Liberals, It’s Time To Look At Ourselves In The Mirror – HuffPost
Last night, I joined thousands at Trump Tower in New York to protest the atrocities that took place in Charlottesville over the weekend. I learned that us liberals and conservatives arent as different as we think. I just wish that were a good thing.
I was never really an activist until the current presidential administration took office. Since then, Ive tried to be conscious about which protests I attend, which chants I engage in, and ultimately be thoughtful about what messages I stand behind. I recall standing under Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue a few days after the election amidst a sea of people chanting New York hates you! donning shirts and signs that celebrated love over hate most notably Love Trumps Hate.It felt wrong. I didnt chant, but I wasnt concerned.
Overwhelmingly, my experience at gatherings like the Womens March on Washington or the protest of the travel ban in New York have been stamped in my timeline as formatively positive. Ive met wonderful, kind, and passionate people spanning from first-time to seasoned activists. I never understood how these people (myself included) were perceived as deviant by the right.
Off to the side of the main gathering near Trump Tower was a small group of Trump supporters. Lined by police within arms reach of one another, a sidewalk was barricaded so that the Trump supporters faced a group of protesters, likely quadruple in size. I squeezed my way to the front, elbows resting on the metal barricade that separated me from my ideological opposites.
Initially, there were some references to America being in the hands of God and how Trump had won so we needed to get over it. It wasnt anything I hadnt heard before.
The mood changed when a man, clad in Trump 2020 regalia, contorted his face, raised his voice and howled, Do you think you would win against us in a civil war? We would crush you! He proceeded to berate a teenage girl for not explaining to him why she had written justice on her sign and called someone a faggot for chanting Boo! I asked him not to use that word and he assured me, Im gay, its fine. My palms met my face were both gay.
The police, mirroring Moses parting turbulent seas, stood as both sides catapulted vulgar threats and insults while throwing their bodies around in uninhibited motions. While I heard things come from the Trump side like, Youre brainwashed and, You pansies are all losers! I was met with comments such as, At least Im not a product of incest like your uneducated asses from the side I was seemingly supporting. People walking through the divide tore signs out of Trump supporters hands and flipped each other off, all the while screaming at one another without pause. No one had come to listen.
My emotions around living in 2017 are without words. Angry, embarrassed, terrified, ashamed, introspective, come close. However, last night I had an unsettling and undeniable realization: the conservative media has just as much content to make us look bad as we do them.
I am firm in my beliefs: black lives matter, trans people are not a burden, Muslim people are at the backbone of America, nuclear war is not the answer, the list goes on. Im no longer grounded in my confidence that we are giving the right the ammo they need to listen to our point of view.
Consider this: Im liberal, and most of my news comes from sources that align with my beliefs. These sources are pushing for what they believe in and its easier to argue that the other side is wrong when they present a clip of someone at a Trump rally yelling go back to where you came from towards a minority group. The same is true about conservative media. Last nights event taught me that the conservative media has ample resources to arm themselves with scenes of liberals threatening violence and rallying around hate, the very hostility were so passionate about ending.
I will continue to show up to rallies, think critically of the opinions I endorse in the heat of protest, and question how I might be contributing to the constraints our country faces. But now, Im committed to supplying the conservative media not with snippets of the darkest sides of our own fight but with ears that are willing to listen. This includes sitting down with myself and my like-minded neighbors to gut check if were always qualified to disarm hate.
My ask is this: if we find ourselves in the face of someone whose opinions dont match our own, we will remember that were speaking on behalf of a movement. We will think about what wed want the Right to see and what concerns of ours wed want them to hear. If were scared for our safety or that of others, by all means we will act accordingly. But in moments of peaceful protest, we will repeatedly remind ourselves that we could end up on the screens of the other side threatening the very hate we abhor.
And damn, our country is divided.
The Morning Email
Wake up to the day's most important news.
The rest is here:
Liberals, It's Time To Look At Ourselves In The Mirror - HuffPost
- How both conservatives and liberals doctored the same photo of the Charlie Kirk murder suspect - France 24 - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Jimmy Kimmel canceled? Liberals are finally reaping what they sowed. | Opinion - USA Today - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Liberals shifting Coast Guard to defence is creative accounting: Conservatives - Juno News - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Tariffs on imported sugar to hit liberals, Gen Z even MAHA where it hurts: organic food - Fortune - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Jimmy Kimmel Hammered MAGA With Jokes, Barely Touched Liberals - Here Are The Stats - OutKick - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- Sharp rise in satisfaction with N.B. government 1 year after Liberals take power: survey - Global News - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- J.D. Vance says 26 percent of young liberals justify political violence. Here's what the data really say. - Reason Magazine - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Charlie Kirk Wanted American Education Wrested from Liberals - FlaglerLive - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Liberals and younger Americans are more likely to justify political violence, poll says - Washington Times - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Liberals blocked moment of silence for Charlie Kirk in Parliament - Juno News - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Liberals to table the federal budget on Nov. 4 - Investment Executive - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Trump And Crew Promise Crackdown On Liberals In The Name Of Charlie Kirk - NewsOne - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Opinion: The Ontario Liberals need a new leader. Doug Ford would be perfect - The Globe and Mail - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Liberals will table the federal budget on Nov. 4, Champagne says - Toronto Star - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Liberals will table the federal budget on Nov. 4, Champagne says - CityNews Toronto - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Liberals will table the federal budget on Nov. 4, Champagne says - thecanadianpressnews.ca - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Liberals will table federal budget on Nov. 4, Champagne says - Calgary Journal - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Advocates Urge Liberals to Keep Promise on Live Horse Export Ban - Humane World for Animals - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- Carney moved Liberals 'far to the right,' says Green Party leader - CBC - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- Liberals, Conservatives lay out fall priorities as parties gear up for House of Commons return - CBC - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- Some Liberals believe Australia is letting in the wrong immigrants - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- Liberals need to get it together on pharmacare - The Hill Times - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- Jim Warren: Carney Liberals could provide opponents of petroleum and pipelines with a $1.0 billion war chest - Pipeline Online - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- Bonnie Crombie to resign after Ontario Liberals narrowly voted against leadership contest - The Globe and Mail - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]
- Trump Just Went on Fox and Issued an Unnerving Threat Against Liberals - The New Republic - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Liberals and Conservatives Rely on Very Similar Sets of Foundations When Comparing Moral Violations - Political Science Now - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Deepening polarization in the US: The 'liberals' celebrating Charlie Kirk's murder and the hunt for their dismissal - Ynetnews - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Globe editorial: The moment that the Liberals must meet - The Globe and Mail - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Local MP critical of federal Liberals' lack of bail reform - Penticton Herald - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Liberals say party remains committed to environment amid shifting global realities - Yahoo News Canada - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- N.L. Liberals approve $25M loan to Braya Renewables on eve of election call - CBC - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Opinion: Data Dive with Nik Nanos: Canadas political climate has shifted, but the Liberals shouldnt get too comfy - The Globe and Mail - September 13th, 2025 [September 13th, 2025]
- Liberals to announce second wave of major projects in November - Juno News - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Liberals still dont understand Britains immigration anger - UnHerd - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Ontario Liberals missed the mark during the election, should have focused on pocketbook issues: review - CBC - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- 'They shot him in the neck, liberals were laughing': Eyewitness recalls Charlie Kirk's shooting in Utah Valley University - Business Today - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Rally in Edmonton calls on Liberals to keep their pharmacare promise - Canadian Health Coalition - September 11th, 2025 [September 11th, 2025]
- Liberals heads explode: Explaining the GOPs Trump 2028 obsession - The San Francisco Standard - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has shown how damaging she can be for the Liberals and left Sussan Ley holding the bag - The Guardian - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- A letter to American Democrats and Canadian liberals about the MAGA movement - The Hill Times - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- Heres why the Liberals and Conservatives have a head start in the next federal election campaign - Toronto Star - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- Start of 2025-2026 school year will have been one of the worst, say Quebec Liberals - CityNews Montreal - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- Liberals call on Price to apologise to Indian Australians - The Saturday Paper - September 9th, 2025 [September 9th, 2025]
- Liberals fume over prospects of Bari Weiss joining CBS News, Paramount buying her outlet - FOX 8 TV - September 6th, 2025 [September 6th, 2025]
- Liberals paved way to the far right - New Age BD - September 6th, 2025 [September 6th, 2025]
- Liberals Call Out Carney for Inviting Trump Insider - The Tyee - September 6th, 2025 [September 6th, 2025]
- CHARLEBOIS: On food security, Liberals have the better Temporary Foreign Worker plan - Yahoo News Canada - September 6th, 2025 [September 6th, 2025]
- Opinion: On food security, Liberals' temp foreign worker plan is better - The Star Phoenix - September 6th, 2025 [September 6th, 2025]
- Conservative influencer says American dream is at risk as liberals lack basic human decency - New York Post - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Liberals fume over prospects of Bari Weiss joining CBS News, Paramount buying her outlet - Fox News - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Geoff Russ: Yes Liberals, Canada is pretty much the Wild West today - Yahoo News Canada - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- CHARLEBOIS: On food security, Liberals have the better Temporary Foreign Worker plan - Toronto Sun - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Liberals back permitting but next Yukon government gets final say on ore dock - Yukon News - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Health coalitions call on federal Liberals to keep their pharmacare promise - Canadian Health Coalition - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Business backs net zero targets despite cost, will the Liberals? - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - September 5th, 2025 [September 5th, 2025]
- Vijay Prashad: Liberals Paved the Way to the Far Right - Consortium News - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Poilievre calls on Liberals to scrap the temporary foreign worker program - MSN - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Poilievre calls on Liberals to scrap the temporary foreign worker program - Yahoo News Canada - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Poilievre calls on Liberals to scrap the temporary foreign worker program - 650 CKOM - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- In the news today: Liberals' cabinet meeting begins, online harms act to be reviewed - MSN - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- In the news today: Liberals cabinet meeting begins, online harms act to be reviewed - Winnipeg Free Press - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Need to Know - Is the Liberals honeymoon coming to an end?: Christian Leuprecht and Richard Shimooka in The Hub - The Macdonald-Laurier Institute - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Greens and Liberals unite over future of David Berry Hospital - Bugle App - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Pierre Poilievre calls on Liberals to axe temporary foreign worker program - BNN Bloomberg - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Need to Know: Is the Liberals honeymoon coming to an end? - The Hub | More Signal. Less Noise. - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Ontario Liberals confirm campaign debrief report will be released Monday - QP Briefing - September 3rd, 2025 [September 3rd, 2025]
- Not All Liberals Are Celebrating Gavin Newsom's Trump Trolling And It Has To Do With This Controversial Stance - Yahoo News Singapore - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- After eight years out in the cold, has the WA Liberals' saviour arrived? - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- Cost-of-Living Concerns Drive Canadians Away From Liberals, Poll Finds - thedeepdive.ca - September 1st, 2025 [September 1st, 2025]
- Liberals Cannot Stop Authoritarianism by Compromising With It - theunpopulist.net - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- Not All Liberals Are Celebrating Gavin Newsom's Trump Trolling And It Has To Do With This Controversial Stance - HuffPost - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- Liberals are already missing their promised lower immigration targets - Yahoo News Canada - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- Comments - Liberals Cannot Stop Authoritarianism by Compromising With It - theunpopulist.net - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- Raised expectations very high: Five takeaways on the Liberals and Conservatives strategies for Parliament this fall - The Hub | More Signal. Less... - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- The conservative pundit also said liberals asking for more than just thoughts and prayers in response to the shooting are vilifying people of faith. -... - August 29th, 2025 [August 29th, 2025]
- Liberals are already missing their promised lower immigration targets - National Post - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- N.S. Liberals to table bill that would ban use of social media by children under 16 - CBC - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Liberals are already missing their promised lower immigration targets - MSN - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- Poilievre accuses Liberals of allowing temporary foreign workers take jobs from Canadians - The Globe and Mail - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]
- N.S. Liberals bill aims to limit social media use for youth; HRM said they would review legislation carefully if it moved forward - The Laker News - August 27th, 2025 [August 27th, 2025]