The Epiphany of a Protester in Seattle

I read a Facebook comment, last night, and wanted to share this with my readers.  Just when I begin to think that all protests result in shouting and violence, with nothing positive to be gained, I see this “testimony” written by a brave young lady that was at a Seattle protest march.  Her words touched my heart.  Her words … touched the core of my soul.

T. Bern attended this rally with one perception of those whom she felt a threat, and came away with an entirely different perception.  And … this person (with whom I have not spoken) was brave enough to share her experience; probably knowing it might upset a few.  Yes, sometimes, good things really come from protests, I suppose.  But for that to happen … one must come … with a true conviction and an open mind, balanced by love and not hate.  The testimony below is all of T. Bern’s comments.  Not one word … comma … or period … has been edited.

“My heart found the balance with my head” … T. Bern

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This is my testimony to YOU. PLEASE READ

I marched in Seattle with BLM, antifas, general “leftists” group bc I heard there was a Nazi rally, and let’s be honest, who isn’t gonna show up to counter protest Nazi’s? I share the left’s fear of the consequences of inaction. As we marched past the police towards the rally, my group was yelling and cussing at the officers and at that moment, I felt in my heart that was wrong. We can’t fight systemic, institutional injustice on an individual level. I support police and I am against police brutality.

We finally reached this supposed “Nazi” group and I found out they were actually just a free speech group. Their speakers got on stage and were yelling “Black Lives Matter” and preaching about love and peace, and my group wanted to rip them to shreds. I feel like I woke up in that moment. My heart found the balance with my head. Common sense slapped me right in the face. This is NOT what democracy looks like. I felt in my heart and spirit that what the Antifa in my group were doing by calling everyone to violence, was wrong.

I stood there, with a group of people who would’ve attacked the free speech people, with my sign that read: “If we have no peace, it’s because we have forgotten we belong to each other”. I used to see these hard-core Patriot guys as a threat, but now I see them as a unifier. Patriotism can be an anti-dote to help remind us that we belong to each other. But we need the patriots to be more vocal that they fight for equal rights for ALL AMERICANS. How can you be against that?

Your soul is the ultimate grassroot. All we really can do in the end, is listen and trust the voice inside our own spirit. You may call it conscience. I call it God. But that’s the beauty of the free speech. Free speech is only a microcosm of the free will that we have as human beings.

Even if they would’ve allowed a hate speech speaker, he would’ve been dwarfed by the love speakers. That’s the most effective way to defeat hate, is with love. Not censorship and violence.

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Permission was granted by Ms. Bern, allowing me to share.

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Debbie Barth: 08/22/2017 – 4:38 pm est