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Sandie Cloud's avatar

Little very red Mountain Home, AR showed up!

On April 12th we had 100 people for our first protest on the court square and April 19th there were 60 special souls that stood in the rain. Events are sponsored by the Progressive women of Ozark Forward.

Sandie Cloud's avatar

Jess we would love for you to come speak here sometime this year? How can we make this happen?

Suzanne Childers's avatar

Eureka Springs says, “You go, girl!” Love to see other Arkansans protest this corrupt government. Now, if we could only do something about our legislature…

Sandie Cloud's avatar

Whew! No doubt, they have clobbered us this session! Do you have any good candidates? It’s really tough here in Baxter county to find someone to run for something!

Suzanne Childers's avatar

It is like pushing a ball uphill. We had a great candidate for state rep about 4 years ago, retired teacher, longtime resident, active in many charitable activities, campaigned vigorously…and still only got 45%…and we’re one of the more blue areas of Arkansas (although gerrymandered into a really red area). Ah, well, we keep trying. It’s even worse if you don’t push back. Funny thing is that, when progressive ideas get on the ballot, ie, minimum wage increase, medical marijuana, etc, they always pass! That’s why leg is destroying citizen initiatives. Grrr!

Sandie Cloud's avatar

Yes we were working up for recreational too and they know it! Why wouldn’t you want the mega millions of tax dollars? Control control control in this FREE country!

Cheryl Johnson's avatar

I highy recommend this substack which is a great clearinghouse for protests. As more and more people wake up to what is going on, we need to make it easy for them to take action and find their community - especially in rural red spaces!

https://open.substack.com/pub/thepeopledissent/p/a-map-of-protests-april-19-27?r=1aiy5t&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

This post is listing all the protests THIS week (along with a map). If you click on the link for the LIST there is a way to submit information about your own protest (or one you know about that isn't already on the list).

Here is another great post from the same substack:

https://open.substack.com/pub/thepeopledissent/p/17-ways-to-disrupt-the-status-quo?r=1aiy5t&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

In addition, if you aren't already tuned in, I highly recommend the weekly Indivisible calls every Thursday at 3 pm ET. Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/773746/

If the timing doesn't work to attend live, you can catch the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/@indivisibleteam/videos

Similar to Jess's posts about the rural resistance, I get a real morale boost when Leah and Ezra report on how many new Indivisible chapters have formed in just the previous week! (Many in very red spaces! ) Despite the messaging from the Trump regime, we are not alone and all is not hopeless. So do NOT obey in advance! !

Chris Ortolano's avatar

Yup, I protested in the rain in Carbondale, IL; the same rain you all got in Farmington!

Joe Freiberger's avatar

We were in St. Charles. Also in the rain.

Chris Ortolano's avatar

I used to live in Wheaton!

Stephanie's avatar

A rep saying "God has a plan" in answer to questions about intentional firings that are acts of injustice is disrespectful of God who wants us to treat each other better than that. Certainly no way to "love your neighbor!"

Mary Busch's avatar

God also has a plan for Congressman Mark Alford. He won't like how hot it is down there.

Fraser's avatar

Yup! Keeps the Bible in the drawer!!

Larry R. Bradley's avatar

Tell him to thump his bible somewhere else.

Joe Freiberger's avatar

The way I learned it, we are the hands and feet of God. Just praying for something or waiting for God to take care of it, doesn't cut it.

Joan Diehl's avatar

Separation of church and state! Hence the constitution. A country cannot be governed by arbitrary religious beliefs. To do so creates chaos, and ultimately anarchy. Christian dogma’s place is in the church, not in the government of a country.

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Norm's avatar

Well, that post was a nice dollop of hope on a random Tuesday. If Missourians can do what needs doing in their redder than red state, then the rest of us can, too. Thanks, Jess.

Susan Travis's avatar

Norm, I agree! 📢👊👊📢

If Missourians can do it, we here in ruby red Tennessee can, too. Fascist Supermajority 😤 Greedy Grifters 😤

Norm's avatar

It has to be us, We the People, who do it. Some of us are old enough to remember the 60s and 70s. It was We the People, helped by a vigorous free press, who integrated our society, and ended a war, and brought down a corrupt President. I have to believe we can do it again.

SeekingReason's avatar

I LOVE seeing the protests all over the U.S. and by our international friends too! But red state voices really cheer me up. What a great turn out and such great signs! “Not every ejaculation needs a last name” 😂🤣 Good one! Thank you good people of Missouri! ❤️❤️

Kendra Harvey-Vermeer's avatar

I have to return to Missouri for a couple of months would love to hear you speak. Is there anyway I could get your scheduled engagements?

Your like minded sista in freedom!

Sandie Cloud's avatar

I was visiting there all last week and asked the same question. Unfortunately got no answer. I’m going to try to get her to Arkansas!

Alex Waloski's avatar

As a fellow Arkansan, that would be great!

The Whittakers's avatar

Connect with Democratic organizations in area where you will be.

Jeremy Bloss's avatar

Yesterday Allison Gill (Mueller she Wrote) mentioned you on The Daily Beans. I hope you'll do the interview with her. Keep speaking up!

Brenda  Donaldson's avatar

Just returned from a week in my hometown in the southern rural Ozarks. Trump signs and flags are rare. I think residents have had a rude awakening and are starting to the squeeze from the Trump’s Feds and MO congressional members.

Adrienne DeMaster's avatar

We moved to Missouri a few years back, and have watched the orange turnip signs fall by the wayside pretty steadily. Even in Texas County, poorer than dirt and very red.

l o's avatar

The recent tornado blew a few signs down in our area! 🥳

Becky Kroll's avatar

We-stand-United.org has been putting on those Capitol steps protests in case you want to join us!

Rebecca Richardson's avatar

Tho I am a citizen of another state now, was a resident for most of my life and I worry about red states. MO has some loser-legislators now, no Claire here anymore. You, Dearie, report what’s happening & go all over the Ste to do it, taking risks as well. thank you thank you thank you! Reba

Jennifer's avatar

I searched Farmington pic for family members! And I lived in Fayette and Centralia as a child. I consider myself a Kansan because I have spent most of my life in Kansas but you are making me proud (again) to have been born in MO.

Yvonne McCarthy's avatar

Same! From Columbia, but lived most of my life in Kansas. it IS nice to be proud again!

Rickey Woody's avatar

Thank you Jess. Truth is our weapon. Thanks for sharing and chronicling. My former state of decades (Texas) is a proverbial s-hole. The school voucher bill just passed with only about 35-40% approval. The 2 billionaires in Texas have bought and paid for the TX government. So much that the TX senate refused to convict the AG Paxton for his well proven criminal acts.

Linda A's avatar

We had 150 on Saturday's No Kings! Rally in red Woodstock Virginia. And lots of new faces.

I'm getting us on the National map for May 1 - a weekday.

Fay Reid's avatar

More power to you, Jess, and to all the people in republican ruled States. No one should write off a State that produced Harry S Truman. Or you bordering State of Kansas either that produced Dwight D Eisenhower, the only good Republican President of the latter half of the 20th century.

What disturbs me, more than anything, is how the State Legislatures throughout the Republican States can ignore and overturn the will of the people. Nor do I believe that ALL the white people in ALL the "red" States are racist. How did they manage to so gerrymander the States to make some votes worthless?

Suzan Erem's avatar

Years of planning, plus trial and error. These guys played the long game. It's time we get one started!

Cami Sebern's avatar

Wabash, Indiana. About 50 people stood in the rain, held signs and took food donations for our community food bank. Good trouble. 👍💙

Jess Piper's avatar

❤️❤️❤️

VALERIE MELUSKEY's avatar

Great, Jess! terrific photo's of events and turnouts! Very well done reporting! thank you!

I so wish that Lucas Kunce had won the seat he ran for...and deserved.