Do We Really Stand Together With Our Sisters?

So does anyone remember the signs being held up around the country that said things like, "I hope to see all of you nice white women at the next Black Lives Matter event." ? There were many articles written about how many women of color were put off by the Women's March, and how it came from a place of privilege. Women of color did show up, but not in the same ratio as whites. Many of them chose to stay home, their own strike of sorts. In my google search of the topic my take away was that they didn't feel that white people were going to be out for more than that one day, or that we wouldn't put ourselves out there any farther than our own personal self interest.

To be honest, it was a lot harder than I thought it would be to get women of color to join the team for the Anchorage Women's March. We worked really hard to be "inclusive." We wanted to represent as much of the diversity of this state as we could. We got wonderful people to join us, but we had way more people ignore or decline our invitations. In the end, it was mostly white women steering, and who came out. We were still "successful," It was wonderful, but we know we fell short of our goals. Maybe it was because we didn't have experience with doing this sort of thing before, maybe we just needed more time to get it right. I don't know.

So about five weeks ago when I heard about a commemoration march for the Selma, that was being led by Women of Color, I was so excited. Here was the end of the call to action.

*****Throughout history, black women have been instrumental in gaining civil rights for all Americans. We worked to gain the right to vote in the Suffrage Movement and was asked to march behind white women. We worked to gain civil rights in the Civil Rights Movement and was asked to march behind black men.

Now, we are leading our way to change. We are asking our allies to stand WITH us or stand BEHIND us.

Where will you stand on March 5th?

*****

I thought, now is our chance to show women of color that we white women have got their backs. The cause is righteous. People from all over the country came to Selma in 1965 to peacefully walk together to protest racial equality, to promote the right to vote for every American. It was a peaceful protest, marked with two murders, and many more casualties. The patriots that marched helped to bring about the Civil Rights Act. Most of the slogging and hard work years before was done by African Americans. Now our democracy is being threatened on multiple fronts, and the teeth of the civil rights act are slowly being extracted. That and gerrymandering are destroying our Democracy. We need to stand together now more than ever.

So I waited to hear about how National for the Women's March was going to support the march in Selma. I waited for 2 weeks, and nothing. I started checking in and asking, and heard more crickets. Then I started to push. We are not an exclusive movement. Women's Rights are human rights. We all rise together.. Those are all great slogans, right?! But why was nothing happening?

I found a few other women at National who were also in shock at the lack of support they were witnessing. That and other issues started Women's March National to fracture.

Then I decided to search for women in Anchorage who would be willing to organize the Salute March here. Again, I was shocked at the reticence in African American women to put themselves out there. But they did. An amazing group of women decided to take up the call.

Now we are a week into the campaign, and we have only 15 shares of the fund raiser. I am wondering where are the thousand Anchorage women that were supporting the the Anchorage Women's March at this time? Well I am assuming that we just haven't reached them yet. You are reading this, and you know.

Can you please help us out and spread the word, save the date.. Also please share the campaign fundraising page. . The statistics work out to $5,000 for every 1,000 shares in all campaigns. So even if you can't donate, each share turns out to be worth 5.00. For the Anchorage Women's March, the average donation was 50.00. We raised 13,000 that way. The cost for the Selma Salute is just over a third of that. As of right now we have 15 shares, and wouldn't you know it, we have 150.00.

I think that we can do this. Please join me in standing behind my sisters. Lets show America where we stand, and what we believe in;

Liberty, and Justice, for ALL.

campaign fund raiser.
Facebook Event Listing, March 5th, Anchorage Town Square 2 pm

Don't Get Weary Children

Don't get Weary Children

Please follow this above link, listen. The patriots honored in this video have a lot of wisdom to share with us in our fight.

"It did not happen in a month." "The work was bone wearying." It is amazing.

I know that people don't want to keep reading these blogs and posts. We are all tired. It is overwhelming.

We are only a month into the new administration. Really, just a month. It feels like a year. Every day is a new affront. We are actively fighting to protect our public schools, the EPA, voting rights, religious freedom, free press, and the reality of science and the scientific method. Sadly there are many of our neighbors that find those things threatening. It is surreal.

We are in Alaska. We want to be doing our winter crafts and sports. We want to be in our homes with our families and friends without worry. We are all tired, but we aren't done. Those working to hijack our democracy aren't done.

In 1965 patriots worked so hard and succeeded in laying down the foundation for civil rights in America. Many of us thought the work was done. We thought we could rest, happy in our pursuits.

The last ten years men have been working to chip away at the Civil Rights act. More laws are being passed all the time. They have been successful at suppressing and negating votes of Americans through gerrymandering. Our democracy is truly under attack.

It has been picking from many directions. Now they are bringing out the sledgehammers, to weaken our foundation. The four walls of our civil society are under attack; Law and Order, Separation of Powers, Separation of Church and State, and true Democratic Process. Students of history can see down that dark tunnel they are steering us down. I do want to fight the return of those darkest days in America. I know that I have to resist. We have to fight. This effects all of us.

We have to protect our foundation. We have to stay awake and engaged.

Let their words inspire you. Let's "Suck it up," "Keep on Keepin On."

"Don't you get Weary Children"

"We are the foot soldiers and the sergeants."

Please join us at the rally this Sunday.

Civil Rights Rally, Salute to Selma, Sunday March 5th, Anchorage Town Square, 2pm

Editing 12/16/17
That cold Selma Rights Rally has passed, but our perdicament has not changed. We know now our fears were not exaggerated. Our hard work continues. Right now I am asking my fellow weary advocates to consider putting some of their work into the Poor People's Campaign.

"In the Spring of 2018, the Campaign will launch with 40 days of moral action (from May 13th until June 21st) in at least 25 states and Washington D.C. By engaging in coordinated and collective nonviolent civil disobedience and direct action across the nation, we will confront the enmeshed and inseparable evils of systemic racism and other forms of discrimination, poverty, the war economy, and ecological devastation, begin to shift the distorted moral narrative of our nation, advance common demands for transformative change, and build power to continue this fight long after June 2018."  Rev Barber, 

This is a resumption of work initiated by Martin Luther King. This is what he was working on when he was assassinated; a year to the day after coming out against the war in Vietnam. He was connecting the war economy with white supremacy, poverty, and fermented racial unrest. He was working to unite the working poor of all races to become the leading voice for moral social change. Meaning the poor would be the voice for change. That is the goal of the Poor People's Movement. 

Coming up in January there is going to be training in Rally, North Carolina for some of the team. It will be musicologists, and an artist, and video historian, January 25 until Sunday, January 28, 2018. for a Theomusicology and Cultural Arts Convening. We believe we have the theomusicologist identified, but are still not settled for artist and videographer activists. This will be a training on the music, visual representation, art of this movement, and civil disobedience strategies. We need to be on message and coordinated.  I attended a training with Dr. Rev Barber in Seattle last month. The training was no charge, but I paid for travel and housing on my own. My understanding is that we are looking for ways to pay for the travel and lodging for those attending this training.   

We will be looking for 1000 people to participate per state in civil disobedience in the 40 days. We will be looking for people to travel to Washington in a caravan across the country like they did 50 years ago. We need a single Alaskan Lawyer who will coordinate the national team of lawyers assisting in maintaining legality, and helping manage our civil disobedience plan in the state. We will be looking for people to assist in a myriad of ways. It is going to be big.

We especially need to expand our First Alaskans leadership core. That is our biggest deficit. We can not lead and represent First Alaskans without their guidance. So any and all connections you can help foster will be helpful. We are about to identify a date for an informational meeting. I will pass that on as soon as I get it. In the meantime, I have tons of literature and information I can share. 

I was motivated to be engaged and assisted in organizing the local Women's March, and the March for Science because I do not believe that my country is standing up to its ideal of Liberty and Justice for All. I feel that National Poor People's campaign has the potential to do more in the fight for lasting change in the social structure of our country. At this time of protracted war, lack of moral leadership, and expanding poverty, we the people are looking for viable ways to enact change.

Even if you aren't able to participate in organizing, please pass on the information. 

Here is the specific link to a form you can fill out to volunteer. This will add your information to our state and national database. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTvNlethQeIs9LTH2PNaesZ-xUYQIsvtM_oVhjZFpfJeQgbQ/viewform