liberating to just, you know, obtain a street. And I think a lot of other people felt that way. But I do also think that most of them are more idealistic than myself and probably believed in the power of some political moment that happened right then. I’ve never seen people like, with that much energy and commitment to something. So that was a new experience.

GREG EDWARDS, 31

BANGOR, MAINE

So, it’s slowing down now; it’s not on everyone’s feeds anymore but, you know, there was a good month or two when just every day there was a new and enraging, enthralling post, or multiple posts, on all these various topics that I maybe didn’t feel that strongly about—or had an ingrained, like, opinion on that wasn’t really based on anything except for something subtle that somebody might have said. Reparations would be one. I don’t know, it just seemed like an unrealistic, expensive thing that would never happen—for no good reason. I don’t know why I ever thought that, but I think the idea of reparations for slavery just didn’t seem like a possible thing. And then I learned more about it and learned that there have been reparations in U.S. history’s past with Japanese Americans, and learning the extent of how bad slavery was for how long. I would be 100 percent in support of reparations now, and that would be an issue that I would bring up with a politician now, whereas before that would not have crossed my mind, ever.

EMILY WOLFENBARGER, 38

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE

I do think that the protests will at least be a symbolic stance—that’s the very minimum—of an era. I feel like we are making history and we are a part of history, and please God, let this be a pivot point towards the right direction. I think the lasting impact will be how it changes people, who will be in that environment and to put their own eyes on it, to walk those steps with people, to watch the dynamics within that community. The big impact on those protests will be the personal change that will bring transformation.

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