Thirty three Wednesdays in a row, a group of determined activists have made their way to downtown Hingham. Rain or shine, they have stood outside with their creative, catchy signs and an admirable intention – to protest the policies of the Trump Administration. Their consistency and determination has not gone unnoticed by the local Hingham community. In fact, their dedication provides a shining example of the power of community connection and what it takes to build a successful movement.
Since Hingham’s Harborlight last reported on this local group called Stand Up and Speak Out back in March of this year, the movement has attracted more townspeople and even media attention from reporting outlets states away. In just a couple of months, the protests have grown from around fifty participants to an astonishing one hundred and seventy.
Originally started by local Hingham residents Pat Granahan and Pat White, Stand up and Speak Out has figured out how to expertly adapt their focuses towards growing their community outreach and advocating for their most pressing concerns to be heard with some recent signs reading “Save our Democracy” or simply phrases like “Be Kind”.
The dedication shown by this group sparks some important questions activists often have to ask. How do we get community members from all different backgrounds and generations to come together and promote a singular cause? And how do these multitudes of people come to share their beliefs and work as one unit?
Stand Up and Speak Out provides a unique opportunity to explore these very questions and appreciate the behind the scenes work that goes into sustaining a movement. Hingham High School junior Megan Buckley appreciates the effort that has gone into creating such a vast movement stating that “It takes a few very like minded individuals to come together and work as one person with a common goal.”
Although the protests have largely attracted an older crowd, Stand up and Speak Out continues to strive for a multi-generational presence. The group encourages Hingham residents of all ages to stand up for their beliefs, share stories, and form connections around common goals. In fact, several HHS students reportedly participated in the protests over the summer.
Creating an environment where people of all backgrounds can come together and participate in their own ways not only makes protests more effective, but can also help catalyze change by allowing small groups to spur larger impacts through consistency.
Hingham High junior Madelyn Everett believes that turning a small movement into a large one takes “perseverance and the continuance to show up despite the weather and other events.” She also asserts that “getting more people involved and creating more opportunities to invite community members can make a huge difference.”
A multi-generational movement not only benefits the cause at hand, but it also reaches individual education through the different perspectives and personal experiences. Ms. Jope, advisor of the Activists United club at HHS understands the importance of multi-generational cooperation and increased education in protest culture stating, “Storytelling can be a powerful tool to build cooperation in activism across generations. Listening to others’ experiences can deepen relationships and build bonds between people who have lived through different struggles…If people have opportunities to learn about a cause, interrogate their own views and values, and find ways to keep asking themselves how they can bring more people into the discussion, they will increase their own critical thinking and problem-solving skills.”
Although the ongoing Stand Up and Speak Out protests may not be convenient to HHS students during the school year, as they take place on Wednesday mornings, there are still plenty of opportunities for students to get involved with causes they are passionate about. These opportunities come in the form of community service, local fundraising, and student led organizations. Standing up for what you believe in and staying an active community member not only provides the possibility to unite neighbors in their advocacy, but also to create long lasting community impact such as what continues to be demonstrated by Stand Up and Speak Out.
