School is out, summer is here, and our plans are under way for supporting the Democratic message and fighting the fascist turn in our country. We are gearing up now that the weather is better and folks have extra time. We will be counting on you to help with parades and events all summer.
We had a great turnout of volunteers and attendees at the Erie Town Fair and signed up more than 20 volunteers. We are looking for help with the Greeley Stampede Independence Day Parade and the picnic after. If you can help with organizing, walking or riding in the parade and donating or bringing food to the picnic please sign up on the volunteer form on the website or call our office (970-351-7047) and leave a message of what you can do or bring. We also hope to participate in the Johnstown Parade, June Pride events, Milliken Beef and Bean Day, Miners Day in Frederick, as well as events in Mead and Windsor. If you know of any other events we should participate in, please call the office and let us know so we can try to put together volunteers to help. Our biggest fundraiser is the Roosevelt Dinner, coming up August 16th. We always need help with this event.
There are also several protests planned. The first Saturday of each month is Courthouse Steps. June 7th is the next one, held at the Greeley courthouse steps. the other one is hosted by Greeley-Weld Indivisible. The No Kings event at Lincoln Park, will begin at 10:00 a.m. on June 14th; the birthday of the man who would be King. There are also protests in Larimer County. Boulder and Denver, if you are closer to them or don’t mind driving a bit.
It may not seem likely, but the protest efforts are making a difference. It will take time, and the momentum must keep gaining strength. The issue that makes this difficult is the news media seems to find protests less and less newsworthy. But we must keep it up, it is getting the attention of even Trump supporters who are becoming disillusioned. Even though the majority of news journalists lean left, a majority of the media is owned by conservative moguls. Much of the news is being shrouded by the media owners and often has a more Republican slant. Talk radio, in particular, is overwhelmingly conservative and liberals have ceded that outreach medium. Newspapers are also having this same issue. Social media too can be sorted for the maximum exposure to whichever political spectrum you subscribe to. This is making getting out the Democratic message more difficult.
The more protests that occur, the more the news media will have to take notice. The more we point out the public disdain for Trump, his grandiose mistakes and the dystopian Republican agenda the better. While it’s true that his hard-core supporters don’t appear to be swayed by much, recent events have shown that the public can and will respond to his mistakes —provided they hear about them.
In conversations this weekend I became painfully aware of how many people just are not paying attention to what is going on. Even highly educated people. We must get their attention and get them to act. The road to Auschwitz was paved with apathy. That is what ultimately caused the death of millions. Like the old proverb says, evil flourishes when good men do nothing.
There are three kinds of Democrats…Those that care and make things happen, those that watch things happen, and those who ask, “what happened?” Please, please, be someone in the first group. Find a way to get involved. Call or write to your representatives (5calls.org makes it easy) and let them know how you feel, or send a postcard. They do pay attention to these calls and letters. Post and repost on social media, any events, news or truthful opinions that show support for Democracy, the Constitution, free press and education.
Share this newsletter. Talk with friends and family. Stay informed, challenge misinformation. Show up to events and bring others with you, go to school board and city and county council meetings. Support Democratic candidates. Boycott businesses that do not support democratic values. Write letters to your newspaper, get involved with organizations like Indivisible, 50501, Common Cause, ADL, ACLU. Turn off Fox News anywhere you can. Donate. Get trained to register people to vote. Sign up to be an election judge, poll watcher or precinct organizer. You may get tired of us saying this, but please know that action is the antidote to anxiety. Take courage. Know that you are not alone. Together we can make a difference.
-Bev Wallace, Vice Chair
