“It’s about change”- Why Matt Dragon marches

Matt Dagon (right) giving a speech alongside Lawrence Hamm, chairman of the People’s Organization for Progress (P.O.P), at a P.O.P rally. (Photo courtesy of Matt Dragon)

Matt Dragon used to question the impact of rallies—is it “letting people off the hook by giving them this thing that lets them feel good, but not actually accomplishing anything?” wondered Dragon, Co-chair of Our Revolution, Essex County. One particular rally, the Justice for Carl Dorsey March in Newark, N.J., answered his question. After hearing from the family members and the solace they felt from seeing people show up in numbers, Dragon understood that something bigger came out of rallies, whether it was inspiring people or having laws changed. For this reason, he shows up and believes others should too.

For those who believe rallies rarely bring about change, he says he welcomes hearing alternative solutions.

“I think I'd be totally open to hearing what someone who's like, you know, protesting is sort of a waste of time because you're not, nothing's changing,” he said. “Like, where they would suggest people put that time in instead.”

Dragon suggests looking at rallies and their track records. There’s room for improvement, and change can happen faster, but there’s a “proven track record of visibility of protests leading to social change and, maybe, social change preceding political change,” he said. It also brings awareness to the issues at hand and brings the community together. For those reasons, he encourages people to continue showing up, sharing the information, and taking pictures of signs at rallies to broadcast through social media.

He recalls the national response to George Floyd’s murder and the participation in rallies that ensued. He believes people were convinced to participate in these rallies through social media or news coverage of the protests. It’s about solidarity and bringing awareness to an audience who would otherwise be unaware of the issues.

(From center) Matt Dragon standing with members of Our Revolution and Lawrence Hamm, Chairman of the People’s Organization for Progress (P.O.P). (Photo courtesy of Matt Dragon)

“I've been to a couple of protests outside the ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) facility by Newark Airport, which is just in like an industrial park, and so like you're taking that message to those people working there, and to the families of people who are in there and telling them you care about this, and you're paying attention.”

Everyone is integral to bringing about change. Dragon pointed out that if people hadn’t filmed the George Floyd murder or the Z’kye Hussein arrest, no one would’ve seen what transpired. So, he says, it’s important to foster the next generation of people within your organization and within your movement. It’s important to pass the microphone to them and let them know their input matters. For that to happen, young and old need to work together. They need to learn from each other about ways to accomplish their mission.

When a gap between generations isn’t filled, awareness doesn’t exist, education isn’t given, and historical significance is lost. If there is to be change, he said, all parties have to show up.

“I've learned so much, just listening to people talk at the various rallies and marches,” Dragon said. “I feel like it's, it's just such a valuable sort of a learning experience, to be able to be there and like, soak all that up.”