Huge turnout in deep-red Florida!

Is anyone paying attention to this?

According to the latest rumors and political conjecture, we're only weeks away from street protests being outlawed by this administration.

What next if "emergency" martial law is enacted? FREE dance parties? Church bells chiming from coast to coast?

In short, are there any plans in place to at least mitigate the effect on morale that comes with stifling free speech? It will be here sooner rather than later, if the past three months are any indication.

We live in unprecedented times. I’m sharing a post with you in the hopes that it’s able to reach Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s team. I believe in the power of good people to change the world!

Dear Ocasio-Cortez Team,

I believe Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders should align themselves with IL Gov. JB Pritzker and stand together to build a unified Democratic coalition against fascism. This is needed to protect our institutions. She and Sanders should invite Pritzker to their rallies and show unified support, and vice versa.

In exchange, I believe Pritzker should endorse Ocasio-Cortez for leadership within the legislative branch. I think she could also negotiate concessions that leftist views are considered in party decision making moving forward.

I believe that she’s a great strategic leader, and this would be a master stroke that would bolster her political standing and ensure our country is protected from fascists by unifying the left wing and the middle wing. I think it would also help her overcome intraparty resistance by having Pritzker on her side.

She should probably do some research about JB Pritzker’s background, accomplishments, etc, if she is uncomfortable with him. I’m transgender and autistic, and politics is my special interest, and my sister-in-law is at risk of having her Medicaid cut off, and I trust Pritzker to be the best honest leader we can ask for right now.

I’m giving you this message in the hopes that you’ll pass it along to Ocasio-Cortez’s team, and that they will consider this advice seriously. We’re in a very fluid time politically which offers big opportunities and big risks.

Sincerely,

A trans person living in Chicago (they/them)

I went to my first national protest! For others that couldn't, here's my sparknotes.

I went to hands off in Philly today. I was scared, covered my face and ready to run if things went south. It wasn't what I expected, in both good and bad ways.

1. People were friendly. Everybody was taking pictures, talking and smiling. As someone without social media, the amount of peacocking felt odd given the circumstance. Maybe it's because I went alone, but it felt like live action social media. Everybody was on their best face, showing off and loud. I didn't bring my phone because in case things went south I didn't want tracking.

2. They gave out signs and we marched a short distance to the Constitution center. That part was the most fun. I wrote "our vets earned their benefits! Hands off the VA!" On my sign. During the march, there were people on the sidewalk with more elaborate displays. That was really cool. Some were funny.

3. There were at least 2k people, probably about 5k, and we're in driving distance of DC. The chanting was fun, but unfocused. "Hands Off" is pretty broad, and a lot of people were really there for their main cause, like Palestine and the felony charges. That made it feel really partisan, and I doubted any conservative would have been welcome, despite our insistence that all were welcome. I have found that to cast the widest net, it should really be a single issue.

4. The speakers were mixed. EPA, unions, teachers, anti-ICE lawyers, Congress people and local musicians all got on stage. The musicians were clutch.

The last guy who spoke when the crowd dwindled was the most radical, and the one who sounded most like what I see online. He called for revolution and a new party, and he condemned the enabling Democrats. The hostess ended with a quote from Pelosi, which irritated me after the last guy finally said in a public space that the Democrats aren't the Calvary coming to save us.

1. It was tiring, cold and my back hurts, but I have hope. It was a lot of people, and they weren't all loyal Dems. Some of them said the things we're not "supposed" to say, while others fell in line with protest culture. I don't think anything changes today, but I know all these comments I've made online are being read by real people, and thousands agree. We're all back in our cozy spaces now, but I know they're all out there, maybe even in the same building as me.