About the crowd on University Avenue

Every Tuesday morning for almost a year, around 70 protesters have waved signs and garnered honks at the intersection around the Social Security Administration office in La Mesa. 

The crowd of mostly gray and white heads first rallied to protect social security. But it has grown to cover so much more. Signs condemn ICE, fascism, pedophilia and, most recently, the war in Iran. 

For attendees, their advocacy goes beyond protesting. During the government shutdown, they donated thousands of dollars worth of food to the SSA staff in La Mesa and El Cajon, according to protest founder Leslie Fadem.

They’ve also found community with each other. Sharon Smith and Eileen Schmitz protested the Vietnam war together on SDSU’s campus before falling out of touch. The two La Mesans have rekindled their friendship by seeing each other every Tuesday.

Many of the protesters are Vietnam war vets – not actually former military, but the activists and agitators who cut their teeth advocating for peace in the ‘60s. 

“We’ve never had it polarized this much, I think, since the Vietnam War,” Schmitz said. 

That’s not true for all of them. Photographer Jennifer Spencer shared that this was the first protest she ever participated in, at age 82. 

“I wasn’t sure at first what I could do,” Spencer said. “It made a big difference because I felt kind of alone and very frustrated and nervous about what was going to happen.”

The positive energy at the rally bolstered her spirits. Now she faithfully participates every week. 

In other news: Mark your calendar for Friday, March 20. Times of San Diego editor Andrew Keatts and I will be at Lightbulb Coffee from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. for a meet and greet. Stay tuned for more details, I hope to see you there!