This past weekend, I attended a peaceful protest in Santa Monica known as the “No Kings” demonstration. The event was a response to recent governmental actions regarding the deportation of immigrants—a decision that weighed heavily on my heart. I went alone, carrying a simple poster, and found myself standing among thousands of others lining the streets. We chanted. We cheered. We held space.
The energy was vibrant and grounded. People waved flags, held signs, and offered water bottles and words of encouragement. Cars drove by honking in solidarity. Despite the noise, I felt an unusual calm—not the kind that comes from silence, but the kind that comes from alignment. I was exactly where I needed to be.
Why I’m Sharing This on a Meditation Blog
Some might ask: What does protest have to do with meditation?
To me, the answer is clear: meditation is not separate from life—it’s how we learn to meet it fully. Presence doesn’t always mean quietude. Sometimes, it means listening so deeply to our inner voice that we feel called to speak. Sometimes, presence is found in action. That day on the streets of Santa Monica, I wasn’t stepping away from my meditation practice—I was embodying it.
Meditation helps us become more honest with ourselves. And once we’re attuned to what we value, the most compassionate next step isn’t always to retreat. Sometimes, it’s to stand up. To speak. To engage. To say, “This matters.”
Expression as a Form of Release
One of the reasons I meditate is to release built-up stress and emotion. But I’ve come to realize that self-expression is another crucial outlet. Whether we’re writing in a journal, sharing our feelings with a friend, or standing in protest, expression allows what’s inside to move. When we repress our feelings—especially our moral discomfort—they don’t go away. They sit in the body, unspoken and unresolved.
So no matter where you fall politically, I believe this: the right to speak is sacred. It’s part of what makes inner freedom possible. When we feel safe to express what we believe in, we can exhale more deeply. And when we’re not afraid to show up, we create space for others to show up too.
Gratitude and Community
What surprised me most at the protest was the sense of community. Though I came alone, I was surrounded by people of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs—drawn together by a shared desire for dignity and fairness. I felt proud to be part of it. Paradoxically, standing in protest against something made me feel more connected to this country than I had in a long time.
We’re taught that meditation happens in stillness, but sometimes the most powerful practice is participation. When we connect to our own sense of truth and act in alignment with it, that is mindfulness. That is compassion. And that is love.