I have learned that as exhausting as staying on this can be, not doing anything and knowing it's happening while feeling helpless is far worse. It's hard to stay with, but the action and connection energizes me, so long as I put boundaries on my media consumption and volunteer hours. Can't pour from an empty cup, but many hands make light work, etc etc
I don't know why that map doesn't show it, but we've got 3 mutual aid events going in the 82nd District - West Branch, West Liberty and Tipton - almost all of which tried to force us to remove any mention of kings or Indivisible as "political." We said "poverty is political" so we just made adjustments. Collecting diapers and tampons is political if we raise the fact that this poverty is being caused by mean policy not laziness. Unbelievable.
I also feel so overwhelmed by it all and it's tempting to tune it out just a for break.
Then last week, while filling out my 19-year-old daughter's passport renewal application—my brown-skinned adopted daughter born in India with an Iowa certificate of foreign birth—she said to me, "Damn, I hope they approve it again. Should I be worried?"
Got my privilege in check and went back to the trenches.
FLASH Here’s a Great opportunity, Julie. Progress Iowa is sponsoring a NO KINGS special edition of their Art Jam project workshop this Friday, June 13 , 3:00 PM, at their conveniently located Des Moines office and workshop. It’s an opportunity to create your own personal message posters for the event. Everyone’s welcome! Details are in the attached link:https://mobilize.us/s/H1HlwZ
Progress Iowa is a statewide organisation powered by a community of more than 100,000 progressives, focused on research, education, and advocacy. They’re located at 100 Court Avenue, suite # 203, in downtown Des Moines.
Materials are provided for free, and you’ll be joined by many who feel like you!
Muscatine Indivisible has protest from 11-1pm Saturday June 14 for No Kings Day in Muscatine on Park Avenue in front of McAvoy Center, Muscatine Community College
In Atlantic we will be holding our event from 11 to noon at the south end of our city park along Hwy 6 between Chestnut and Poplar Streets. We have a safety team in place and have informed our law enforcement. We are looking forward to having a turnout that will send a clear message of disagreement with the way our country is being governed by a transactional narcissist.
In Ames there have been protests at Band Shell Park on Duff Avenue every Saturday at 10 am since the middle of April a Hands Off rally started it and it's been going on since, Saturday mornings and Thursday(?) evenings. I'm not sure what group has been organizing them but I look forward to going again Saturday. No Kings has been a sign often seen since he made the remark while in New York about being a king. Lots of great signs around, I will post pictures of mine and others. I have been going about half the time as grandkids sports schedules often interfere. My son goes with me sometimes and my granddaughter has come the last 2 times. She has enjoyed it! My wife was worried about retribution or violence the first time I went but mostly supportive honking and waving by passing cars, a few shouted obscenities and flying fingers, but nothing violent. Protesters have mostly been white elderly like me since the original Hands Off rally. There were about 400 people at the first, been much smaller groups since, 25- 40 at most but still vocal!
Wonderfully written recruitment posters by you Julie, Dr. Bob and many others. Excited to see people bringing their families, neighbors and children. There are too many affected agencies, schools, libraries, clinics, organizations and generations to count for this not being what must be the largest protest since the 60’s.
We need every influencer and flash mob wizard, farmers market attendees, students, retirees, and face to face convincing we can possibly muster. Probably a lot of good lawyers, too. I appeal to businesses for allowing access to restrooms if possible, and everyone to wear comfortable shoes. No masks should be required. But be sure to ask security to take theirs off if you see any.
I have learned that as exhausting as staying on this can be, not doing anything and knowing it's happening while feeling helpless is far worse. It's hard to stay with, but the action and connection energizes me, so long as I put boundaries on my media consumption and volunteer hours. Can't pour from an empty cup, but many hands make light work, etc etc
I don't know why that map doesn't show it, but we've got 3 mutual aid events going in the 82nd District - West Branch, West Liberty and Tipton - almost all of which tried to force us to remove any mention of kings or Indivisible as "political." We said "poverty is political" so we just made adjustments. Collecting diapers and tampons is political if we raise the fact that this poverty is being caused by mean policy not laziness. Unbelievable.
I also feel so overwhelmed by it all and it's tempting to tune it out just a for break.
Then last week, while filling out my 19-year-old daughter's passport renewal application—my brown-skinned adopted daughter born in India with an Iowa certificate of foreign birth—she said to me, "Damn, I hope they approve it again. Should I be worried?"
Got my privilege in check and went back to the trenches.
Thank you for writing this. We are living in truly terrifying times.
Does anyone have information about the Le Mars protest? I can’t find anything online…
check here - https://www.nokings.org
Sadly, it’s not listed there…
Is there a place to start one?
I’m afraid I’m only able to join this time around, not organize.
looks like that info is from an old protest - April 19. That's too bad. I was hoping to go too
This encouraging
Fort Dodge rally this Saturday, 1-2 pm at the intersection of 1st Ave. S. & S 29th St. (Target/Hy-Vee/Aldi corner).
Why not relabel the event(s) as “End the Con”?
Using a king like reference vaults the target into a position of authority. The struggle becomes the powerless against those in power.
Using the con reference diminishes the target to a criminal. Any person who is moral and law abiding is immediately made more powerful.
Engage from a position of strength.
Interesting perspective.
FLASH Here’s a Great opportunity, Julie. Progress Iowa is sponsoring a NO KINGS special edition of their Art Jam project workshop this Friday, June 13 , 3:00 PM, at their conveniently located Des Moines office and workshop. It’s an opportunity to create your own personal message posters for the event. Everyone’s welcome! Details are in the attached link:https://mobilize.us/s/H1HlwZ
Progress Iowa is a statewide organisation powered by a community of more than 100,000 progressives, focused on research, education, and advocacy. They’re located at 100 Court Avenue, suite # 203, in downtown Des Moines.
Materials are provided for free, and you’ll be joined by many who feel like you!
Powerful, raw. You pulled me into the piece with your first two words and didn't let up.
Thank you, dear friend
https://www.nokings.org
Sharing a link to my Iowa Nice Interrupted TEDx from a few years ago. Relevant, still.
https://youtu.be/uAZ7M-aNsjI?si=VGd-O8u2i879ZXFh
Indeed, it is.
Muscatine Indivisible has protest from 11-1pm Saturday June 14 for No Kings Day in Muscatine on Park Avenue in front of McAvoy Center, Muscatine Community College
In Atlantic we will be holding our event from 11 to noon at the south end of our city park along Hwy 6 between Chestnut and Poplar Streets. We have a safety team in place and have informed our law enforcement. We are looking forward to having a turnout that will send a clear message of disagreement with the way our country is being governed by a transactional narcissist.
In Ames there have been protests at Band Shell Park on Duff Avenue every Saturday at 10 am since the middle of April a Hands Off rally started it and it's been going on since, Saturday mornings and Thursday(?) evenings. I'm not sure what group has been organizing them but I look forward to going again Saturday. No Kings has been a sign often seen since he made the remark while in New York about being a king. Lots of great signs around, I will post pictures of mine and others. I have been going about half the time as grandkids sports schedules often interfere. My son goes with me sometimes and my granddaughter has come the last 2 times. She has enjoyed it! My wife was worried about retribution or violence the first time I went but mostly supportive honking and waving by passing cars, a few shouted obscenities and flying fingers, but nothing violent. Protesters have mostly been white elderly like me since the original Hands Off rally. There were about 400 people at the first, been much smaller groups since, 25- 40 at most but still vocal!
Thanks for this. I may attend the Ames group instead of Slater, although I would have to miss a meeting for that.
Wonderfully written recruitment posters by you Julie, Dr. Bob and many others. Excited to see people bringing their families, neighbors and children. There are too many affected agencies, schools, libraries, clinics, organizations and generations to count for this not being what must be the largest protest since the 60’s.
We need every influencer and flash mob wizard, farmers market attendees, students, retirees, and face to face convincing we can possibly muster. Probably a lot of good lawyers, too. I appeal to businesses for allowing access to restrooms if possible, and everyone to wear comfortable shoes. No masks should be required. But be sure to ask security to take theirs off if you see any.