Opinion: The People’s March and MLK Jr.
People’s March, Washington, D.C., January 18, 2025. Lincoln Memorial with speaker facing the crowd around the reflecting pool. Photo: Russ Vernon-Jones
Love, Justice and Climate Change
This past weekend I went to Washington, DC to be part of the People’s March. Although advance publicity and outreach was limited, thousands of people showed up to demonstrate their resistance to the Trump/MAGA agenda and their solidarity with each other.
There was a remarkable sense of unity, even as people carried signs about many different issues. Immigrant justice, climate justice, women’s rights, Palestinian liberation, racial justice, LGBQT+ rights, opposition to oligarchy, democracy, and other issues, all had vocal, visible advocates. There were marchers of all ages. (Apparently there were 700 other protests across the country last weekend with the same themes, although you would never know it from the paltry coverage provided by the mainstream media.)
While we were there to indicate our resistance to the cruel, selfish, climate-damaging plans of the incoming administration, what we are in favor of seemed more prominent than what we oppose. Those who spoke, and many of the signs that people carried, called for justice, for human rights, for a society where everyone is included, respected, and has their basic needs met; and where the wealth of the society is shared more equally among all its members.
I believe that this is an agenda that over time can attract a sizable majority of the people of our nation. Over the course of the history of our country there have been other times when the wealthy and the monied interests have gained dominance of our political life. They have always falsely claimed that they were doing what’s best for the nation. Eventually, the working people have always risen up, curtailed the power of the very rich, and chosen the pursuit of equity and justice as a central feature of our collective life.
After the People’s March and the rally at the Lincoln Memorial concluded, some friends and I went to see the FDR memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial. I was quite moved by some of the quotes engraved in the stone of these monuments.
From FDR:
“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much. It is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.”
“Men and nature must work hand in hand. The throwing out of balance of the resources of nature throws out of balance also the lives of men.”
From MLK, Jr.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
“Every nation must now develop an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in their individual societies.”
“If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.”
These Times
I think these are times in which we will need to be willing to speak up, stand up, and show up to resist the most harmful proposals and actions of the new administration. These will indeed be “times of challenge and controversy.” To solve the climate crisis it will be essential that large numbers of us “develop a world perspective.” I think it will be key to hold fast to a vision of a society where the common good is placed above the interests of the few.
At times when we need to battle against discouragement, remembering that millions of people, like us, value prioritizing the common good, will strengthen us. Remembering and nourishing our personal connections with other people of good will, can help keep us attuned to the joy of being alive with each other on this beautiful planet.
Russ Vernon-Jones was principal of Fort River School 1990-2008 and is currently a member of the Steering Committee of Climate Action Now-Western Massachusetts. He blogs regularly on climate justice at www.russvernonjones.org.