Columnist Judy Wagner: April showers of protest

JudyWagner

Published: 04-22-2025 1:36 PM

It’s not possible to protest the weather. March is officially the unsettled lion/lamb month, so we mostly give it a pass. With April we attempt to gloss over its tendency to be damp (“April showers bring May flowers”); still frustration builds after some number of grey and chill days with only a few bedraggled daffodils brave enough to show their faces. On top of the more familiar seasonal anomalies, we are hearing about many “out of season” events — too much rain, twisters, snow and sleet — all vagaries related to climate disruption. While we may feel like sounding off, we know we won’t find much relief hollering into the wind.

Now, our government is another matter. April 5 was a national day of action to encourage sounding off against the flatly illegal and unconstitutional behavior of our current president and his enablers, from spokespeople to cabinet secretaries to congressional flunkies (wearing the livery of elected officials, but performing menial and debasing tasks that harm their constituents instead of performing their sacred congressional duties).

It might have tried to rain on us in Boston, but the weather could not squelch the energy and fierce enthusiasm of the crowd. People were furious, yes, but they were not hateful. Some might wonder if there is a point to protesting, but the evidence was all around — funny, creative, irreverent, pointed and passionate signs everywhere documenting the outrageous insults to our democracy and people’s rights. It was very clear what people are against: rule by greedy clueless oligarchs; taxation without representation (tariffs without congressional action); assaults on U.S. residents and legal visitors (by masked abductors in broad daylight!); flouting of our constitution; wholesale and indiscriminate destruction of crucial government services and protections; abrogation of reproductive rights; discontinuation of life-saving scientific research and health care; destruction of farming communities; demolition of international alliances and partnerships forged over decades; wrecking of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, programs vital to millions of Americans; destruction of our public schools; appalling negligence with military and cyber security.

But the word “protest” has deeper and wider meaning than just saying “no.” Originally from the Latin pro testari, the word derives from the idea of being “called to witness,” to testify with evidence in search of the truth. It is often noted as a solemn declaration of belief, or a strong statement of objection, frequently under oath. So what are we testifying for?

We could start with integrity, honesty, compassion and courage. Then we can move on to the specifics: free speech; adherence to the constitutional separation of powers; equal treatment under the law; constraints on monetary power in politics, elections and government; honoring the rule of law. It’s not that we want every single thing to go back to its status before last Nov. 5 — of course things need improvement! But we want the strong ribs and bones of a government that treats people fairly, humanely and equally. We want systems that adhere to these principles while serving our citizens effectively and efficiently.

Currently Republicans are pushing a budget that decimates Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in order to cover a huge tax decrease for the wealthiest people in the country. Plus a huge rise in our already bloated military budget. They seem to be oblivious to the threats to our national security internally and externally — their full attention is focused on their own seats and the potential to gain financially. Ironically, this has entailed handing over many of their constitutional powers to a president happy to assert nonsensical tariffs, destroy agencies, upend the lives of tens of thousands of government workers, and treat allies like trash to be tossed away. On April 5, millions of Americans testified to their refusal to have our government demolished and replaced by one man and his oligarch sidekick and enablers. They protested their determination to salvage the best of our democratic system.

Today has exhibited the “cruelty” of April — mixed rain and snow showers; grey skies; wind chill far below the official temperature. But wait, some sun is showing through the hovering clouds. The snowdrops are poking up even from under left-over fall leaves. The first tiny blue squill has appeared among the choking grasses. Perhaps the April showers are washing the dust from our eyes after a terrible sandstorm of lies and disinformation, and watering our national roots to activate a reblooming of our constitutional democracy.

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