By: Ashton Nardella

Our nation is gripped by civil unrest, and it can be easy to become apathetic. But, peaceful protest, comedy, and community engagement can help bring people together and allow us to regain our humanity. 

In the short time since he regained the presidency, the Trump administration has caused much ire for its over-extension of executive power. 

From President Trump’s comments on relocating all two million Palestinians out of Gaza to President Trump’s placement of Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, as the head of a government agency to the racially-motivated I.C.E raids to the outright denial of transgender expression, there are many reasons for Americans to be riled up. 

This is where the 50501 (fifty protests, fifty states, in one day) Movement comes in. With so much civil discontent, many disparate individuals and groups took to social media to make plans for a protest, with February 5th becoming the “one day.”

Thousands of Americans across the country gathered outside of their town halls and capitol buildings. 

Outside the State Capitol in Charleston, 300 West Virginians braved the frigid temperatures to exercise their constitutional right to protest. 

Dr. Jessica Scott, West Virginia Wesleyan College Associate Professor of Gender Studies, as well as a group of her students, attended the protest on February 5th. 

“The difference between this protest and some other protests or demonstrations that I’ve gone to is that there does seem to be more fear of a retaliatory response–fear that maybe some element of law enforcement or the government [is] gonna watch us or keep track of us,” she said. 

Even though there is a pervasive mist of fear, there is hope if you can wade through the fog. 

Despite students experiencing some stress from the protest, they also experienced a “boost of morale” and felt energized by their participation in the event. 

There is also something to be said about the role of comedy, a device that has often been used throughout history to point out societal ills. 

“I try to diffuse some of the fear with humor and that’s not to dismiss or minimize the weight of it all, but you have to try to poke holes in some of it,” she said. 

Dr. Jessica Scott also recommended community outreach, if you want to make a difference. 

On campus alone, there is the Center of Restorative Justice as well as WE LEAD. And in Buckhannon, there is the Parish House, Free Meals Appalachia, and the Really Free Market.  

Taken from Charleston Gazette-Mail