I Had My 'Iowa Nice' Ass Handed to Me

...thankfully

“I’m struggling,” I admitted last night. “A big part of me wants to tune out—to pretend things aren’t as bad as they are. I can’t stand watching cable news. I don’t want to write about politics, and I’ve been a political junkie since forever. But I feel like I must do something.”

“How are the rest of you feeling?” I asked.

I had my lily-white, Iowa Nice ass handed to me.

Nicely, I must add.

Not everyone in that conversation had the luxury of white privilege.

One man told us he started carrying his passport in January—just in case. Even though he’s been a naturalized citizen since the 1990s. He graduated from a private college in Iowa, met his wife in the school library, married her, raised a family, ran businesses, and now helps others do the same.

He walks through life prepared for exile—an unthinkable concept to me, until last night.

He doesn’t speak publicly about his concerns. In this country—right now—being brown, speaking out, or simply existing in the wrong place at the wrong time can get you swept up in an ICE raid. He believes it could happen to him.

Last night, I didn’t just hear a reason for speaking up. I felt it.

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I am tired. So tired. Exhausted by stories of the United States Constitution being ignored, legacy media caving and paying out settlements on frivolous lawsuits, or bending over backwards to present the ‘other side’ - when there is no other side that makes it right for a president to silence, sue, deport, or jail critics.

This is still the United States of America.
At least, it’s supposed to be.
Maybe we all need a reminder of what we pledged allegiance to: the flag, the Republic, liberty, and justice—for all.

That brings me to Flag Day—June 14.
A day when we traditionally honor the ideals of this country.
This year, it also marks something different: a rising protest movement called No Kings.

June 14, Flag Day

It is also the day designated for No Kings protests around the country. Here’s a list of locations. Our friends or neighbors who don’t feel safe to show up need to know there are a lot of us with lily-white asses who care.

We also care for the principles on which this country was founded.

June 14th is also the current president’s birthday, so he’s having himself a military parade in Washington, D.C.

The estimated cost? Somewhere between $25 million and $45 million.
And that doesn’t include the road repairs after the tanks chew up the streets.

Irony? The military is being politicized for the benefit of a president who avoided serving.

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…Then They Came for Me

It’s not only undocumented immigrants being targeted anymore. Naturalized citizens are now carrying passports—just in case they’re stopped. Universities are losing funding for daring to disagree with the president. Business leaders—some of whom may have voted for him—stay silent, afraid of retribution.

And God only knows what’s happening with the private data hoovered up by DOGE employees, run by Elon Musk—a man raised in South Africa during the so-called "good ol’ days" of apartheid.

We’re in dangerous territory.

The German theologian and Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller knew what that slide looked like. He initially supported Hitler, but later became one of his most outspoken critics—spending seven years in concentration camps, including Dachau. After the war, Niemöller spoke about the silence that allowed tyranny to spread unchecked.

In sermons and speeches, he recited a version of this quote that has since become a chilling warning etched into the memory of history. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum uses this version:

"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

If this feels familiar, it should.

We are called to speak up—now, not later.

Map of locations for events on June 14 around Iowa.

No Kings

Here’s what I could find so far on marches taking place around Iowa. To add your town to it, or find others around the country:

No Kings Events in Iowa (so far)

• Council Bluffs / Metro area –
  Rally at River’s Edge Park, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., with a march across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge into Omaha around 1:30 p.m. m.economictimes.com+15iowa.forums.rivals.com+15blogforiowa.com+15

• Cedar Valley (Waterloo‑Cedar Falls) –
  A local No Kings event is scheduled in the Cedar Valley region facebook.comblogforiowa.com+1mobilize.us+1

• Le Mars –
  A march is set for 2 p.m. at 215 Fourth Ave SE facebook.com+8m.economictimes.com+8iowa.forums.rivals.com+8

• Slater –
  Occurring from 12–2 p.m. at Main & Linn Street in Slater blogforiowa.com+1facebook.com+1

• Madrid –
  Taking place 11 a.m.–4 p.m. on South Union St – Madrid en.wikipedia.org+13facebook.com+13reddit.com+13

• Perry –
  From 12–1 p.m. at Big Bicycle (1st Ave & Willis Ave) blogforiowa.com

• Indianola –
  Gathering 10–11 a.m. at Moats Park in Indianola blogforiowa.com

• Dubuque –
  Rally and march at Washington Park, June 14 facebook.com+14myq1075.com+14mobilize.us+14

• Decorah –
  A march and rally listed (via Reddit) for Decorah thegazette.com+15reddit.com+15reddit.com+15

• Des Moines –
  An event is being organized (via Mobilize), 12:00 p.m. It’s likely centered around the State Capitol iowa.forums.rivals.com+5blogforiowa.com+5mobilize.us+5

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If you make a sign, send a picture. Let’s show each other—that we give a damn.

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The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative

Check out

Robert Leonard

’s column this week where he brings humanity to the story of immigrant day laborers being rounded up.

ICE Targets Immigrant Day Laborers at LA Area Home Depots...

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My hunch is some of our members will be writing from these gatherings around the state, but we can’t be everywhere, so send me your pictures.

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Statewide candidates are starting to emerge, while courts, education, and healthcare are under attack