update to: No Kings protest — too much for kids?

Here was the original post

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/s/LGEmAC8S3S

We are a family with 8 and 11 year old daughters. Thanks to some of the posters who indicated family groups going. Knowing that we decided to go for it if kids were game.

Our 11 year old flat out refused. She said she was afraid of the police and what they would do. She had a softball practice anyhow so I took her there.

The 8 year old, however was game, and we drew some great posters together. (She wrote some of her own slogans, including “be free” and “boo trump.” )

We went to 5th and 40th at the beginning, couldnt find the family group, it was crowded but not scary. We marched about an hour, it was raining so we left via subway and had hot chocolate at home.

Overall a good family experience – definitely felt right to stand up for what we believe in as a family, to exercise associational rights. thanks to those who responded to the original post.

edit: For those who wondered why we took the girls.

I think the best answer is “teaching our family values.”

My wife began the afternoon at home with a discussion of how this country came to be. It began with ordinary and good citizens refusing to accept tyranny. She said there comes a time when citizens need to speak up for what they think is right and that this is such a time.

Hence we took this as a lesson in citizenship – not obligatory (we let the 11 year old opt out) but a lesson of what citizens in a democracy do to reaffirm fundamental values.

Who knows how much of it stuck. But in the same sense you might take a kid to a ballet or a ballgame to show them those things, we wanted to show them what the peaceful but passionate expression of democratic rights looks like in person.

We wanted them to understand that we are a family who believes in democracy and fundamental rights, and when things go too far, will stand up and march. So those are the reasons.