDF for how to start a political group,” said Gavin.

Many people were inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous concept of negative peace versus positive peace—peace under injustice vs peace with justice. In all cases, peace under injustice is fragile and cracks under pressure. “The great thing about authoritarianism is the more their laws and authority encroaches on normal life, the easier it becomes to do civil disobedience,” joked Gavin. “Because you’re just living your life. And [then] it becomes illegal. Isn’t that convenient?”

When it comes to individuals making a change beyond attending protests in the world, Gavin noted, “the most important thing is to establish relationships with people who are different from you […] Join a bowling league. Have someone over for dinner. Put [in] your theory of change” To add on, Amar said, “There’s tons of [progressive] candidates and they need people making phone calls for them” Marty recommended organizing politically around local government. “If you can change right here locally,” she said,”then you can build, you take this same strategy, build out, build out, build out.”

This event had many purposes — to prepare for the No Kings Protest, release frustrations of the world, and to spread awareness on the importance of political activism; but it’s the strength of community that links all of these together, because nobody can do anything alone. When “you are in control of your community,” said Marty, “it is within your grasp to help and support.”

If you are interested in advancing causes of social justice, feel free to get involved with the Social Justice Club, via their Socials!