THE POWER OF A LAMENT WALK AS POLITICAL RESISTANCE, AND THE COMMUNITY- AND EMPATHY-BUILDING RESULTS (Part 1)
- rhapsodydmb
- Sep 4
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 5
A Lament Walk is a superbly powerful visual method of political and social resistance and protest. It is deeply emotional for both participants as well as for pedestrians and drivers who pass and view the line of black-clad, somber Walkers.
A beautiful classical lament music Playlist was chosen and may be heard on the below link, used for our first-ever Lament Walk for Lost Justice in San Francisco held this past July. (Thanks especially to Bruce for referring pieces and curating the Playlist!)
Until about five months ago I had never seen such a Walk. Then Jeanette, an activist bff living in Auburn, CA, sent me a TikTok video (pictured above) of the first such U.S. Walk lamenting the advent of fascism that took place in the US in Lexington, KY in May, 2025. On this video you may hear part of the Playlist that was used in Auburn.
My imagination and passion were immediately fired. I found it both compelling and disturbing.
After a week re-viewing the video several times, I went into action.
Eventually my partner joined me and together we initiated the first San Francisco Lament Walk for Lost Justice that occurred July 21 in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco.
It involved about 20 costumed Lament Walkers and 20 uncostumed supporters who followed. That Walk is pictured below and my partner and I led off the walk (followed by our friend Grace third in line) and are pictured seated after the Walk, holding two of four signs I calligraphed and contributed to the group's signage.
After a 40-minute walk through the neighborhood and into a Town Square to stand for five minutes, we ended the walk by entering a church and circling around in front to stand at attention as audience members filed in to listen to a panel of judges and a civil rights attorney, regarding threats to justice and the judiciary since the advent of the No. 47 regime.
Gratefully, Lisa, a long time resident and activist from Noe Valley, was able to finalize the last week of the Walk, people it rather quickly, and take charge on implementation day.
Sadly, three weeks of my prior discussions, videos, and notices that I posted at IndivisibleSF engendered lukewarm support by the leaders, and resulted in only three volunteers of the total 20 that showed up (yet that organization has 4000 registered members).
Visually the Walk was more informal than the Auburn and Kentucky examples. The anticipated Glen Park Walk will involve fewer Walkers because our sidewalks are narrower and blocks shorter, thus it will comport more nearly with the original ceremonial, somber Walk with consistent signage. For example, we ask that no doggies be brought along and of course, young children are not suitable for the discipline and distance required by the Walk (the Noe Walk covered 1.3 miles).
I learned that the first step in organizing any Walk is to choose a tentative date or two then enlist enthusiastic and initially available and committed, if potential, Walkers. After more than you expect to show up, do sign up, then choose your final date, time and place for the Walk! Be certain that all Walkers are oriented to the desired costume and comportment for the Walk including how to hold signs and who will be first to pace the walk (my partner filled that roll, and in advance of the Walk together, and once with Lisa -- who gratefully organized safety monitors for the longer Walk -- we paced off and timed the exact path).
Since then another Walk has been organized by the Noe Valley neighbors from a local organization that co-sponsored the first Walk, called "Town Hall for Democracy".
My partner and I are organizing such a Walk set for October 18 or thereabouts (final date and time TBD soon).
San Francisco and Bay Area residents who resonate to the concept are invited to contact me (text 415.587-3863) to answer questions or to join our Glen Park list of Potential Walkers and Support Team (we need: one more photographer-videographer, a press relations assistant, and a post-event set up and cleanup assistant).
While no formal post-Walk teach-in is planned in Glen Park, we will include a post event (likely an ice cream social with a possible protest-song vocalist) where we can continue to build community and get to know each other. Our fast-paced life with many people's heads buried in cell phones as they walk by, unsmiling, or rushing to the next and the next appointment or call or zoom meeting, begs for such connections to help make us kind again.
Because I was impacted by the entire endeavor, I want to pass on the idea of, and assistance with, organizing such a walk in your neighborhood or town or city.
It can be implemented in a few short weeks, but there are shortcuts and helpful advice I can offer. The music Playlist can be customized and changed (or you may use the list that Ron prepared); the Auburn group used protest songs with lyrics while the Noe group wanted classical pieces and not songs.) Specific signage can be changed and should match the theme and express specific examples or elements of that theme.
The specific theme of a Walk and how it is ultimately realized can vary. It could even include a Walk for Joy and Hope -- or a Walk for Restored Kindness! Jeanette and I are contemplating a Burlesque Walk for Celebration (we have some hilarious signs cooked up for that one, as you might imagine!) -- but only after this society turns back into an inclusive, democratic, and humanist nation as it was headed to be -- one that we can once again celebrate being a member of and aligned with.
I'm here to answer questions just like organizer Mike and Scott (a Walker) in Auburn, CA did when I called. Mike gladly provided a flashdrive with signs used in their "Lament Fascism" Walk, a list of songs on their Playlist, and words of advice and encouragement along my way. I can offer the same because I want to pay it forward.
In my next blog I'll summarize some of the antecedents of the Walk, its benefits, and reactions to the concept of and the actual Walk that I participated in, because I noted valid questions and amazing, inspiring responses.
If you would like a one-page document with links to learn more about these Walks, please let me know by sending email to anngrogan.romantasy@gmail.com.
###
Comments