Just wanted to put up a single page that I could link to when talking about all these different events:
Saturday, June 14: the NO KINGS march and rally. I’ll be sharing a poem at the capitol. If you’re newer to protests, this one should be a good entry point, with a focus on families, joy, solidarity, etc. More info here.
Tuesday, July 1: Better Things at Moon Palace Books. I’ll be sharing some work at this reading alongside some fantastic artists. More info here.
Sunday, July 13: ROOTBEER & RESISTANCE at Boneshaker Books. I’ll be talking more about this as the date approaches, but the basic idea is that this is a more informal, community-focused event that will have a few poetry performances but is mostly about sharing some resources and having space to build community – again, especially for people who are newer to activism and organizing. More info here.
Wednesday, July 23: SECRET RIVERS Live at Silverwood Park! Secret Rivers is a project I am very excited about – it’s me performing poems alongside SEE MORE PERSPECTIVE’s live production on the MPC and Loop Station 505. Also: it’s a free, all-ages, outdoor event! More info on the event here. And more info on the Secret Rivers project here.
And a few recommended readings
On protest and possibility:
- The Strategic Logic of the No Kings Protests (Leah Greenberg)
- Awareness-Raising Protests Won’t Threaten the Richest, Most Well-Armed People on Earth (interview with Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò)
- As ICE Protests Ramp Up, Organizers and Thinkers Share Lessons from the 2020 Uprising for Black Lives (Lex McMenamin interviewing a bunch of cool people)
It might be tempting to read those first two pieces as point/counterpoints, but I think they end up saying similar things: big mass actions are doorways, not destinations. In a social media age when everything is all-or-nothing, black-or-white maximalism, I think that kind of nuance is important: YES, show up to rallies and marches if you are able, but not because those actions alone are going to be the thing that makes us win. Go to them to (1) find energy and inspiration, (2) learn about and connect with organizations who are doing the everyday work of resistance beyond one-time events, and (3) make noise, share photos of funny signs, talk to family and friends about why the event matters to you – that can have a narrative impact with ripple effects beyond the individual day.
A few more:
- Chaos & Cruelty: Trump Deploys Thousands of Soldiers to Put Down Anti-ICE Protests in Los Angeles (interview with Jean Guerrero)
- Cries of Defiance and Songs of Joy in Los Angeles (David Dayen)
- Federal Agents Arrest Minnesota Woman Outside My Office, Cite Protest Charges (Georgia Fort)
- To support Isa, donate to Indigenous Roots and add a note/dedication “to fund legal fees”
Lots more to share, lots more happening. Get in where you fit in. We don’t all have to show up the same way, or in a literal sense at actions or events, but we can all find ways to show up and support/join the work being done. As always, more on that here and here.
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