Virtually Gina

@golaj

I seem to have a talent for making busy urban locations looking rather sparse. This image is no exception. I don’t know who this fella is, but I’m glad I captured this quiet moment outside of the New York Public Library. A few dozen feet to our left, thousands of protesters filled the streets of Park Avenue. You’d never know it looking at this picture!
“Want to know something funny? Even people capable of living in the past don’t know what the future holds.” -Stephen King, from the novel 11/22/63.

We don’t know what the future holds and yet, in spite of the nightmare ride the current administration has taken the United States on during these past few months, attending the No Kings protest in Bryant Park renewed my hope in our democracy. Amidst the rain that pounded the city streets, people gathered outdoors in resistance of the convicted orange felon who currently holds office. There was joy, there was hope, and there was a sense of community. For the first time in months, I felt a palpable sense that “we will get through this.”
For many Americans, our ancestors took a chance and fled their native lands to the United States in hopes of a better future. Isn’t that what so many people dream of when they arrive on American soil? It both pains and irks me to hear people refer to some recent arrivals as “illegals.” What an incredibly dehumanizing slur. America as we know it was built by immigrants, as this flag suggests.
I’m inspired by the upcoming generations. In spite of (or perhaps because of) what they’ve been through, many young folks demonstrate such empathy and resilience.

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2 responses

  1. artdoesmatter Avatar
    artdoesmatter

    The two kiddos with the backpacks doing the Macarena moves during the crowd chants are the best part! Hopefully all your readers play through the footage you captured here. Must have been an exhilarating experience to be there in NYC this past Saturday!

    1. Gina Marie Avatar
      Gina Marie

      I agree. They were so funny, not to mention well-coordinated. Their dance moves were perfectly timed with the crowd chanting in the background, contributing to a sense of exhilaration in the air. I’m fortunate to have witnessed it!