Following the public chants and boos from fans attending the World Series, Trump supporters falsely accused the audience of being un-American.
Americans have the fundamental right to speak out for beliefs, and to share concerns about domestic policy. The United States has political parties, legislative bodies and voting caucuses for this exact reason. With the encouragement of nonviolence as a society, speech is one of the most powerful tools a human can use.
The Washington Nationals hosted the Houston Astros for Game 5 of the World Series. Washington D.C. has consistently voted liberal in past elections, and as President Trump is in the middle of an impeachment inquiry, he was not likely to receive a warm welcome.
The crowd began shouting and booing and eventually broke out into a chant of “Lock him up!” Many believe this to be a reference to the past of Trump saying “Lock her up,” to Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign. Republicans find it easy to point out the flaws behind this very public display but deny Trump’s previous disrespect of Clinton.
Senior Bell Luebken believes Trump should have expected such a welcome. “It doesn’t surprise me about what happened because we have a president who often offends his people by choosing to encourage one race or class superior to another,” she said.
Even though public displays of disapproval spark conversation amongst political activists, these chants alone will not incite change. While it may have riled up the country for a few days, real change will come from outside the ballpark. It becomes easier to join protests when the root is fueled by others.
The fact that our president was able to turn a stadium full of baseball fans into a political frenzy shows the state of our country right now. When Americans are unhappy, they should speak not only on the big stage of a World Series game, but in smaller settings as well.
The Iowa caucus is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2020. This is an ideal opportunity for students to find their voice and create their own future. Fans at the World Series freely expressed their opposition to the Trump administration, but true change will take place in the voting booths.
