My heart is with the protesters. Were it possible, I would be among them. (My wife is a three-time cancer survivor with a compromised immune system, so I can’t run the risk of infecting her. The decision to take a risk goes beyond one’s own self-interest or views; we all owe each other the assurance that we will do all we can to make sure we don’t infect each other.)

I believe in science and medicine. If the experts say that this is dangerous, we have to find other ways to get our message out. I know young people think they are immortal; I was young, and raised two children. But the young are not immortal, nor are they able to protect their friends and relatives if they become infected.

The overwhelming majority of these peaceful protesters do all they can to mitigate the threat, by wearing masks and often gloves. But there is virtually no social distancing, and many are unmasked. As all of these earnest people go back to their communities, I fear spreading the virus.

The point has been well-made, and by just about every measure, the American people are appalled by the murder of Mr. Floyd, and have come to understand institutionalized racism in the criminal justice system. These protesters have woken up many Americans, who are also repulsed by Trump’s racist and Nazi-like response.

If someone is going to use a “risk-benefit” analysis, the benefits thus far are clear. Only a third of Americans support Trump’s fascistic approach. Generals Mattis and Milley have spoken out. Even Trump’s own Defense Secretary says he opposes using the troops to suppress protests. One need not be an epidemiologist to realize that the longer we have mass congregations, the more the virus will spread. Sadly, the virus does not distinguish between idiots partying recklessly on a beach or in a bar, and serious people doing what they can to be safe under near impossible conditions. It cares not if you are an armed Republican or neo-Nazi seizing a state capitol and intimidating legislators, or a peaceful protester seeking justice. They will all see infection, spread, and death.

So now it is time to look for safer ways to keep the movement going and keep up the pressure on police, the states, and Republicans in the Senate. I know it’s tough; we Dem activists are struggling to register people and get out the vote in dangerous times. Young people are masters of social media and networking, and that can be an effective way of maintaining the struggle. But we definitely do not want to mimic the Trumpies, and send our most ardent folks out into a pandemic.

One last word: unless someone is actually out there, taking the same risks, they have no right to tell others to do so.Talk is oh-so-cheap. (I wish everyone who told me how much they want to get rid of Trump would actually do something, however minimal, to make it happen. That’s why these protesters are so inspiring.)