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March on Frankfort, KY, photo from Calvert McCann, UK Libraries Special Collection Research Center
Today, October 18, marks another day of “No Kings” demonstrations. Peaceful protests, like voting, give us a way to express ourselves in a democratic society. I’ve taken part in a few of these protests, dating back to a March on the Capitol with Martin Luther King. Yes, I even participated in the 1964 march on Frankfort, KY, [ [link removed] ] which paved the way for the 1966 Kentucky Civil Rights Act, the first state-level civil rights law passed by a state south of the Mason-Dixon Line. (Shout-out to my high school friend, Michael Perry, who led me to a greater understanding of civil rights.)
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Here, however, I want to suggest three powerful ways to build momentum for a better society: adopt music that uplifts and inspires; stand for something positive that crosses ideological and party lines; and serve, don’t just tell.
Adopt music that uplifts and inspires. Every movement requires it. Here’s my candidate for today’s justice anthem (you’ll need to skip the ads).
You might also want to listen to the Malcolm Gladwell interview [ [link removed] ] with singer Drew Holcomb.
Stand for something positive that crosses ideological and party lines. Yes, I know, that’s tough in our highly partisan society. “Make America Great Again” is mostly a positive demand, even if little of that movement’s follow-up actions align with the goal. “No Kings,” like much opposition messaging, is mainly negative. It offers little guidance, for example, on what needs to be done after 2028.
The iconic symbol of successful modern movements in the U.S. is civil rights. It represented an ideal for a society we still strive to achieve. For democratic movements to be sustainable, they often need support from a supermajority, usually through bipartisan backing. A larger percentage of Republicans than Democrats voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Success can’t depend on just one or two elections.
Serve, don’t just tell. I see many young people making the same mistake that many in my generation did. They believed the way to reform the world was by forcing others to change. As a result, many didn’t leave time for family or community. Anyone who has raised a child quickly learns how naive it is to think you can make someone act as you want. When we demonstrate, we’re mainly trying to exercise our own power. That’s fine. But, even better, we can empower and attend to others by devoting our time, money, and other resources to them.
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