Beacons Shine the Light

By Michael Zweig

BEACONS at Wittenberg Triangle, above. Photo courtesy of Michael Zweig.

There’s a new initiative spreading through the Village, around New York City, and beyond. The Beacon, founded in New York on January 20 by Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum and a few friends, is designed to give everyone disheartened and outraged by the Trump Administration a way to stand up to it, right on their own block. In the Shine the Light project, people come out of their apartments and homes every Thursday evening from 7:00 – 7:30 pm to stand together with neighbors – maybe only one or two, maybe ten, maybe dozens – holding homemade signs of protest for all who pass by to see and engage.

Since Trump has come to power again, we have seen several huge demonstrations in New York and cities across the country – Hands Off on April 5, No Kings on April 19, May Day, and an upcoming June 14 protest. But The Beacon is founded on the belief that people should not wait for such concentrated actions. Of equal, and perhaps more lasting importance, they argue, is the simple act of standing with neighbors on a regular basis to build a mutually reinforcing community of opposition, dedicated to visible public assertions of the values of caring and democracy.

Its founding document states, “The Beacon brings together people of all faiths and secular backgrounds who feel called to stand with those facing injustice…. As beacons, our actions offer messages and images that powerfully contrast the hate, fear, and despair amplified in the news cycle. Through community organizing, training, and partnerships with legal, social service, labor, and faith-based organizations, we’re creating a new narrative that demonstrates the power of organized compassion in the face of hate and discriminatory acts.”

In just a few months, the project has grown to more than 1,000 “beacons” shining their light across the US. In Village View’s immediate reach, people stand across from Stonewall, at the Ruth Wittenberg Triangle on Sixth Ave., on Eighth Ave. and 24th St., and 90 Hudson St., and in front of their own buildings. In Greenport on the North Fork, people stand at the corner of Front and 3rd St.

Each of these locations began with two or three people standing together, holding such signs as “Medicaid Cuts Are Policy Murder – Resist!” and “Immigrants: Let Them Stay!” and “Defend Democracy.” Passers-by stop to talk, relieved that there’s a place to express themselves, that they don’t have to feel isolated and depressed, or keep their upset bottled up inside. Over the first months, new people have joined in most locations, bringing new signs, new energy, new engagement and hope.

Occasionally someone will express hostility. Beacons are asked to ignore these provocations, to de-escalate the occasional confrontation. But the overwhelming public reaction is appreciation. People standing see this especially from deliveristas on their bikes and cab drivers passing by, smiling, mouthing “thank you,” giving a thumbs up. Beacons stand for those who fear to stand, with all who want to prevent despair from becoming our dominant emotion and instead find inspiration in small powerful acts of coming together.

Find information about The Beacon at tinyurl.com/thursdaylight.