I’ll devote this week to large numbers: let’s start with Saturday’s #MarchforOurLives in Portland.

Some estimated 12.000 Portlanders came out to protest US gun culture, the influence of the NRA, the cowardice of our congress, all of which perpetuate the danger of being killed by guns in everyday life.

The march was of course a sister march to the main event in Washington, D.C., where the incredible young survivors of the Parkland shooting had organized some 850.000 people in solidarity for the cause.

I cannot watch a clip of the astounding speech and silence of one of the leaders of Parkland, Emma Gozales, without starting to cry. But I will watch again – and hope you will too – this clip of the 9 year-old firecracker grandchild of Marin Luther King, who has her own dream.Young children spoke in large numbers – in addition to Yolanda there was 11 year-old Naomi speaking up for all the stories of slain black girls that are never told outside of statistics. There was the boy from Chicago who saw his own brother get murdered when leaving church; there were numerous survivors of the school shooting all demonstrating poise, thoughtfulness and a determination to be agents of change.

The Sunday editorials were in large numbers expressing hope that this generation will bring about change, expressed with varying degrees of skepticism, depending on what news outlets you read. I am deeply hopeful. Perhaps not in the short term since structural obstacles are huge and money is in favor of the status quo. But the young adults have been politicized, and they have know-how of communication tools that will empower them. Voter Registration alone has soared during the marches and even though November is a long time off, the momentum will be a main focus of the the leadership coming out of Parkland.

They are also trying to form alliances with populations that are usually separate. White kids from Florida mowed down by a school shooter link with black kids experiencing the threat of shooting death every day in the projects of Chicago – united they might, just might combat racism in their own ranks.

 

The large numbers of signs and placards in PDX ranged from angry to poignant to witty to sad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was raining, it was cold, but the mood of the crowd was energized and optimistic.

Blue wave, here we come. In large numbers.