Unity Ribbons Displayed Prior To Protests In Laguna Beach

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Last weekend was a weekend of protests in Laguna Beach. For residents, Saturday mattered more than the worrisome Sunday Main Beach crowd drawing near to rally for anti-immigration and others coming to protest the America's First rally.

On Saturday Aug. 19 Laguna Beach residents banded together to tie ribbons for unity around trees and signs. The ribbons would wave in the ocean breeze in silent witness to protests. The idea was woven with the history of acceptance typical in Laguna Beach for all who come within its borders.

Ribbons were tied, and their silent point was left behind. They remained witness to the angry rally on Sunday where arrests were made and thousands made sure their discontent was heard. As Laguna Beach residents suspected, many of those who came to protest were not from this area. On Tuesday, yet another arrest, this time of a man from Ohio who struck a rally-attendee in the face and was captured on social media in the midst of the crime.

Laguna is in the midst of its Pageant of the Masters celebration. The Sawdust Arts festival. It is the pristine gem of Orange County and an artist's community. It is a place to view the mighty Pacific Ocean, where music fills the streets, and a place where residents and visitors typically pause at the end of the day to applaud as the sun sinks below the horizon. It is a city populated with people of differing beliefs, opinions and lifestyles. Watching Laguna Beach become the focus for protests was appalling to many residents as they watched police officers cordon off areas for both sides of the heated civil debate.

#unityribbons #livelagunabeach Unity over division. Love over hate.
A post shared by Kaira (@kairarouda) on Aug 18, 2017 at 6:59pm PDT

The idea of unity ribbons made sense to Kaira Rouda, who used social media to draw residents to Main Beach, tie ribbons around the trees and leave the symbols as a marker.

Happy
A post shared by Kaira (@kairarouda) on Aug 19, 2017 at 3:37pm PDT

Thousands attended the Unity Ribbon tying weekend, many with signs of their own, like those that read: "Make America Human Again" and "We Are The Solution."

Residents chanted in support of the concept Rouda wanted to share with others:

"Unity over division, Love over hate."

According to organizers, they did not attend Sunday's rally or subsequent rally protest. The ribbons did that for them.

Did you tie a ribbon for unity? Share your story on Patch Laguna Beach's Facebook page.

Images, courtesy Kaira Rouda