Don’t Panic: In Advance of Trump Inauguration, Burlington Activists Perform Hysteria
Saturday afternoon in Burlington, Winooski resident Lindsay London shouted through a megaphone at the top of Church Street: "'Hysteria' comes from the Latin word for...
Saturday afternoon in Burlington, Winooski resident Lindsay London shouted through a megaphone at the top of Church Street: “‘Hysteria’ comes from the Latin word for ‘wandering uterus’!”
London was met with cheers, jeers, moans and wails from a group of approximately 20 people, assembled for a “Public Panic Attack” in response to the impending inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump. “Because sometimes the only reasonable response is to PANIC!!!!!!” declared the group’s Facebook event.
“Panicker” with sign Credit: Rachel Jones
Located at the intersections of activism, guerrilla theater and performance art, the “panic attack” was organized by loose collectives Feminists Against Trump and the All Affected Coalition. It provoked smiles and laughter — as well as some sincere confusion — from marketplace strollers, some of whom stopped to watch and capture the excitement with their cellphones. Many in the performance group donned vintage aprons and dishwashing gloves, emulating the stereotypical 1950s housewife.
Panickers passed the megaphone among themselves, taking turns identifying various Trump cabinet appointees as reasons to panic. At periodic intervals, Tina Escaja, a University of Vermont professor and director of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, theatrically announced the days, hours and minutes remaining until Trump’s inauguration .
When the group completed its script at the top of Church Street, they ran, shouted and flailed two blocks south to repeat the performance.
Tina Escaja announces the inauguration countdown Credit: Rachel Jones
“The reason I plug into this type of action,” said Burlington social worker Kate Van Wagner, “is to queer up protests and get creative.” After the 2004 reelection of George W. Bush, Van Wagner participated in the Burlington-based performance protest group Queer Liberation Army. She credits former QLA member and Middlebury College professor Laurie Essig for resurrecting, through Feminists Against Trump and the All Affected Coalition, “outlandish ways of reminding everyone — including ourselves — that this is not normal.”
Members of Feminists Against Trump and the All Affected Coalition Credit: Rachel Jones
Van Wagner made sure to point out that organizers’ intention was not to belittle anxiety disorders but to “[situate] panic within the historical context of feminism.”
And it wasn’t all campy hysteria. The panic performances closed with the megaphoned question, “What can we do besides panic?”
“Resist!” came the response, along with a smattering of other suggestions: Donate to the ACLU! Donate to Planned Parenthood! Run for office!
Rachel was an arts staff writer at Seven Days. She writes from the intersections of art, visual culture and anthropology, and has contributed to The New Inquiry, The LA Review of Books and Artforum, among other publications.
More by Rachel Elizabeth Jones
14 replies on “Don’t Panic: In Advance of Trump Inauguration, Burlington Activists Perform Hysteria”
“This is not normal” that is for sure. The actions of these people is ridiculous. The transfer of power is a normal part of the American process of democracy. If Tina Escaja and Laurie Essig are the caliber of professors teaching at UVM and Middlebury I will not be sending any kid of mine to those places. It is time to grow up people. Take your dish gloves off and put on your big girl panties ladies. Your time might be better spent thinking of ways to work with the new administration instead of playing chicken little on Church Street. The only thing you got right in you act is encouraging people to get involved in the political process by running for office.
Oh, “Citizen!” Clearly from this comment and the other comments you make on Seven Days articles you totally represent why actions like these are important now and forever. Thank you for posting and giving us an idea for our next action—handing out big girl panties on church street! I wonder how many feminists could fit into one really, really big pair of big girl panties. Hmmm.
Isn’t it so much easier to critique, especially online and anonymously, than it is to get out and actually do something?!
I’m glad to see that there are only 8 crazy people roaming church street these days. Looks like your ideas are really gaining support LLU Mulvaney Stanak. Maybe you should put off handing out the panties till summer that way more people might show up. Hmm.
Oh Citizen my dear, how would I know who you were at the next action when you don’t have the courage to be public with your opinions or comments? Your quick ascent to using violent threats against me only further showcases why speaking truth to trolls like you matters more than ever. Where is your substance on the actual content of this article and the the issues we were raising about the policies the Trump administration are about to put in place? Seems like all you want to do is be misogynistic, inflammatory, and cowardice.
I’m in no way expressing violence but I would love to have,a public debate with you. And I notice that you keep accusing me of being afraid or unwilling to come out publicly but I notice you apparently think you are the great Dr. King judging by the pic. you post with, so who is hiding. Like I said please let me know where and when your next public event will happen and I’ll be there. You will know it is me when you see my sign it will read “I am Citizen.” We can discuss real issue the Trump administration will be facing and the real policies they will implement not the fake hysteria you and your group are spreading.
Citizen, I am saying you are hiding behind your anonymous profile and not posting your name with your comments. I am. Also, today is MLK Day, hence my switched photo honoring him. Your gross and inappropriate comment about stuffing panties in my mouth is indeed a violent comment. You have no substance in what you have commented here and again, clearly no courage to actually be public in this forum. I have no interest in a public debate with someone who presents such sophomoric and nasty commentary as yourself.
LLU MULVANEY STANAK when did I suggest using violence again’t you? I only gave you a suggestion for what you and your group could do with the items you stated you plan to hand out at your next event. I never suggested I would be involved. You sound like one of those democratic soldiers that went to Trump rallies to incite violence and then tried to blame the violence on Trump supporters. You Democrats play a dirty game. Then when people stand up to your lies you wine like babies. Maybe you and your group should leave America for awhile because you lost the election and things won’t be going your way for sometime here in the good old USA. P.S you calling me a troll is very uncivil. I’m to tall to be a troll.
Citizen, in the words of the feminist Beyonce, “boy bye.” Best of luck to you engaging in thoughtful and respectful civil discourse with your fellow citizens these next four years.
Hey good luck with your protest. In 4 years when the sky has not fallen and the world is a safer place due to President Trump be sure to stop protesting long enough to vote.
And by the way Beyonce is no feminist she is still married to a man that has cheated and probably still cheats on her. She sounds like a real strong woman to me. NOT.
Citizen………….we anarchist like to say that if voting ever really changed anything then the capitalist class would have outlawed it long ago. By suggesting that these women “take off their dish gloves” and put their “big girl panties’ on you not only reveal your women-hating misogyny but your ignorance of the role of protest in the United States. On MLK day, reflect on how immoral this country has been from genocide against Native Americans to slavery to Hiroshima to Vietnam to Jim Crow to Black Lives Matter to Standing Rock, ad nauseum. Read a book instead of lecturing people with your limited range of understanding and vile value system
Election time surely does bring out the crazies. And another day goes by.. Incredible how time continues to pass, and how the world, despite all things political, manages to keep on spinning. Miraculous really. Keep breathing people, this is not the end, and could very well be the beginning of something not fuled by hate at all, but by justice, in a way we’ve never yet experienced. Time will tell. Until then, lets all try to be more focused on loving the people around us, rather than fearing the ones you only know through television PROGRAMMING.
Albert how do you know I’m not a woman. Just because I don’t agree with the actions these women are taking does not make me misogynistic, it just means that I don’t think their action will result in any real change in our country. Also try tell the Democrats voting never changed anything. Everyone in this country the exercised their right to vote for Trump proved that voting can change things. But I not sure why I’m telling this to a self described anarchist you have already given up on the American political process I’m sure.
Public expressions are opinions and not invitations for debate. Outlaw “frivolous or silly or not normal” expressions and you make us all pirates and I don’t want to be a pirate.
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“This is not normal” that is for sure. The actions of these people is ridiculous. The transfer of power is a normal part of the American process of democracy. If Tina Escaja and Laurie Essig are the caliber of professors teaching at UVM and Middlebury I will not be sending any kid of mine to those places. It is time to grow up people. Take your dish gloves off and put on your big girl panties ladies. Your time might be better spent thinking of ways to work with the new administration instead of playing chicken little on Church Street. The only thing you got right in you act is encouraging people to get involved in the political process by running for office.
Oh, “Citizen!” Clearly from this comment and the other comments you make on Seven Days articles you totally represent why actions like these are important now and forever. Thank you for posting and giving us an idea for our next action—handing out big girl panties on church street! I wonder how many feminists could fit into one really, really big pair of big girl panties. Hmmm.
Isn’t it so much easier to critique, especially online and anonymously, than it is to get out and actually do something?!
I’m glad to see that there are only 8 crazy people roaming church street these days. Looks like your ideas are really gaining support LLU Mulvaney Stanak. Maybe you should put off handing out the panties till summer that way more people might show up. Hmm.
Oh Citizen my dear, how would I know who you were at the next action when you don’t have the courage to be public with your opinions or comments? Your quick ascent to using violent threats against me only further showcases why speaking truth to trolls like you matters more than ever. Where is your substance on the actual content of this article and the the issues we were raising about the policies the Trump administration are about to put in place? Seems like all you want to do is be misogynistic, inflammatory, and cowardice.
I’m in no way expressing violence but I would love to have,a public debate with you. And I notice that you keep accusing me of being afraid or unwilling to come out publicly but I notice you apparently think you are the great Dr. King judging by the pic. you post with, so who is hiding. Like I said please let me know where and when your next public event will happen and I’ll be there. You will know it is me when you see my sign it will read “I am Citizen.” We can discuss real issue the Trump administration will be facing and the real policies they will implement not the fake hysteria you and your group are spreading.
Citizen, I am saying you are hiding behind your anonymous profile and not posting your name with your comments. I am. Also, today is MLK Day, hence my switched photo honoring him. Your gross and inappropriate comment about stuffing panties in my mouth is indeed a violent comment. You have no substance in what you have commented here and again, clearly no courage to actually be public in this forum. I have no interest in a public debate with someone who presents such sophomoric and nasty commentary as yourself.
LLU MULVANEY STANAK when did I suggest using violence again’t you? I only gave you a suggestion for what you and your group could do with the items you stated you plan to hand out at your next event. I never suggested I would be involved. You sound like one of those democratic soldiers that went to Trump rallies to incite violence and then tried to blame the violence on Trump supporters. You Democrats play a dirty game. Then when people stand up to your lies you wine like babies. Maybe you and your group should leave America for awhile because you lost the election and things won’t be going your way for sometime here in the good old USA. P.S you calling me a troll is very uncivil. I’m to tall to be a troll.
Citizen, in the words of the feminist Beyonce, “boy bye.” Best of luck to you engaging in thoughtful and respectful civil discourse with your fellow citizens these next four years.
Hey good luck with your protest. In 4 years when the sky has not fallen and the world is a safer place due to President Trump be sure to stop protesting long enough to vote.
And by the way Beyonce is no feminist she is still married to a man that has cheated and probably still cheats on her. She sounds like a real strong woman to me. NOT.
Citizen………….we anarchist like to say that if voting ever really changed anything then the capitalist class would have outlawed it long ago. By suggesting that these women “take off their dish gloves” and put their “big girl panties’ on you not only reveal your women-hating misogyny but your ignorance of the role of protest in the United States. On MLK day, reflect on how immoral this country has been from genocide against Native Americans to slavery to Hiroshima to Vietnam to Jim Crow to Black Lives Matter to Standing Rock, ad nauseum. Read a book instead of lecturing people with your limited range of understanding and vile value system
Election time surely does bring out the crazies. And another day goes by.. Incredible how time continues to pass, and how the world, despite all things political, manages to keep on spinning. Miraculous really. Keep breathing people, this is not the end, and could very well be the beginning of something not fuled by hate at all, but by justice, in a way we’ve never yet experienced. Time will tell. Until then, lets all try to be more focused on loving the people around us, rather than fearing the ones you only know through television PROGRAMMING.
Albert how do you know I’m not a woman. Just because I don’t agree with the actions these women are taking does not make me misogynistic, it just means that I don’t think their action will result in any real change in our country. Also try tell the Democrats voting never changed anything. Everyone in this country the exercised their right to vote for Trump proved that voting can change things. But I not sure why I’m telling this to a self described anarchist you have already given up on the American political process I’m sure.
Public expressions are opinions and not invitations for debate. Outlaw “frivolous or silly or not normal” expressions and you make us all pirates and I don’t want to be a pirate.