Day 143.

Here are the administration’s proposed cuts to the EPA.

A reminder of how this works. Congress controls the budgeting process.

You know what to do.

Day 140.

Have you heard of Jon Ossoff? He’s running for Tom Price’s old seat in Georgia, in a special election on April 18. Early voting has begun. Special elections can be hard to win. If you want to see another progressive in Congress, throw some support his way.

 

Day 135.

They don’t have the votes. Keep the heat on.

Day 134.

Another long day. Working into the evening. But I found out that resist-bot will help you continue your letter to your Senators asking them to vote against repeal and replace, even if you have to step away and enjoy a dance class.

Day 133.

I’m very tired and I worked a long day. I sent resist-bot messages to my Senators asking them to oppose Judge Gorsuch’s nomination. That’s about all I had time or energy for.

Day 121.

Another very busy day, but some thoughts on yesterday’s strike that are best said by Kelly Hayes. No, not everyone could take yesterday off to strike. But to criticize everyone that does as privileged – how does that help?

I wonder if these people would have condemned the strikes and boycotts of the last century — actions that are well celebrated in the history books and in movement spaces today, despite the fact that they centered the participation of those who could enact a particular tactic. I wonder if these people have even read such histories, including the history of International Women’s Day. Do the people launching angry think pieces about the strike understand that this day is rooted in a labor strike?…

Can we spend more time exploring and learning than we do critiquing? Because the left is the only land I know of where people actually think that picking apart every emerging project will somehow lead to the emergence of an adequate project.

Ask yourself, what are you building? What are you healing? The vast majority of the time, if you can’t answer that question, you are misdirecting your energies.

Let’s join together. Let’s find common ground with people we don’t agree 100% with, here on the left. Let’s abandon purity tests and meet people where they are and forge common cause.

So much is in the balance.

Day 118.

I had a day of clarity today. Maybe it’s the eye of the hurricane.

Two things.

The executive order I’m sure you read about. It’s still appalling, if less clumsy than its prior version. It calls to mind the Immigration Act of 1924, which was a less transparent attempt to “preserve” America’s so-called “racial purity.” The Executive Order is less honest, but this is what “Make America Great Again” really means, isn’t it?

The Immigration Act of 1924 is one of the reasons so many Jews died in the Holocaust. They simply couldn’t get here to safety. And with Yemen and Syria in the throes of civil wars, it’s easy to see the shadows of that slaughter falling on today’s news.

This is without taking into account the sick feeling of rejection by their own country that some of my friends are feeling tonight. Because of where they’re born, they’re not wanted. Even if they’re citizens already, they feel this.

Which brings me to the second thing. I do not want to sow panic, so I suggest an action at the end.

Khizr Khan, the Gold Star Father who spoke so eloquently about the Democratic Convention last year, who has been a citizen for thirty years, cannot travel to Canada to give a speech. And the reason why is that “his travel privileges are being reviewed.”

More disturbing? The State Department claims no such procedure exists.

I suggest everyone call their elected representatives tomorrow and ask them to enquire about Khizr Khan’s right to travel. Khan is a well known person and a United States citizen who has been vocal in his (patriotic) criticism of the president. He deserves to know what’s going on. He needs clarity. We all do.

Day 115.

In addition to some self-care (today’s involving Captain America, and tomorrow’s involving dancing), I’m making plans to go to an organizing meeting tomorrow, working towards a Civilian Review Board for local police. I’m not sure what will be involved yet, but it will be good to learn and to work toward something.

Day 111.

I’m looking to start volunteering regularly. I would like it to be on perhaps a monthly basis at first.

I am starting from something of a selfish place because I find that I feel better if I can go out and interact with others.

I’m considering a few options, and welcoming suggestions as well.

Day 101.

If you haven’t already, please check out United We Dream. They’re organizing people for a project called Here to Stay. People who sign up will be notified of actions such as rallies to stand up against deportations. I committed because I believe in helping keep families together in my community.