March 31st: Peaceful Resistance: Local, in DC and Across our Nation

Dear Friends: 

It’s been another tough week for our democracy. However, there are glimmers of light: our little Rush Hour Resistance over I-395 is doing great; as are resistance efforts all over the country; and many challenges to Trump in the courts. Resistance is good! 

I am appalled, however, at some large universities, e.g. Columbia University which  “capitulated, agreeing to a list of administration demands”  after Trump threatened “to strip the university and its hospital of research funding.” And, some large law firms are bending the knee to Trump. They should be covered in shame. We need to support those that are standing up. I’m sure there will be efforts to do that and I’ll cover them in my blog as they develop.

So, if the news is getting you down, it’s understandable. This is a time when people and institutions show what they are really made of. That includes us. The video clip of the Tufts student being grabbed off the street by masked agents and whisked away in a car was one of the most chilling things I’ve seen. If they get away with doing that with no legal process to someone who’s committed no crime, we truly are in police state territory. It can be easy to just try to ignore it, or feel powerless, but don’t. Hurrah for the almost 2,000 people in the Tufts community who came out the next day to protest.

Because “The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is for Good Men to do Nothing,” here are some easy things you can do:

— For inspiration listen to the March 24th episode of Rachel Maddow, who has been doing a great job highlighting small to 34,000-people demonstrations, rallies, town halls (where GOP representatives are no-shows), and more across the country. It’s heartening and aligns with my own experience with our Rush Hour Resistance…and she mentions Arlington’s Tesla Tuesdays effort.   

— And then you might come join us (4:30-6:30 pm weekdays on the Fairlington bridge, unless it’s really bad weather or a holiday).  We continue to add people to our Rush Hour Resistance, one of whom this week brought a big banner that says “NO KINGS.”  We continue to get more and more fist pumps, waves and friendly honks. People have said it makes them happy to see us there every day. Participants say standing together and “doing something” is often the highlight of their day. That group reinforcement both on the bridge and in the daily traffic is much of the point. And it’s fun!

— Or join Tesla Tuesdays at the dealership on S. Glebe Rd., Arlington; 4:00 – 6:00 pm. That also is doing quite well, and there is a lot of appreciative honking by passing cars. (This is part of the nationwide protest against Musk called Tesla Takedown.)

— If standing outside is not your thing, you might take this easy suggestion from Jamie

Raskin. As someone who was on the receiving end of many a FOIA request, this was particularly fun for me: ‘Reps. Jamie Raskin, Gerry Connolly file new FOIA request from DOGE… the Congressmen have demanded DOGE produce records regarding who runs the department, how much authority it has to shut down federal agencies and fire employees, and whether DOGE is "serving the interests of the American people or the interests of [Elon] Musk's companies and his foreign customers."’ They encourage all Americans to do the same.

— Saturday, April 5th is a very important day; it’s called HANDS OFF or the People’s Veto Day of Action! “The 50501 Movement and Women’s March are mobilizing to stop the MAGA assault on our country and Constitution. Across the nation, we’re taking to the streets to defend our freedoms, our rights, and our future. When those in power try to silence us, we rise louder. When they attack our communities, we fight back—together. Join us in Washington DC for a day of action.” Over 60 organizations are joining this peaceful protest on the DC Mall (beginning at 12:00 pm at the Washington Monument), and all over the country; see this link for collaborative events in other locations: https://www.fiftyfifty.one/events And, global protests are also planned in London, Canada, Panama and Greenland.

— On the evening of April 4th, Indivisible is sponsoring an event in Alexandria, Virginia from 6:30 – 9:30 pm, “to make signs for the march! Even if you can’t make it to the march, you can contribute by making signs.” Please sign up at this link to learn about the location: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/769457/

— Please consider joining a local group at the Washington Monument on the 5th at noon. It should be an inspiring event and the more people who come, the better. We plan to have a special Saturday Rush Hour Resistance on the I-395 bridge that morning at 10:00 am but facing south so our flags and signs will greet people coming up the highway for the rally. Then we will go downtown.

On the 5th, join Arlington Democrats and Arlington Young Dems to travel together to the Mall.

* Meet-Up Time: 10:45 AM (heading out at 11:00 AM)

* Location: Innovation Elementary School (2300 Key Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201)

* Travel: Metro together into DC for safety & visibility

* What to Bring: Posters, protest signs, water, charged phone, comfy shoes, Metro

money/card, hat, sunblock.

On the 50501 website, the aim of these peaceful protests is to “REMOVE/REVERSE/RECLAIM: Remove corrupt politicians, Reverse the damage, Reclaim our Democracy.”

Yours in happy resistance,  

Libby