The Importance of Protests, Sheroes of Reno and Local Green Initiatives

Above a photo from a recent anti Supreme Court protest in downtown Reno by Conner McDaniels with permission to reuse.

There have been discussions going around on how to protest and whether protests have an impact.

After the initial mass Friday night protest, a small but devoted collective has been keeping at it, every night at 7 p.m., outside the Bruce R. Thompson Courthouse and Federal Building, windy or not, sweltering or less so, with old signs and new signs, with cars honking or being intimidating, of all ages, alone or in groups.

Can you imagine if on these nights, rather than 50 or so, there were 500 people, or what about 5,000, or even 50,000? Can you imagine what impact that would have?

Numbers and continuity matter. There have been armed to the teeth dictatorships and colonial powers toppled with peaceful people power-led movements. There have been policies overturned in different countries, and different regions, with people simply banding together and voicing their opposition. It doesn’t always happen overnight, but the communal energy can be infectious and lead to new ideas.

In these dark, violent, times, going out to protest is a courageous act. We tip our hats to those who have been taking part, who put their bodies on the line in public view, who know full well that sitting idly would only lead to a rollback of other human rights.

Much of our social media on our Instagram and TikTok was devoted this week to #humansofreno type videos of those showing up for what they believe in.

We had a special podcast episode from the frontlines of this protest with some of the voices of our brave and bold neighbors.

A bigger Sunday July 3rd protest is being held at the same location from noon to five with participants being asked to wear pink and black and to bring more signs.

Katie Colling (right) was at some of the protests, and she’s also the founder of Soil Solidarity, which keeps growing and giving back. She doesn’t just talk the talk, she lives the talk, including with her green initiatives, and ways to make the corners of the world she inhabits much healthier and giving places.

We also featured another of one of our favorite #sheroesofreno Rebekah Stetson who helps with inner city gardening endeavors, as well as empowering kids with green knowledge and know how.

Our recommended Reno Read is Secret by Janice Oberding. We asked for people’s own unpublished Reno “secrets” and got none, which is just as well. Some of our own perfect corners should remain private.