A year ago, on 1/20/25, we were in Panama, blissfully unaware of the wave of bullshit rising at home. It was a refuge in paradise. I knew things had changed when I got hassled by a porcine border patrol thug in the Denver airport.

Yesterday, on the first anniversary of the Reign of Error, protests arose all around the world. Unlike No Kings a few months ago, these were planned as walkouts from work and school, taking to the street broadly.

I’m an introvert (no news to friends). I’m happy to stay home to read and write. However, something has to change — we all know it can’t stay like this for 3 more years. If it does, America will have become a White Christian Male Nation, possibly until it dissolves completely.

I rode my bike to Tiguex Park, arriving before 2pm. I rode around until I saw two women in tie-dye. They must be here to protest. Indeed. I was the fifth person to join this group. After introductions, we moved toward a stage. Over the next half hour, more people arrived. Many had homemade signs.

Tiguex is unusual for Albuquerque in that it has numerous small hills / big mounds, most with trees, which breaks up the park nicely, though that’s not ideal for a public protest. By the time we grew to a dozen, one contingent broke off to go closer to the street for visibility.

More people arrived. Some expressed the outrage and frustration we all feel. None of us can believe it has gotten this bad yet we all know it will get worse before it gets better.

I doubt we exceeded 3 dozen in this location, though there were others around town. We were soon outnumbered by kids from a nearby school, who showed no interest in the old people standing around. Indeed, this was a gray revolt (and mostly anglo female).

Our faction moved to rejoin the protesters who were at the nearby traffic circle. I took my leave but rode around that circle, clanging my bell, saying “don’t despair,” my message to us all.