Protests are Prayers of the People

Prayer.   Every faith tradition has prayer expressed in many different forms.   
Meditation, Chant, Singing, Silence.  Dancing, Drumming, and Art.
In private, in homes, in sanctuaries, in nature, in public.  
Praying alone or in community. Shouts of praise, whispers of yearning and those prayers that are non-verbal. 
The body language of prayer differs widely. Eyes open or shut, head up, head down, kneeling, standing, arms out, hands clasped or raised.   The good news is, God is not directional; God is within and all around. God is accessible in infinite ways to anyone who has desire.  
Praying is a spiritual practice.  To practice taking time to be intimate with God, to draw God near, to engage actively with God's presence and to share in the activity of God, as you come to know the God of your understanding.  There are as many ways to pray as there are people.

Protest is a form of Prayer.  I know this because of all the similarities that protesting has with the examples of prayer I have just given. Both are done publicly in the streets or from homes.  Protesting involves chanting, singing, people coming together, silence, art, movement, hands clasped or raised and a common desire to create change.  It is in this way, that we beckon God to draw near, to hear the prayers of the people trying to assure that God's Kin-dom come for all God's children.   
It is in this spirit, that we can all participate in Protest as prayer.  Here are some way for all ages and stages to participate in protest and prayer: ​

Pray with your words.  Protest signs are a prayer. 
What is on your heart, what do you stand for, what change do you need?  Make protest signs. 
Physically carry your prayer,  put it in the window of your home, chalk the walk, stake your yard, write your state government.  Let your words make an impact and amplify the words of others that need to be heard.  
Pray with your voice.  Protest songs are a prayer.
Across the generations, we all have a favorite protest song.  Join with others and sing or chant in one voice.  Sing from your core (you don't need to be on key).  Recite lyrics as verse.   Chant the chants of a generation demanding change. 
Pray with your feet.  Pray with your presence. Protest marches are prayer. 
Get moving if you can.  Use your body to stand up for others when they can't. 
Be in solidarity with others who can.  Be visible.  Be safe.  Be non-violent.  
Pray with your eyes.  Watching what is being protested is prayer. 
If you can't march then watch from home or on the sidewalks. Don’t look away.  
Notice who is protesting and what are they protesting for.  Pray for them.  
Pray with your ears.  Listening to Protesters is prayer.           
Listen to protesters.  Ask and hear their stories and desires. Educate yourself on the history behind that which is being protested.  Be open, be willing, ask questions. 
Pray with your gifts. Supporting Protesters is prayer. 
Donate and leave supplies for protesters. Feed them,  Tend to them. Clean up and repair after marches.  Provide safety to protesters.  Donate to causes that support and amplify the needs and desires of oppressed and marginalized peoples.  
 
Now is the time to Rise in prayer.  Now is the time to rise in protest in the just ways Jesus of Nazareth did.  Our faith reminds us that prayer never ceases and neither should the work of justice.  Jesus was a protester.  Faith and Justice are partners.  Protest is Prayer.   Amen. 

A link to an excellent article on how Jesus was a protester:
https://sojo.net/articles/jesus-was-protester

---