First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
– Martin Niemöller –

Or in the words of Sunday’s protesters in Boston: “First they came for the Muslims … And we said: Not this time, Motherf*cker”

On Sunday I participated once more in a protest against President Trump and his politics. This time the main topic was the newly applied travel ban for refugees and people from seven Muslim countries to the U.S. It is outrageous that one person can negate visas and rights of residence, that in many cases have long been approved; that he can violate human rights. Even though it’s not relevant (yet), Trump’s decree also scares me because he could easily cancel my visa whenever he feels like it. Also I absolutely oppose any religious persecution – there is as little reason to be afraid of Muslims as of any other religion.

I am aware that Boston being so international is special even in the U.S., but thanks to so many awesome universities and big companies that’s what it is. Thus, people organized the protest within a day, and about 20,000 came to Copley Square on Sunday afternoon. From 1 p.m. on we chanted “Hands too small, can’t build a wall” and “What does America look like? This is what America looks like!” There were atheists, agnostics, Christians, Jews, Muslims – and they all protested together and gave the promise to protect another. I am repeating myself, but I never feel as secure as in those protesting crowds. There was a Muslim prayer in between, afterwords people were singing in the streets and on the square.

The next big protest is on Saturday (the Superbowl takes place on Sunday so that on that day politics go hopefully on a break) and I’ll naturally be there. Because if we don’t speak out now, we cannot say later on that we tried all we could.

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© janavar

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