We Don't Build Thrones...
...we build bridges.
In this issue, we look back at the second No Kings nationwide protests and what we can take forward from mass actions like these, as well as the immediate and urgent mutual aid efforts in the near term that we can support as the GOP shutdown drags on. And finally, we here in California are in the last push to get Yes on Prop 50 over the line as election day is less than a week away, but there are tons of local elections which are just as urgent around the country - we’ll take a quick look at a few that could use a brighter spotlight.
“No Kings, But Lots of Honks, Hope, and Hugs”
by Amy Glore, Contributor
Some friends and family you tap for movie nights, some you hike with, and some you attend political rallies with. For better or worse, all my friends and family share my political views and are outraged by the actions of the Trump administration. But for a long time, my friend and former coworker T. has been my main rally buddy. We not only have similar worldviews; we’re also the type to turn fury into actions. For us, rallies are an invigorating, healthy way to express and to purge.
This year, T. and I have gone to three rallies together, starting with the January 18th People’s March in downtown Los Angeles. We love downtown and had a good - if exhausting - time that day. For the next rally, however, we decided to try a smaller “venue” in Glendale. Convenience was the main reason we chose Glendale, but at the same time, we could already see the impact that small rallies were having around the country. Especially impactful were rallies held in suburban and/or conservative locales like Glendale.
For long decades of the 20th century, Glendale was a sundown town. People of color inside city limits after sunset faced arrest or worse, making segregated housing a legal necessity. It was also a hub for neo-Nazi movements and a reliable GOP stronghold. These days, it’s famous for its large population of Armenian immigrants (many of whom themselves fled repressive regimes), its animation studios, and its Sinatra-infused shopping mall and apartment complex (hilariously lampooned in the msot recent season of Hacks). Once Republican, Glendale now reliably votes Democrat.
Both the June and October rallies took place on Broadway, near or at City Hall. What impressed me most at both events was the stream of cars and trucks going up and down the protest route, their drivers hooting and honking horns in solidarity with the cause. Some vehicles had been decorated with slogans, showing their participation had been deliberate and meaningful.
The drive-by protesting seemed uniquely Californian, but also brilliant. There’s something about the energy of a whoop and a blasting car horn that rouses spirits and comradery. We all cheered and waved every time the light turned green and a fresh stream of cars drove by.
This past summer, I made my very first protest sign for the Hands Off rally on June 14th. Something about the image of Trump in a diaper and a too-small crown compelled me to get creative. Finding the right sizes of poster board, poles, and letters proved more of a challenge than I thought possible, and I had to remind myself that a black sharpie on a piece of cardboard was all I really needed.
On October 18th, the crowds - representing multiple generations - seemed bigger and the drive-by protesters even more boisterous. Music, both live and recorded, was added to the mix, as were dedicated protesters in blow-up costumes. The messages on the signs had become more biting and clever, covering a broad range of complaints. The sentiment all of those signs kept coming back to, however, was Trump’s fascistic and hypocritical threat to the country’s democratic norms.
T. and I left the No Kings 2 rally in Glendale encouraged, our funk dissipated. For two hours we had joined in a communal cry of angst, but also in a figurative group hug. We connected and offered each other hope for better, saner times. That hope will be fuel for our next steps: writing postcards, contributing to newsletters, attending town halls, voting, and maybe even some more sign-making in preparation for the next protest.
Finishing the Prop 50 Campaign Strong
This is the last week to get your votes in on Prop 50! If you haven’t already gotten your ballot filled out and in the mail or a drop box, try to do so by Halloween because chatter is that their are some unpleasant tricks being contemplated if you wait to mail in on Election Day. If you miss Halloween, you can take your sealed ballot by mail to any polling place and have them count and collect it right there.
Make sure to keep talking to your friends and family and favorite acquaintances about Prop 50! We’re still finding people during canvassing who haven’t even heard that this vote is happening, so check in with your folks!
YES on Prop 50 Weekly Canvasses
- Saturdays, 2:00pm–4:00pm PDT
- Tuesdays, 6:00pm–8:00pm PDT
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Mutual Aid Resources
We wanted to share some mutual aid resources going into a November where the GOP is gleefully anticipating the loss of SNAP funding for our communities, as federal employees, including members of our military, continue to go unpaid. These resources lean LA-specific, since that’s DAN’s home port, but we encourage all of our readers to look up food banks and mutual aid groups in their own areas and lend them your support.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Pantry Location Finder
The Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network (MALAN) Group Directory and Volunteer Opportunity Calendar
Los Angeles Community Fridges - A directory of all the community fridges in the broader LA area
Google Doc of LA Mutual Aid Organizations
NDLON - Adopt a Day Labor Corner
LA Street Vendor Solidarity Fund
FindHelp.org - A nationwide resource for locating all manner of support, from diapers to bus fare, by zip code
Mutual Aid Hub - A nationwide resource for finding mutual aid groups in your area