There are certain forces in the universe that function outside of the logic of economics: natural disasters and pandemics are two major ones. Instead of resisting these inevitable forces, it makes sense to come to terms with them and adapt; no one enjoys missing graduations, birthdays or being unemployed, but many of us also recognize that none of those things matter if millions die.
Before quarantine, I believed that the pandemic would open up an opportunity for us to contend with our mortality and figure out what was important to us as a country. Like so many other places around the world, Covid-19 was supposed to bring us closer together and help end partisan politics.
Obviously, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The #ReOpen protests have had an undercurrent of nationalism, pro-Trumpism and even white supremacy. As an immigrant and a queer person, I’ve constantly been inconvenienced for things out of my control: taken into interrogations rooms at the airport with no explanation or made to feel unsafe in homophobic classrooms. All of these scenarios forced me to adjust to how I moved through the world and to me the inconvenience of quarantine is not too different. Making the best out of situations we cannot control is, in my opinion, part of what makes us human.
Just like we did with climate change, somehow we’ve managed to make a virus, which is of equal threat to everyone, a partisan issue. In the spirit of my confusion (I’m relatively new to this country), here are 10 moments from #ReOpen protests that confused the hell out of me.
1. Fake Obama and Trump dancing in a Michigan rally. Eerie, yes, but what does it mean and why are they so tiny?
Blackface Obama dance captured at the Reopen Michigan protest yesterday in Lansing. pic.twitter.com/8F6KqmbOT8
— Resist Programming (@RzstProgramming) May 1, 2020
2. These people in Austin shouting ‘Arrest Bill Gates!’ How are the cops even gonna get into his mansion?
Arrest Bill Gates
End Corona drama
Reopen AmericaPeople in Austin gathered to protest lockdown and Billgates #CoronaUpdate #COVID__19 pic.twitter.com/KTDmOh3tIn
— yasirkhattak (@yasirkhattak216) April 30, 2020
3. Do they know that they copy-pasted the same sign that sits outside of Auschwitz? If so, then I really need an explanation.
Reopen Illinois protest sign. Sign entering Auschwitz.
Same sign. These people are literally Nazis. #reopenillinois pic.twitter.com/SjDPZvtbQy
— Trump/GOP are ruining our country (@ResisterDoggie) May 2, 2020
4. Are these literally the only two options?
5. Is this offensive because it’s racist or because it’s misusing the word tyranny?
6. What is it with Texas and Bill Gates?
Jax Weaver and her 7-year-old daughter at the Austin rally: “I’m not worried about catching the virus. If we did catch the virus, I feel that we’re healthy enough to fight it.” pic.twitter.com/1t0Jav9U8S
— Manny Fernandez (@mannyNYT) April 18, 2020
7. Why were there so many American flags in this Boston protest? We get it, this is only happening in America.
Right now outside the Massachusetts State House.
This crowd is calling for the Governor to reopen the state.
While packed tightly together, with many not wearing masks.
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) May 4, 2020
8. This one’s not a question, but let’s take a moment to appreciate that snakeskin font. You got those ADOBE skills sis, we see you!
9. Why was this guy protesting at the Michigan State Capitol instead of auditioning for a role as a football coach in a coming-of-age movie?
Police and staff aren’t engaging w/ protesters and the crowd is angry pic.twitter.com/2OOJC7eQl2
— Anna Liz Nichols (@annaliznichols) April 30, 2020
10. Why isn’t anyone getting arrested?
A noose hanging from the back of a pickup truck and a “tyrants get the rope” protest sign at the Reopen Michigan protest in Lansing.
: @mtschmucker pic.twitter.com/hn1KNIqOK0
— Resist Programming (@RzstProgramming) May 2, 2020
