Welcome to Organizer’s Corner — a (free) newsletter from your friends at Get Pod Local! Because we can help you stay inform — but then what?
Enter in your weekly Call To Actions (CTA!) from our Resident Precinct Chair, Joey Cade!
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It Was Another Really Painful Week Here In Trumpville.
After everything we lived through, it’s almost hard to remember that we invaded Venezuela just a week ago — or that the Epstein files are still being buried. That’s how authoritarianism works.
Read: Lawmakers ask for a judge to step in on Epstein document release
So let’s pause and name it: this week was really hard.
Because it was.
We had the truth of our situation slapped in our faces. This is an authoritarian country.
You’ve likely seen the murder of Renee Nicole Good, from multiple angles.
I’m sorry.
And I’m really sorry if you saw this gestapo situation with an innocent family and a food delivery driver. [Trigger warning; take care before watching.]
And a US military veteran was taken from their cabin while sleeping on a cruise ship. His name is Jose Martinez, a name so common it may as well be Joe Smith. How could storm troopers bust in on sleeping vacationers over the name Joe Smith on a list??
Read: Phoenix veteran says ICE agents detained him after Caribbean cruise
And then there’s this headline: ”Texas hands over complete list of registered voters to Trump administration”. I’m sure that’s for a perfectly good reason…1
This is what authoritarianism looks like — not all at once, but everywhere. Outrage replaces outrage. Crisis replaces crisis. It all becomes a dark blur.
This week, someone in the data world warned me to “be careful” about being vocal. They joked that they’d “remember” me when I was gone.2 I think it was meant lightly — but it landed heavy. Because under an unimpeded authoritarian regime, that fear stops being hypothetical.
Today, I participated in Day 4 of the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas endorsement screenings and when US Rep. Jasmine Crockett spoke, she admitted she’s scared, too. We all are. This is a lot to carry.3
But You Know What Else? There’s Also A Lot Of Good Happening.
We cannot lose sight of that.
Congress extended the healthcare subsidies, which will help millions of Americans.
Celebs have spoken out…
…And real people have attended protests across the nation.
With the leadership of El Movimiento, Vecinos Unidos, and other orgs, we gathered for a beautiful, well organized rally and march just one day after Renee Nicole Good was killed by ICE.
And together, we asked my US Rep Julie Johnson to act on ICE’s bad behavior in Dallas (this was before the murder in Minneapolis on Weds) — and she did. Her office responded swiftly, sending letters to Dallas officials and to Secretary Kristi Noem.
And Something Else Is Happening, Too: The People Are Finding Each Other.
Our weekly East Dallas protest gathering keeps growing. Last weekend, 85 people — including our first protester on horseback. This weekend: 120 people, a guitarist singing, and friends being loud on I-75 at the same time.
So Let’s Stay Grounded And Focused On What We Can Control.
We can safely and lawfully document ICE activity.
We can protest peacefully.
We can contact Congress and demand accountability.
We can organize and get out the vote.
We can choose kindness over cruelty.
And we can fill our lives with co-conspirators, joy, and real rest.
Over the next week, plan extra rest — and make plans to get into good trouble with your friends on MLK Day. We fight authoritarianism best by staying engaged with each other.
If you haven’t seen Join or Die, I can’t recommend it enough. Decades of research confirm what many of us already know: the strongest democracies are built through community.
That’s it. Community is how we get to the other side of this.
https://www.netflix.com/title/81746809
As citizens, let’s keep exercising our agency — as long as we have it. This moment matters.
Here Are A Few Ways To Get Involved Locally This Week
Call Congress about ICE and the Epstein Files.
Attend the virtual meet & greet with statewide Texas Democratic candidates (Tuesday, Jan 13, 6:30pm) https://www.fedds.org/eventinfo/jan1326statewide
Join our friends at SAAVETX and Chris Tackett for a virtual conversation on Christian Nationalism in TX (Wednesday, Jan 14, 7pm) https://www.mobilize.us/saavetexas/event/878055/
Attend a protest — including ours every Saturday and Sunday at noon. https://www.fedds.org/blog/weekly-defend-democracy-protest.
Also there is a nationwide walkout scheduled. If you can, join in.
Put the AFL-CIO’s TX Senate debate on your calendar for 2pm CT on Saturday, Jan. 24th. https://texasaflcio.org/news/texas-afl-cio-host-first-debate-between-democratic-candidates-us-senate
Let’s lean into each other. We’re still at the beginning of this story.
Hugs, high fives, and solidarity,
Joey - Proud “Fucking Bitch” ✊🏻
PS: It is worth mentioning that Nicole Good’s murder getting so much media attention after many non white people have been killed - or disappeared - by ICE with little coverage is also painful to experience.
It is important that we recognize that this is meant to scare us. I hope white women will keep putting their privileged skin on the line. This oppression has been felt by our global majority neighbors since America’s founding. We are all that is left to stand in the breach. Please don’t hide. Engage more. We need you, white women. America will not survive without your protection.
If we back down, our silence will mean the end. And we will regret it then. I hope we can figure this all out before it’s too late.
Organizer’s Corner is a Newsletter brought to you by our very own, Joey Cade. Lots of folks have ideas of what can help / what you should do — and while no one has all the answers, we (specifically Joey) do have some. Okay, a lot. Joey is not just a co-host of Get Pod Local …she’s also the Precinct Chair for Dallas’ Precinct 1052.
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Every Sunday night, Joey Cade, our Resident Precinct Chair, lays out our Call To Actions for the week. Because knowing what’s going on is one thing. But doing something about it is another. Let’s do both!
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Hi. This is Jalon…if I ever hear someone saying this to either of us, please know, I’m slapping the shit outta you. Are you kidding me?! I hope that person is a subscriber and knows that I’m serious. I will slap you and ask questions later. Jesus Christ.
The Stonewall Democrats of Dallas endorsement screenings are a feat of democracy. 4 days of candidate blocks in epic hybrid meetings, put on flawlessly by the largest and oldest LGBTQIA+ Democratic club in Texas. For us local politics geeks, it’s as awesome as bingeing your favorite telenovela-version awards show, while also being taken very seriously by all of us members because their endorsement carries a huge weight in Texas because of how thorough their process is. The chat threads and deliberations are delicious. I recommend you get your annual Stonewall membership now so you can join me in the fun next year.