By Eric Newlon | Resident of Mesa
As I stood surrounded by colorful signs and slogans, made with intent and conviction, I felt appreciative of the opportunity to do so, but I now realize that the freedom to assemble and express ourselves is a fragile thing, an opportunity, that could be suppressed or even taken away.
I attended the 50501 demonstration in Apache Junction on April 19 to capture documentary video and pictures of the event. This demonstration was what one would expect from a peaceful demonstration: American citizens holding signs at intersections, making their views about issues known to the traffic driving by. Many passers-by honked and waved in solidarity, and, of course, some whose views were the polar opposite expressed their — let’s call it “reactions.” At times, tense, but overall, the demonstration remained peaceful and even pleasant with a sense of community.
There was a freelance reporter there conducting interviews and getting stories from some of the demonstrators. One of the attendees she interviewed was a European woman who grew up in the wake of Nazi Germany, and whose mother and family were subject to the hardships of targeted harassment by the German officials of that time - the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, or NSDAP, which later became commonly known as the Nazis.
Her story was typical of the stories Europeans tell of this time, a warning echoing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Kristallnacht message after the Jan. 6 violent insurrectionist assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump.
Kristallnacht, which occurred Nov. 9-10, 1938, was a devastating event in the rise of Nazi rule, where violent mobs, fueled by hatred and intolerance, targeted institutions and communities against fellow citizens who happened to be Jewish. Arnold Schwarzenegger recounts his family’s memories of this time period and it is a message well worth heeding as are all messages of warning about the rise of fascism.
After the interview, I was speaking with the husband of this woman, and at that time, some demonstrators were leaving the event to get ready for their Easter weekend. They said to us, “Thank you for coming out and joining us today.” And the husband answered, not with a reciprocal “Thank you too,” but with a thought-provoking comment that demonstrated a unique perspective that many of us may take for granted. He said, “Well, I appreciate the opportunity to be able to come out here (and demonstrate).”
Whether you are one of the attendees of a demonstration, one of the people who drive by and honk in solidarity with demonstrators, or one of the drivers-by who disagrees wholeheartedly with a particular demonstration and expresses themselves “in their own way,” we must ask ourselves: do we really appreciate the opportunity, the freedom, to be able to have peaceful demonstrations, or is this something we take for granted? Could it be that we can only truly appreciate this freedom when it is taken away or suppressed? I hope we will never learn appreciation that way.
You are an American, living in America! You can participate in peaceful demonstrations. You are free to support organizations that advocate for civil liberties. It’s our tradition to contact our representatives with our concerns. It’s our nature to engage in respectful and civil dialogue, and we must stay informed with reputable news sources to do so. Supporting a free and independent press makes sure we stay free and independent. We can vote! Stay vigilant! Let’s uplift and support our marginalized communities, and learn about and support our First Amendment!
Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
