Baby's First Protest

On IRL action and online leftist culture.

If you went to your first in-person protest this weekend, congratulations! You’ve taken one of the first steps towards being a politically engaged citizen, which we definitely need more of. In a time where it seems like posting online is the extent to which most people are politically active, you chose to step outside of your comfort zone to meet like-minded people in the real world. Maybe you get to meet local organizers. Maybe you followed some new accounts or got on some mailing lists so you can find next steps. Maybe you just felt the relief of realizing that you’re not alone in your grief over the collapse of civilization.

That said, there are a few things you should know going forward. To illustrate this, I want to tell you about my experience with in-person demonstrations, including the first protest I ever attended.