Someday, your children will ask you about the night that the United States of America elected Donald J. Trump to be their 45th president. What was the morning after like? Did you wake up in your same bed, in a different country? Did you cry at work? Did everyone at your office have tears streaming down their faces as they drank lukewarm coffee and thought about getting drunk and going back to sleep? Or did you organize? Did you reach out to the people you love, and especially to your LGBT and POC friends and family—who suddenly live in a far scarier nation—and tell them that you love them, and that they are not alone? Did you curl up and hide, or did you build community? Did you protest? Did you pray?
The ruins of yesterday may be wrought, but today's sliver of history remains unwritten. It's yours for the taking, wet clay to shape as you desire, tonight—and over the next four years. Do you want to join in silent prayer, strategize for the resistance, stand with marginalized allies, or make some fucking noise? Well, luckily, this is the great city of L.A., and you can do any or all of the above. Because, as my old buddy Samuel Beckett once told me, You must go on, I can't go on, I'll go on. So let's go on.
THE BIG DOWNTOWN PROTEST
There are anti-Trump protests set to begin at Pershing Square at 7 p.m. and City Hall at 8 p.m. It's possible marchers will move around downtown, so you can check Twitter for updates later in the night. Officer Aareon Jefferson of the LAPD told LAist that the department was aware of the protests and "will be prepared to handle anything as it comes up," though the department has not issued any alerts or extra officers.
Pershing Square is located at 532 South Olive Street and City Hall is located at 200 North Spring Street.
SILVER LAKE MEADOW VIGIL
Organizers say: "We're all heartbroken and furious but tonight let's all get together in the Silverlake Meadow to grieve and vent but also figure out what we can do for the future. Wear white. Bring a candle. 6 pm on. Please spread the word."
Silver Lake Meadow Park is located at 1850 W Silver Lake Drive in Silver Lake.
POST-ELECTION GATHERING AT THE LGBT CENTER
The LA LGBT Center is inviting community and allies to comfort each other, grow stronger and confront whatever challenges lie ahead. The gathering will be held at the Village at Ed Gould Plaza from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The LGBT Center's Village at Ed Gould Plaza is located at 1125 N. McCadden Place in Hollywood.
PRAYER AT ALL SAINTS CHURCH
Organizers say: Join us tonight at 7:00 p.m. as we bring all of who we are—our hopes and fears, our dreams and disappointments, our grief and gratitude—to the altar for a special service of Holy Eucharist in the wake of yesterday's election. In his message to the parish, Mike Kinman wrote 'We choose love over hate, courage over fear, and inclusion over degradation.' Come gather in community as together we find strength for the journey ahead." Child care will be available.
All Saints Church is located at 132 N Euclid Avenue in Pasadena.
DHARMA TALK AT AGAINST THE STREAM BUDDHIST MEDITATION SOCIETY
Buddhist teacher Stephen Dansiger "will be talking about the dharma and how we can use it to be with our emotions and everything that is coming up for us around the election," according to organizers. Everyone is welcome to come sit and share, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society is located at 4300 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood.
HEALING, HOPE, AND MEDITATION AT CONGREGATION KOL AMI
Congregation Kol Ami, an LGBT synagogue in West Hollywood, invites anyone in pain or turmoil over last night's results, and those who are scared or questioning your faith in America, or questioning your faith at all, to join them from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. at our their temple for 45 minutes of healing and hope with meditations for our future and our country. Afterwards, they will adjourn to their rooftop deck for refreshments, conversation, listening to one another and supporting each other. For those who would like to stay, at 8 p.m. they'll join Pastor Keith Cox and the Center for Spiritual Living for 30 minutes of uplifting music and communal prayer in their sanctuary.
Congregation Kol Ami is located at 1200 N La Brea Avenue in West Hollywood.
