These days, when there is always a bit of news to curdle your stomach and break your heart, I am keeping my sanity by talking, and taking action, with other heart-broken folks with stomach aches. On June 14, that action was being the Emcee for Alameda’s NO KINGS rally.
Here are some notes I put on 3×5″ cards and stuffed in my pockets before the rally. As it happened, most of the time I did what I usually do as an Emcee, interacting with the crowd, rather than using my notes.
“We have no kings here, and we have no serfs and no subjects…We are all citizens. And politicians are servants to us, the people. The minute somebody in public office thinks that they’re a king, it’s time for the people to evict, eject, reject, impeach, try, convict, and start all over again. Because the most important part of our Constitution is the three first words: ‘We the people.’” – Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
Non-violence does not mean non-action. Quite the opposite. It is peaceful resistance, which is what we’re doing here today – old people and young people, babies and dogs standing up for each other, taking care of each other. While in D.C., a 79-year-old would-be king is celebrating his birthday with a parade of death. We’re doing the right thing. We’re celebrating life.
Erica Chenoweth’s research has found that nonviolent resistance campaigns that are able to mobilize at least 3.5 percent of the population have been uniformly successful. 3.5 percent. 3.5% of Alameda is 2,800 people and we are 4,700 strong! You are all now part of the 3.5%!
“We must regain our sense of community, of caring for each other. We must break down the walls that have been erected and talk and listen to each other and learn and grow together. Selfishness, and thus loneliness, are the natural byproducts of division, and are the enemies of community.” – Ethan Penner
