No Kings Nationwide Mass Protest

In just a little over two weeks, I will be celebrating 25 years of living in the State of California.

On June 21, 2000 I moved to Los Angeles from the extremely tiny town of Apollo in the State of Pennsylvania where I was born and raised by my considerably old-fashioned parents, living a seemingly “normal” albeit sometimes boring life in a town that consisted of about 2,600 people – yep that was the population of my hometown in the late 1960’s when I was born. And, yes, I’m dating myself in terms of my age.

Apollo, Pennsylvania circa 1896 courtesy of ApolloPAHistory.com

In fact, when my parents were young children – in the mid-1930’s (I was a late in life baby for my folks, by the way) – the population of Apollo, Pennsylvania was at its highest point EVER with just a little over 3,400 people. Like I said, my hometown was extremely tiny, but so are many other little towns back there.

So, moving to a bustling metropolis like Los Angeles, California in the year 2000 – when the population was well over 3.8 MILLION people – the community members of Apollo, my friends and most of my family thought I was out of my mind.

But, I was not going to be deterred! I had been dreaming of moving to Los Angeles since I was in my late teens, but various circumstances always seemed to get in the way of that move. Until I made the bold announcement that I was moving because I wanted to work in the entertainment industry, the one big love of my life.

Jump all this time later, and I am celebrating my 25th Anniversary!

I love living in Los Angeles – yes, even with the smog, even with the traffic, even with the mudslides and fires.

Now, the reason I bring all of this up is primarily because of this past weekend’s peaceful protests in downtown Los Angeles that, because of ICE agents, turned into a hellscape that should have never happened. These ICE agents literally marauded through the streets – in full tactical gear, I might add – launching gas at peaceful protestors, disappearing community members and even injuring David Huerta, the President of the California Service Employees International Union, a union that is comprised of about 2 million diverse members in healthcare, the public sector and property services, who was exercising his right to record what ICE was doing. They are still holding Mr. Huerta in detention, by the way!!

I saw the local and national reports of the converging protests on Friday afternoon that were PEACEFUL as well as what the ICE raids were doing throughout Los Angeles County and they couldn’t have been more different. People in my neighborhood were even posting on the community site Next Door stating they saw ICE agents in full weaponry scaring people all over the city. What the protest have evolved into are becoming violent because of the actions of ICE, LAPD, the National Guard et al. They would’ve stayed PEACEFUL had a certain person left well enough alone!

If this is something that bothers you – and I don’t know how it can’t – then you can do something about it. You can participate this Saturday, June 14 in the “No Kings Mass Protest” that is happening all over the country.

You can learn more about the country-wide events here and make your voices heard! We cannot allow the current administration to send us down this very dangerous path towards authoritarianism. We don’t all have to agree on a political party, a religious or even a non-religious belief, but I’d like to think that there are more of us out there who want a free country with our rights and liberties intact.

Please get involved where you can!

NOTE: These are my views, and my views only! They do not reflect the overall views of the NiceGirlsTV website, its staff or sponsors.