31 Comments
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Susan's avatar

This is how they did it in Nepal. And, other places. We can’t just protest from 9-11am. And, I bet we could get people to donate food & water - like Jose Andres (love him). Ideas?

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Patricia Reed's avatar

This is a great idea and it would definitely make a statement which desperately needs to be made. People should pack lunches and bring water - and be sure to take the trash with them when they do leave. No messes left for others to clean up, please.

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Christine Borgfeldt's avatar

Be peaceful and pass around the lyrics to "Rainbow Connection " and sing with the frogs.

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Sandra Greer's avatar

That's just what Occupy looked like.

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Mary's avatar

All HAIL to those who can and DO a thing like this!

It’s a privilege I can’t (literally) afford, but will BTFU and support those who do.

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Peggy Davison's avatar

I have the same problem. I wish I could, but I can't afford to go or the fines. I'll be thinking of you all. I do plan on going to protest here at home though.

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Howard Levy's avatar

We need actual elected officials to join in the campout on behalf of the people. Every elected Democratic Representative and Senator should be at the “people's house” demanding an end to this authoritative regime. The optics of the military arresting masses of elected officials and citizens in front of the Capital or White Hose would get media coverage and send a strong message.

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Dr. Sandra K Gangstead's avatar

A very important reminder... "Still, history doesn’t move because everyone followed the rules. It moves when people decide that obeying a bad law is worse than breaking it. Civil disobedience isn’t chaos — it’s courage with a legal disclaimer. -Rook T. Winchester" As I experienced during the protests for Civil Rights and over the Vietnam War, attention is given to issues threatening our democracy, only when WE, The People are willing to sustain our presence consistently over time/days/weeks...Peaceful Persistent Resistance is effective in when large enough numbers of us are engaged.

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Merry's avatar

I remember it well. What a time to be alive. And the MUSIC!! Which both defined and reflected a massive social movement. And here we are again.

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Dr. Sandra K Gangstead's avatar

A very important reminder... "Still, history doesn’t move because everyone followed the rules. It moves when people decide that obeying a bad law is worse than breaking it. Civil disobedience isn’t chaos — it’s courage with a legal disclaimer. -Rook T. Winchester" As I experienced during the protests for Civil Rights and over the Vietnam War, attention is given to issues threatening our democracy, only when WE, The People are willing to sustain our presence consistently over time/days/weeks...Peaceful Persistent Resistance is effective in when large enough numbers of us are engaged.

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Christine Borgfeldt's avatar

I was a young teen then but followed the peaceful demonstrations fairly closely through news on TV (3 channels only) and newspapers and also stories in Time Magazine. I would stand in the drugstore and read the articles in Time because I didn't have enough money to buy copy. I remember the flower power, flower children , peace signs everywhere. I remember seeing a magazine photo of a protester placing a flower in the barrel of a military rifle that was pointed at her. The protesters were all peaceful as well as I can remember. I'm sure there were instances of violence. Kent State was one. My memory is fading as I'm nearing the end of my 7th decade, but still some memories remain vivid.

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Merry's avatar
5hEdited

I was 13 when JFK was assassinated. And I was stunned by it, glued to the TV. Then MLK, RFK, the draft, the atrocities of Vietnam, friends coming come in body bags. Woodstock. Kent state. And all the MUSIC that both reflected the massive social movement and defined it.

Oh. The agony and the ecstasy of it all. I still feel it so deeply in my core, in my heart, in my soul.

OHIO CSNY - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Ohc7kQh5U

Buffalo Springfield For What It’s Worth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVhn1edWaDA

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Christine Borgfeldt's avatar

Thx for these 2 links. Haven't heard these in a while . So fitting for what's happening now.

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Merry's avatar

Yes. Here we are again, but it feels much worse now. Nixon had enough sense to resign. And Americans rallied and recovered. But DJT’s lawlessness and corruption know no bounds. It’s horrifying.

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Christine Borgfeldt's avatar

Yes, it is horrifying beyond words. We need to all stand together no matter what. I really want a peaceful end to this madness. It frightens me to think that another Civil War may erupt. DJT is surrounded by his sycophants and there is nobody in the WH to help us. Our only hope is that the Epstein files get released and he is finally ousted for molesting teenage girls. Even most of the MAGA crowd would not tolerate that disgusting behavior in their leader.

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Merry's avatar
3hEdited

Yes, I completely agree with you. It sure seems to me that DJT is intentionally trying to incite violence in blue cities by militarizing the national guard, so he can then invoke the insurrection act, with little or no oversight or legal constraints. That could then trigger a civil war. Which would be devastating. He would then shut down the government indefinitely, arrest and imprison dissenters with no due process. And essentially become an authoritarian dictator with billionaire oligarchs funding him.

And yes, he knows his name is in those Epstein files. I’ve done significant research into that whole situation and the rabbit hole runs very deep and dark.

And Johnson has stated that his reason for prolonging the shutdown is that the newly elected congresswoman from AZ, Adelita Grijalva, will be sworn in once the federal government shutdown ends and the House is back in legislative session.

Grijalva is the deciding vote needed to force a vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, a claim Johnson has denied. But because Trump clearly controls Congress, the military and to a large extent, the judiciary, particularly SCOTUS, Johnson will not defy Trump.

What a tangled web of lies - “ Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” - Sir Walter Scott

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Ash's avatar

Georgians 🇬🇪 have protested hundreds of days nonstop. They rotate between different interest/social groups. This is the kind of protesting that sends the strongest messages to authoritarians.

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Nancy L. Hoffmann's avatar

If it's good enough for the French . . . we can do it!

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Kris Otto's avatar

Mr. Rook T. Winchester-

You have a way of touching deep.

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Brent Taylor's avatar

You can't call it "Occupy" anything, if you don't.

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Simon Sez's avatar

That is Greek democracy. The people protest and block the city until the government negociate with them and get results. Some will provoke and start riots but they are quickly suppressed. Police cannot shoot the people or harm them in any way, they are their families and if someone was shot it is a huge scandal and the shooter harshly punished.

The military cannot be against the people, ever! It is not only illegal, it is inconceivable to fight their own families. The government would never order violence to police and military cannot be involved. They fight enemies from outside not their own people!

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Linda's avatar

As mentioned by another, scheduled protests are not enough. In order to be effective, protests must be continuous, sustained, unrelenting in order to be recognized. Protests must be a persistent thorn in the side of the offender.

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Deborah K Davis's avatar

I love this.

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US Taxpayer's avatar

Sadly, this is a prime example Hegsdeath would use to train military. Like Israelis, they group people together for target practice. Otherwise known as execution.

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