Families from across Park Hill and Central Park marched along MLK Jr. Blvd. in January to protest against the current administration’s policies. The event was coordinated by Central Park Parents Who Care and Seniors for Democracy.
‘I don’t think a lot of people are comfortable with what’s going on in the world, but it feels good when we can protest, where your friends and family are by your side.’ —Ada, age 8
A group of local parents is on a mission to change the world, with their kids leading the way.
Rachel Horwitz, seen here with daughter Ada, co-founded Central Park Parents Who Care.
Central Park mom Rachel Horwitz and Park Hill mom Liz Roberts “want to stand up and use our voices for what we believe in,” Roberts said. But when some of the first protests against the current Trump administration’s policies were held in downtown Denver last summer, they were nervous about taking their children to a crowded event with uncertain safety measures.
That’s when they decided to found Central Park Parents Who Care, which meets about once a month to protest. The group gathers at the Central Park Recreation Center before marching to the corner of Central Park Blvd. and MLK Jr. Blvd.
“This is a family event by families who care,” Horwitz said.
Roberts explained, “We take our time, march, protest in place, and march some more. We have people joining us from Seniors for Democracy, and we want everyone to participate and to have a voice.”
Horwitz and Roberts are planning a large protest on March 28 to coincide with No Kings events scheduled in cities across the United States, including Denver.
At the group’s recent protest, Horwitz’s daughter, Ada, age 8, spoke into her mom’s megaphone.
“I think it’s important to make sure that your feelings are heard,” she said. “I don’t think a lot of people are comfortable with what’s going on in the world, but it feels good when we can protest, where your friends and family are by your side.”
Speaking out as a family is integral to Central Park Parents Who Care. “It’s not about politics; it’s about being human,” Horwitz said.
Roberts added, “For us, it’s as simple as: When we encounter a bully or someone who is being mean to us or other people, how do we stand up for ourselves and for others? We have to rise with strength, our voices, our words, and our intelligence.”
Liz Roberts (with megaphone) and Rachel Horwitz (right) founded Central Park Parents Who Care. Oscar Roberts (left) said he is proud to protest with his mom. Ada Horwitz (far right) spoke at the recent protest.
Nonetheless, she said, “actions are at least as powerful as words,” which is why she wants her children to see that walking in protest is powerful. “We are fighting against hate,” she said. “You hope a small kernel of kindness will spread through the world.”
Both Horwitz and Roberts said their respective families talk often about how protesting can be an act of love. Roberts’ son, Oscar, age 8, said, “We need to march to protect people with special needs.” His sister, who attends protests in her stroller, has special needs, and the family is mindful of how cuts to Medicaid and other government-funded programs can affect those with health challenges.
Ada has been learning about World War II and the Holocaust in school and has drawn her own parallels. “She knows she can blow her whistle and say, ‘You can’t take my neighbor,’” Horwitz said.
Lindsey Feiner, whose mother founded Seniors for Democracy in Central Park, finds hope in protesting on a local scale. She moved to the area two years ago from Minneapolis and, like Horwitz and Roberts, has been seeking ways to help her children “use their voices to speak up for what they care about,” she said.
Many of the children at the protest carried signs they made themselves or with the help of friends and family.
After Alex Pretti was shot and killed in Minneapolis by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on Jan. 24, Feiner’s children cried. Her son, Quinn, age 9, asks often about the safety of his friends in their former neighborhood.
In Central Park, Quinn keeps his protest posters simple, writing “No Kings” or “Stop ICE!” He said protesting is “when a big group of people gets together to challenge something they don’t like.”
Protesting “helps me remember that other people also think that no person is illegal,” Feiner said. “It connects us to the community.”
While some have responded to the Central Park protestors with rude gestures or negative comments, families said they are grateful for the many people who honk their car horns, shout words of support, or simply smile.
Ada gives a thumbs up even to passersby who respond negatively. After all, she said, “One person can change the world. One kid can even change the world.”
Central Park Parents Who Care announces its upcoming protests on Mobilize.us and the 50501 Colorado Facebook page.
Front Porch photos by Christie Gosch
Shouldn’t parents let their children decide how they feel about the country/world ?