Why am I protesting? Below, just a few of the many reasons I am putting myself out there with my fellow Americans. I thought it might be helpful to remind others of all we’ve been through in these past six months, and why a few hours of our time this weekend might be a game changer… History shows if 3.5 % of a nation peacefully protests, it can change regimes and governments. In fact it never has failed, so let’s do this!
My two cents for what it is worth:
- Trump’s dehumanization of other people- namely hispanic and other immigrants that are here trying for a better life. We all know the immigration system needs reform, but that is no excuse for abuse of a huge swath of people. We have always used due process afforded to all people, as the constitution mandates, and that is for ALL people, not just citizens. If there is no due process for these people, there is no process for anyone. Being a native and fourth generation Californian, I have always lived with our hispanic brothers and sisters and know how very hard they work for their place in this society. They are truly the backbone of California and this nation. We couldn’t thrive without them. They are also our friends, neighbors, and family. They all deserve a chance to have a hearing, and not to be chased down at their jobs, tackled, put in caged trucks, (to a mom of 6), and treated like animals. We have lost our humanity when we can’t and won’t try to tell the difference between criminals and those who are here contributing and working for a better life. It’s telling that ICE are now allowed to round up people in churches, children at schools, at their immigration court dates, and even weddings. How low our nation has fallen.
- The disrespect for our state (sending in the NG and Marines) and for Governor Newsom when he tried to work with Trump. He’s been too nice to him, if anything. I can’t abide calling a work colleague a SCUM, (Trump is OUR employee), as Trump tweeted the morning after a phone chat and repeats it anytime he wants to hate on California. Our state, California is the biggest “donor state” in the country — providing around $83 billion more to the federal government than it receives and is the fourth largest economy in the world ! If we are a ‘failed state’ why are we doing so well, and thriving?
- The deportation of the gay hairdresser, Venezuelan man, Andry Romero who had been granted asylum here and was going to his hearing before he was deported to horrible Cecot prison in El Salvador..Reason given: his tattoo looked like a gang member. When told it was not, and that he was mistakenly deported, Kristi Noem and Trump claim he is now out of their jurisdiction and cannot get him back. When asked for proof of life for this man, from Senators, she says they cannot help.1
- Kristi Noem -aka dog killer.
- Pete Hegseth. That insecure and incompetent man is enough, but last weeks’ plan by Pete to rename all the ships named for civil rights leaders, and most importantly USS Harvey Milk, a warship named for a brave Bay Area man who was a Naval Vet and also a LGTBQ icon and politician. To do this in Pride Month was on purpose and hateful. Trump’s ban of transgender military members is so awful that it asserts that trans service members ‘undermine unit cohesion” and lack “honesty, humility, and integrity,’ -something Trump wouldn’t know much about.
- The targeting of gay and the transgender community. This has been a great dog whistle for the administration, who have used the fewer than ten transgender college student-athletes among 510,000 athletes in the NCAA to paint this as a danger to women and young women in sports. What we do know is that this is putting a HUGE target on the back of a group that is already the most targeted by hate in the United States. States that pass anti-trans laws aimed at minors saw suicide attempts by these kids soar. According to the ACLU, of June 6th, there are 597 anti LGTBQ bills up for passage right now in this nation since Trump took office and we all need it to stop.
- Overturning of Roe and bragging about it. (How many abortions has Trump himself paid for?) Red state hospitals letting pregnant women bleed out in parking lots instead of giving care that may save the life of the mother to favor the fetus. Criminalizing medical doctors from lifesaving procedures that save pregnant women. Women’s lives are an afterthought, if that, to this administration.
- Elon Musk in our federal government without authorization, dismantling programs that uplift and keep us healthy and thriving.. These include the VA, Medicaid, Social Security, Snap, USAID, and our agencies like the FAA, FEMA, IRS, Department of Defense, Department of Education, and so many to list – so go here to see them all. His minions have pushed our knowledgeable civil servants who have dedicated their careers to making our nation the best it can be- without getting rich, and they have been replaced by those who now have to sign an oath of loyalty. They have also installed software to take our information with none of our consent and use it for their own.
- JD Vance (nuff said.)
- Karoline Leavitt
- Stephen Miller, who may be the most hate filled human on the planet is making so many of Trump’s decisions and running the oval office and writing the tweets. Stephen has a long history of hate of those who are not white men. He’s a scary individual and last week ABC News fired the wonderful 28 year reporter Terry Moran, for sharing the hatred of Miller and Trump, who he says run the nation fueled by it. God knows he was brave and so right. Sadly, I will no longer watch ABC ( dreamy David Muir, sniff), which was fast losing its credibility by trying to keep the White House appeased.
You can follow the wonderful Terry Moran on his new Substack. He says,
‘We will lose this democracy if we do not use our voices.’
There is more I have left out – January 6th, Trump’s convictions and being guilty of rape. I forgot Ukraine.. and Gaza- both hugely important and deserve our nation’s support. I also did not mention the tax bill that is set to let more billionaires pay less tax than most low to middle income Americans, and skyrockets our debt, and that removes so very many from VA care and Medicaid.
Go protest if you are able and feel comfortable. If you cannot, use your space or your voice if you can!
Let’s stand in peace and love, and solidarity with our fellow Americans. Let’s honor the democracy our parents and grandparents fought and many gave their lives for.
Bring your flag as it’s flag day, so we can reclaim the flag and show what democracy stands for!
Thanks for being here in community and making me and others feel not so alone with your comments, and support in a very fraught time in our nation.
All my love. Let’s keep the faith,
Kim
Find a NO KINGS protest near you here.
