"Thank You So Much," she said to the Rallygoers
...and then she brought her young daughter to witness
Last Saturday was another of the nationwide rallies organized promoted by the grassroots group 50-50-1 to take back America from a nascent authoritarian, White Christian Nationalist cabal that has taken over the country based on a 49.9% share of all voters. Here in Gettysburg about 350 turned out the Saturday before Easter. There were young and old. Grandparents, parents, and children.
About 30 folks from the 55+ community we live in were there. One of them told us an inspirational and heartwarming story. I am sharing it because there are those who say these rallies are a waste of time and energy — that they don’t accomplish anything. My own belief is that that is dead wrong. At a time when Congress — at least the Republicans in Congress — are either fearfully quiet or complicit…
when media companies and other corporations yield, and their multi-billionaire owners kiss the ring — it is up to us to resist and give others the inspiration to do so. It’s contagious.
IT MATTERS.
“Thank you for doing this,” she sobbed, wiping her eyes…
So if you have any doubts that these rallies/protests matter, here is a story for you, that one of my fellow attendees (who has described herself “not really a protester,” but has been reluctantly drawn in by the extreme place we find ourselves) told our gathering:
A young woman from the community came up to me and said “Thank you for doing this,” and told me that after seeing the turnout and the messages, she was so grateful that she felt the need to go home to get her young daughter. She rleated that as they drove through the circle she broke into tears…The episode enabled her to to have a conversation with her daughter.
So do these rallies matter? You bet they do. They are necessary, but not sufficient. We need to relentlessly call our Congress-folk1…demand town halls and attend them. We need to get people registered to vote. We need hit the corporations that are complying where it hurt$.
Can’t I afford to pay a couple more bucks for whatever and wait a day or two longer to get it if I can deny Amazon and Jeff Bezos?
We all need to do what we can.
IT IS EASY. CALL THE CONGRESSIONAL SWITCHBOARD AT 202-224-3121, SAY THE SENATOR OR REP YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO, AND YOU WILL INSTANTANEOUSLY BE CONNECTED. MOST LIKELY YOU WILL LEAVE A VOICEMAIL, BUT MAY GET TO TALK TIO A STAFFER, ESPECIALLY ON THE HOUSE SIDE.
Great article, Kevin, thank you!
Thank you for this! We need to stay persistent. I will be there every week.
Thanks for including a photo of my sign.
It is intended to be inviting and INCLUSIVE ! A good word along with diversity and equality. We will never stop shouting those words! The illegal executive order be damned.