Red State Rebels

The pushback...

You know how I spend my time — reading about what my state and other red states are doing to harm constituents. Reading about how red state policies bled into the entire country with the second Trump term.

I also spend a lot of time standing up and talking back. I am in good company.

I speak to groups a few times a week these days. All over the country, but especially in the heartland. In red states.

What you may not know is I also spend my time watching my fellow rebellious red-state Democrats hit the streets and courthouse lawns and highway medians throughout Missouri. I am here to share what they are doing and how acts of civil disobedience are becoming common in GOP-led states.

I spoke on a panel in Farmington, Missouri last Saturday which happened to be the day of country-wide protests. Prior to the evening panel, there was a protest in that little town…in the rain.

Over 200 people showed up for a panel discussion on what is happening in our state and country. I spoke on rural issues and voter suppression and our lawmakers regularly overturning the will of their own constituents. The event lasted almost two hours and I saw not one person leave early. There were questions and demands and a resolution to fight fascism as it creeps into our daily lives.

One part of the evening that brought me a special jolt of joy? The folks gathered also raised $1K to donate to the East Missouri Action Agency which provides services to more than 18,000 low-income people in the southeast part of the state every year.

Long Memorial Hall, Farmington, Missouri. 4/19/25.

April 19th was a day of action all over the country organized by the 50501 Movement, but you may have missed the rallies held in states already living under the boot of authoritarianism.

Let me show a few of the photos you may have missed.

In rural Centralia, Missouri, at least 70 people showed up to rally against the overturning of the citizen-led Constitutional amendment to legalize abortion in Missouri. Centralia’s population is less than 5k. There is real danger in protesting in a small town, especially when protesting for abortion rights, but these folks did it anyway.

Centralia, Missouri protest. 4/19/25. Photo by Finnegan Belleau, Columbia Missourian.

The Boone County Democrats posted photos of a rally on the steps of the Missouri Capitol and another with over 100 people who showed up to protest at their Congressman’s Headquarters. Congressman Mark Alford has been less than caring about all of the Federal firings in his district, claiming that “God has a plan” for all of the folks facing joblessness.

He didn’t elaborate on God’s plan, but he has said on several occasions that the folks protesting his office are paid agitators. Of the folks I spoke with, not one has received a penny for rallies, but many expressed that they are glad to protest Mark Alford for free.

Rally at the Missouri Capitol. Photo by the Boone County Democrats. 4/16/25.

March to the Missouri Capitol rally. Photo by Scott Randolph. 4/19/25.

In Kansas City, hundreds also protested the news that Republicans will try to place abortion back on the ballot. A move that will likely include ballot language to deceive and confuse voters with lies and half-truths.

Democratic Representative Kemp Strickler stated, “Missourians enshrined abortion in our Constitution less than six months ago! Whether it’s Amendment 3 (the abortion amendment) or Proposition A (the proposition that raised minimum wage and guaranteed sick time) we should respect the will of the voters!”

Kansas City rally. Photo by State Rep Kemp Strickler. 4/19/25

Springfield, Missouri did not fail to show up. In fact, there were two separate protests in the city on the day of action. One was focused on abortion rights and the other was focused on cuts to the federal government and the Trump regime’s overreach. There were over 400 gathered on a main road in Springfield.

Springfield, Missouri rally. Photo by Leslie Jones. 4/19/25.

Missourians have stopped wringing their hands and are now protesting with their feet. They are marching. They are speaking out and fighting back. They are not silent.

We can’t be silent anymore. We also can’t wait for anyone else to do the work for us.

This is the Show-Me state, and we are showing our lawmakers that they can’t hide forever. We need policies to protect us from the new regime and we need lawmakers who will show up for us.

You can look at Missouri and know what Republicans want for the entire country…we have to stop them.

We are rallying to do just that.

~Jess