And AGAIN We March: Voices of Resistance, Justice for All Sat. Jan. 20, 2018
Last year, on Saturday Jan. 21, 2017, following the inauguration of the 45th president of the US, somewhere between 3 and 5 million Americans joined “The Women’s March”
the largest collective protest march in US history
Millions joined the march for a myriad of reasons. Many were furious and frustrated that in November 2016, former First Lady and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 3 million over businessman and reality star Donald Trump. However, Trump won more electoral votes (in an election that has been called into question because of Russian influence) and was inaugurated.
Many of us wore pink “pussy” hats because he said this:
Last year I stated that
- As a woman, it terrifies me that he has bragged about sexual assault.
- As a taxpayer, it shocks me that he has bragged about not paying taxes.
- As a citizen, I see that his billionaire cabinet selections lack the qualifications necessary to carry out their tasks.
- As a graduate in Environmental Studies, I am afraid of his claims that climate change is a hoax.
- As a college teacher, it appalls me that he was fined $25 million because of his fraudulent university– and even more appalled that he still made millions on that deal.
- As an artist, I am disappointed that he has threatened to dismantle the National Endowment for the Arts.
- As a wildlife biologist, I am scared that we will lose more of the species that share this planet with us.
- And this just scrapes the surface of the turd that is stuck on our shoes until he is impeached, or he quits.
This was just the beginning. It is hard to even begin to account the atrocities that have taken place during the past year, many of which have been recounted in Michael Woolf’s book Fire and Fury. For more humorous approach, consider these music videos or for facts, The LA Times has this record of the horrific things he has said.
To combat the insanity, we’ve needed a new discourse:
One year later we don our “pussyhats” and we will take to the streets around our country to protect our country — we will rally and march again. We will continue to RESIST.
I will be in Ventura where on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, Justice For All VC is hosting “Ventura County Rising.” With most of the smoke cleared and the ashes somewhat settled, we celebrate the strengths of our community including the first responders and community activists who have kept us safe and fed; healing as well as a
political rally and march that addresses not only the environmental factors that allowed such a vicious fire to uproot our community, but also the wider justice issues that create divisions in our community.
We are one world, political and social. These worlds communicate with each other on the street, and perhaps more importantly, in the voting booth. We have a say in our political and environmental future, and it is up to us to exercise our vote. The event aims to bring community members both awareness and inspired action items that can help heal the people of the county, can strengthen the stability of the state and especially the nation and earth. The gathering is about community action ~ building and rebuilding community – offering resources and tangible ‘calls to action’.
We will march through the streets of Ventura holding family friendly signs that express our political strength and committment to creating a world that stands up for Justice for All. Like last year we are a parallel event to the women’s marches being held across the country. We are not limited to standing only for women’s rights, but have a broader focus that we have termed “justice for all”.
On a local level, the Thomas fire has affected everyone in our county (and surrounding counties), and we recognize that the conditions for this fire are connected to environmental practices that need to be addressed on a national and global level. The interconnectedness of the factors that caused the fire to reach in to the economic sphere, the political/rights sphere and the cultural sphere. This event aims to help all of us to see and act on this interconnectedness as a cultural force on local and global levels. Last year we focused on assuring Ventura County that we were going to stand together against any political winds that might reverse decades of social progress. Justice For All has worked tirelessly on these fronts in the last year. Join us in continuing to make Ventura County the best place to live.
What should you do after? Maybe figure out what to plant on the burn area near home? Check out “ReBuild Ventura, ReVeg” talk this Saturday at 2 pm, Foster Library, Topping Room, on Main St after the Women’s March, Justice 4 All event. Learn how to help wildlife and more.
pussy hats I made for the Women’s March 2017
What to wear? Word on the street is BLACK. While there has been some controversy over the inclusiveness of the “pussyhat”, many will be wearing them tomorrow — and in the coming year as a continued sign of protest and solidarity. Here’s how I made mine.
art predator 