Indeed, it never ends. Our foremothers fought for 75 YEARS to get women the right to vote. I applaud your consistent work, and hope that somehow, Missouri can regain its rights in less than 75 years. Bless you.
As I wrote on my Substack last week, Hoskins is not a secretary of state who is interested in ensuring that elections are free and fair. This is a secretary of state who’s interested in tilting the playing field in favor of the party whose color he so proudly wears.
I lived in St. Joseph for over 30 years until I moved here to MT IN 2021 after my husband's death. (My daughter lives here.) i attended several Persisterhood rallies and would have attended more if I hadn't been ill for my last three years there. I still get their invitations-but my rallying is done here now! They are such a great group and meet such great needs! I, too, and my former teacher and really, all my life was a teacher, though I moved to teaching hospital chaplains after getting a seminary degree.
All that is to say, I so appreciate reading your regular Substack, and empathize with almost everything you say. Unfortunately, the politics here aren't so very different. But with the persistence of a teacher, I continue at 80 years old to write letters, attend rallies and protests, and speak up at every chance. Your causes are my causes. Thank you for all you do, and thank Nancy and Veronica for me too! I hadn't heard that Missouri finally allows, medical abortions; thank God for that. I understand about the super majority issues and ridiculous ways measures get put on the ballots there! And I hope and pray that data center never gets built in St Joseph.
Thank you for everything you are doing! The data centers might just be a way to get rid of the people who have been sucking us all dry - check out @elevate-utah on Instagram, they have been working to expose the corruption around data centers and a number of entrenched politicians have just lost primaries over it. Data centers piss everyone off, making for a much bigger tent and a way to get rid of the scumbags.
Data centers piss everyone off. Including red hats. A red hat I grew up with wrote on his fb page against the data center lies in the amendment 5 tv ad. I private messaged him all of the truth, and thanked him for sharing it. I got a thumbs up in return.
I also mentioned the tie in on amendment 4’s repeal of the Hancock Amendment, which was passed by initiative petition, and told him not to vote away our rights.
These might be the only things we have ever, or will ever agree on, but I’m not missing the opportunity!
Oh how I love this!! I am a proud retired Middle School SS teacher (2 year 6th grade, 22 years 8th grade, 6 years 7th grade) and 7th grade is the WORST!! After I retired I joined the League of Women Voters of Metro STL and love the work that we are doing, though I wish the need for this work wasn't so necessary. Thank you Jess for inspiring me and thousands of others.
Showing up and standing next to your sisters with signs is what it's all about.
Are there gonna be goats that screech? Prolly. Jess, you can't control goats any more than you can control the rain. Showing up and standing next to your sisters with signs is your superpower.
Jess, I'd say Missourians are lucky to have groups like the Persisterhood in their midst. Persistence can be an underrated personality trait. I mean, it's great to have intelligence, empathy, and the ability to communicate effectively. But, to be able to persist against the lies and obfuscations is an admirable quality, as well. So much can get done by having the mindset to keep on keeping on, despite the obstacles. I tip my cap to the Persisterhood. ✌️
Dear Jess, I taught 7th grade English and Religion in a Catholic school after I left the convent at age 23. My self esteem was already shaky, but I sang and played guitar (1969!) and the kids "loved me" until they saw I had no discipline skills...and then all hell broke loose. I used to dream it was a snow day, and wake up crying that I had to go in. I get it!
I am so grateful that you found your right place, first in high school and now as the voice of Rural Missouri. It's because I learned from you how the Dems have ignored rural/working class America for so long that I'm working on a documentary about how decent women got caught up in MAGA and what it takes to leave. I'll let you know when it's out.
PS I'm going to me in Kansas City MO the first weekend in December for a totally frivolous reason, to celebrate that I was an extra in my favorite Hallmark actor's film (!) and I'd love to take you to lunch if you're anywhere near there! Blessings,
Please continue in whatever small way. I’m also tired and admit retreating into my own little world. I’m so damn mad, so dang worried. Reading Jessi’s posts and these comments… even yours, fellow traveler… remind me to stay facing forward. Push on! November is coming!!
Indeed, it never ends. Our foremothers fought for 75 YEARS to get women the right to vote. I applaud your consistent work, and hope that somehow, Missouri can regain its rights in less than 75 years. Bless you.
As I wrote on my Substack last week, Hoskins is not a secretary of state who is interested in ensuring that elections are free and fair. This is a secretary of state who’s interested in tilting the playing field in favor of the party whose color he so proudly wears.
So true! That red blazer is infuriating!
I lived in St. Joseph for over 30 years until I moved here to MT IN 2021 after my husband's death. (My daughter lives here.) i attended several Persisterhood rallies and would have attended more if I hadn't been ill for my last three years there. I still get their invitations-but my rallying is done here now! They are such a great group and meet such great needs! I, too, and my former teacher and really, all my life was a teacher, though I moved to teaching hospital chaplains after getting a seminary degree.
All that is to say, I so appreciate reading your regular Substack, and empathize with almost everything you say. Unfortunately, the politics here aren't so very different. But with the persistence of a teacher, I continue at 80 years old to write letters, attend rallies and protests, and speak up at every chance. Your causes are my causes. Thank you for all you do, and thank Nancy and Veronica for me too! I hadn't heard that Missouri finally allows, medical abortions; thank God for that. I understand about the super majority issues and ridiculous ways measures get put on the ballots there! And I hope and pray that data center never gets built in St Joseph.
Thank you for everything you are doing! The data centers might just be a way to get rid of the people who have been sucking us all dry - check out @elevate-utah on Instagram, they have been working to expose the corruption around data centers and a number of entrenched politicians have just lost primaries over it. Data centers piss everyone off, making for a much bigger tent and a way to get rid of the scumbags.
Data centers piss everyone off. Including red hats. A red hat I grew up with wrote on his fb page against the data center lies in the amendment 5 tv ad. I private messaged him all of the truth, and thanked him for sharing it. I got a thumbs up in return.
I also mentioned the tie in on amendment 4’s repeal of the Hancock Amendment, which was passed by initiative petition, and told him not to vote away our rights.
These might be the only things we have ever, or will ever agree on, but I’m not missing the opportunity!
H
As always, I find hope in your writings. Thank you for persisting and inspiring me to do the same.
Thank you for putting words to my thoughts so beautifully.
Oh how I love this!! I am a proud retired Middle School SS teacher (2 year 6th grade, 22 years 8th grade, 6 years 7th grade) and 7th grade is the WORST!! After I retired I joined the League of Women Voters of Metro STL and love the work that we are doing, though I wish the need for this work wasn't so necessary. Thank you Jess for inspiring me and thousands of others.
Jess,
Showing up and standing next to your sisters with signs is what it's all about.
Are there gonna be goats that screech? Prolly. Jess, you can't control goats any more than you can control the rain. Showing up and standing next to your sisters with signs is your superpower.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
We are in this together. No Kings. Peace.
Christopher and family in Upstate SC
It’s a blessing to read your comment from South Carolina
A great testament to The Persisterhood. They will change the world and Missouri for the better; they already have by being there for one another.
“A red hat on the street feels like a screaming goat from the back of my classroom.” I love that image, Jess! Thank you for persisting and resisting.
You are an AMAZING 🤩inspiration, Jess! 🎆Thank you and your Persisterhood for standing up for women. 🤗 Blessings.
Such a wonderful piece! Love your group, Persisterhood!
Jess, I'd say Missourians are lucky to have groups like the Persisterhood in their midst. Persistence can be an underrated personality trait. I mean, it's great to have intelligence, empathy, and the ability to communicate effectively. But, to be able to persist against the lies and obfuscations is an admirable quality, as well. So much can get done by having the mindset to keep on keeping on, despite the obstacles. I tip my cap to the Persisterhood. ✌️
Persisterhood; the light at the end of the tunnel!
Right on Jess
Dear Jess, I taught 7th grade English and Religion in a Catholic school after I left the convent at age 23. My self esteem was already shaky, but I sang and played guitar (1969!) and the kids "loved me" until they saw I had no discipline skills...and then all hell broke loose. I used to dream it was a snow day, and wake up crying that I had to go in. I get it!
I am so grateful that you found your right place, first in high school and now as the voice of Rural Missouri. It's because I learned from you how the Dems have ignored rural/working class America for so long that I'm working on a documentary about how decent women got caught up in MAGA and what it takes to leave. I'll let you know when it's out.
PS I'm going to me in Kansas City MO the first weekend in December for a totally frivolous reason, to celebrate that I was an extra in my favorite Hallmark actor's film (!) and I'd love to take you to lunch if you're anywhere near there! Blessings,
Persisterhood is a perfect word to describe your tribe.
Thanks for this message. It’s hard for me right now to persist for many reasons. But I’m stubborn and am trying.
Please continue in whatever small way. I’m also tired and admit retreating into my own little world. I’m so damn mad, so dang worried. Reading Jessi’s posts and these comments… even yours, fellow traveler… remind me to stay facing forward. Push on! November is coming!!
What a great connection of 7th grade goat noises, red hat guy at a protest, and the Persisterhood!