By the fourth time a co-worker asked me when I was leaving for DC, I was upset. It made sense for people to assume I would be attending the Women’s March on Washington: I was one of the biggest Hillary supporters at the office. Friends and strangers alike ask me for advice about taking political action, and several people went to me for information about the marches in DC and NYC as if I knew the organizers personally (I do not). It’s flattering to be seen as a leader in these messed up, politically charged times. But when it comes to in-person protest, I’m at a loss. I have anxiety, particularly when it comes to crowds, loud noise, and feeling trapped. I’m not a march person.
I watched a livestream of the Women’s March on Washington for most of Saturday and was moved to tears by how positive and pink my Twitter feed was all weekend. It marked the first time I’d enjoyed being online since the election. Social media helped me participate in an event I couldn’t attend without putting myself at risk, and I’m forever grateful for the wider access and connection the Internet gives us.
But I still felt guilty for not “showing up” when it mattered. The next four years are going to be long, so it’s worth asking how to resist an oppressive government when you have a mental illness or disability.
There are the basics, the stuff I learned in Civics class and can find in a BuzzFeed listicle about activism. Call your representatives. Sign petitions. Volunteer with local organizations. Donate. Register to vote. Tell your super competent boss she should run for office. Consider running for office yourself and then remember that you hate people, and also that you’re a published erotica author. Tell your friend that his joke is actually super racist. Break out of the bubble.
But frankly, I’m a flashy little brat who wants to do more than that. So I’m going to play to my strengths. I’m a social media expert with a strange sense of humor and a moderately sized following of liberal weirdos who seem to find me entertaining. I’m also furious about the Hyde Amendment passing again in the House of Representatives, which bars the use of any taxpayer money for abortions, and Trump reinstating the Mexico City gag rule, which bans recipients of U.S. foreign aid from offering abortion-related services. I am staunchly pro-choice. I am unwaveringly in support of a person’s right to get an abortion.
So here’s what we’re going to do. On Sunday January 29th at 2:00 PM EST, I will broadcast on Facebook Live, and for every receipt you send me for a $10 donation to Planned Parenthood, I will listen to “Fight Song.” Yes, that song. The song we hated even before we heard it ad nauseum during the Clinton campaign.
If I receive five donations, that’s five times I’ll have to listen to “Fight Song.” If I receive a hundred donations, that’s a hundred times. It’s going to suck, and I’m going to lose my mind live on Facebook, and it’s for a good cause.
Send your proof of donation to fightsongforpp@gmail.com or tweet it at me @brosandprose. and like my Facebook page to receive a notification of when I go live. It’ll be a weird little party with a one-song soundtrack. Let’s raise some money.
Hint: If you send your receipt to me now, I can start building the playlist in advance. Not that it’ll require much work considering it’s just that one goddamn song oh my god what the hell am I thinking?!
See you on Sunday.
UPDATE 1/28: In light of Trump’s Muslim ban and the detainment of refugees and legal green card holders alike at airports nationwide, I’ll also accept donations to the ACLU!! These are dark times and ACLU donations and Planned Parenthood donations of $10 more will buy you a play of “Fight Song.” I’m currently up to 26 “Fight Songs” and $260+ to Planned Parenthood raised, so let’s make some more magic happen.
Ella Dawson 