Several Marblehead residents took part in a flashmob at Lynn District Court Tuesday morning in protest of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The performance, a singing of the Emma Lazarus poem “The New Colossus” to the tune of “America” from the “West Side Story,” was organized by Judith Black.
“We all stand utterly horrified by the government we live under,” said Black. “We are protesting against the injustice being meted out against immigrants.”
The performers were dressed in crowns and held torches made of cardboard and paper, evoking the image of the Statue of Liberty. The costumes, along with the singing of the poem inscribed on the base of the statue, were meant to juxtapose the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants with a symbol of freedom known the world over.
“The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of our country,” said protestor Linda McLaughlan of Marblehead. “Every time I see what’s happening, I start to cry because America is turning into another country. I feel like I’m losing my country.”
The performance began with Black standing in front of the steps of the courthouse repeating, “I lift my lamp beside the golden door” before reciting the words of the second stanza of Lazarus’ poem. This was repeated four times as more singers joined in from the group.
While the majority of the protesters were from Marblehead, members of the group came from across the North Shore to join in the flashmob.
“People are vulnerable, they’re scared,” said Abby Heim, of Rowley, following the performance. “Anything that any of us can do to let our voices be heard and show that we’re not going to take this sitting down is important.”
The protest was organized with Creative Resistance, a part of the Swing Blue Alliance, the largest all-volunteer political organization in Massachusetts.
According to protester Kate Merritt-O’Toole, of Framingham, the goal of Creative Resistance is to “bring fun, humor, dance, whatever the arts are that will augment protests. We will add to the process as well as give the activists who do it a chance to have fun and release some of their own stress and tension.”
The use of a flashmob as a form of protest was specifically chosen by Black “because it’s fun, it’s theatrical. It garners attention and it doesn’t threaten.”
Tuesday’s demonstration in Lynn is not the only flashmob that has been proposed by Black and Creative Resistance.
“We’re looking to go to Boston and Chelmsford because the courts are busier,” said Bonnie Grenier of Marblehead. “There’s a lot more action there. This was a test run.”
As the president threatens to increase the use of the National Guard as law enforcement in cities across the nation, Creative Resistance hopes to continue to raise awareness of the issues facing immigrants through the use of artistic protests.
“By coming out and demonstrating and getting together with the group, I think that I can have a voice,” said McLaughlin. “Everybody needs to speak up.”
Members of the flashmob plan on attending one of the “Workers Over Billionaires” protests on September 1, a group of protests organized by May Day Strong and 50501, the same organizers of the “No Kings” protests that took place in June.
