I am solidly middle-class and have been my entire life. I work long hours to maintain this somewhat stable social position and to help my daughter who struggles with no child support and a $12.50 an hour job to raise two children. I consider myself to be an activist but am frequently frustrated with meetings and protests that are scheduled in the middle of weekdays when few but the wealthy or retired can attend or in the early evening when I, and many others, are putting in extra hours at work or picking up kids from school, preparing dinner, and spending hours helping with homework.

I am relegated to using social media for my activism because little else is scheduled when real people can participate. I can’t imagine how people who are poorer than me can be involved in protests and other such activities, especially when they often have the additional problem of transportation to consider.