How We Keep Our Democracy

In Canby, Oregon, a city of 18,000 located south of Portland, between 400 and 500 people protested yesterday, receiving support from fellow citizens as they drove past.

Across the country, in Burlington, Vermont, friends gathered to emphasize they had no interest in being ruled by a king.

Every single sign, every picture that you all have sent me since yesterday morning, they are all so powerful. I’ve opened every one. I wish there was space to share all of them with the Civil Discourse community because what I saw in them collectively was our power, and the fact that this democracy is about us, not “them.” Americans are in a moment where we are learning how to exercise that power against someone who has tried to take it away from us.

People went out to protest in Minnesota despite, or perhaps because of, the political violence that rocked that state in the early morning hours yesterday.

Ohio.

Panama City, Florida.

It’s entirely possible that this is one of my close friends, dressed as a chicken taco.

This is from Dalton, Georgia, where protestors rallied in front of their Congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s, office. (I received more than one email from Dalton. These folks were serious).

Mainers, proving they have long memories.

And of course, from all across California—this one is from Oakland—where the people provided eloquent evidence they were peacefully protesting, not rebelling, providing lawyers for the state with additional proof that Trump’s decision to unleash the military is unjustified.

Substack is telling me I’m out of space for pictures, or I’d keep going. We were magnificent yesterday. We are doing the hard work of keeping the Republic.

We’re in this together,

Joyce