Anonymous vs. Accountable

A small protest and a clear choice

257 people showed up on Saturday. The wind was low, the temperature was wonderful, and we stayed dry, which I call a win.

On Saturday, a black car with blacked-out windows drove by with a loudspeaker, yelling at us. It then turned into the parking lot and slowly made one loop between our cars as people were walking back. Most probably did not notice it or could not make out what was being said. I won’t repeat what they called us.

I am glad no one reacted or engaged. Because of this, they left feeling small and ignored. I thought of them as cowards; anonymous in a blacked-out car, while we stand out there every week, same time and place, with our faces and our voices. What a contradiction.

It takes courage to do what you do every single week.

On Courage, Big and Small

The big protests are wonderful. There are many of us at those, and that makes things easier. But showing up every week, even when the numbers are small, takes real courage.

The Norwood Young America protest is small, held Sunday late morning in a more conservative part of our county. Typically, it has 10–20 people. Waconia is also in a more conservative area, and because there are fewer protesters, there is more of that same cowardly behavior.

A new protest has started in Victoria on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 at the corner of Highway 5 and Victoria Drive.

And lastly, the person who, to me, shows the most courage is Ellie Krug, who stands in downtown Chaska on Fridays from 3–4. Usually she is alone, though recently two others have joined her. It takes so much to stand there, holding a sign and remaining open to whatever pushback may come.

Grace Under Pressure

Recently, a group of trolls found her Facebook account, and the things people have said have been horrible. Ellie has kept her grace and invites anyone who wants a civil conversation to meet with her over coffee. No one has taken her up on that offer.

It is easier to yell from a car or type a one-sentence slogan on a Facebook post, something that falls apart if actually examined closely.

Why We Show Up

None of us standing on the side of the road are there because of a sudden decision that the opposition is simply stupid. We came to this after looking at the facts and seeing how things are affecting us, our neighbors, our country, and our world.

It’s not easy to come week after week. We stand there in the rain, the cold, or the hot summer sun, taking time out of our precious weekends because this is too important to ignore. It takes courage to face the facts, rather than look away or ignore the real consequences of what is happening.

Every week, you tell me how overwhelming the constant onslaught of terrible news is. Yes, we are exhausted. I know I am.

But we keep showing up.

That, my friends, is true courage.

For Everyone

To face the problem head-on and try to change it for the better, for everyone. Not just for us, but even for the person who drives by giving us the finger. We are trying to protect them too, from an emerging surveillance and police state, from a country where freedom no longer means what it once did.

We are trying to protect them from higher medical bills, from losing their, and our, right to free speech. We are trying to make sure we all have clean water to drink and science to help us live better lives.

The resistance is for everyone.

Events

Tomorrow on Tuesday, April 28 beginning at 9 am, the Carver County Board of Commissioners will host a working session during which, according to the agenda, there will be an “Elections update”:

Cc Board Of Commissioners Elections Update 04

810KB ∙ PDF file

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On Wednesday, April 29, 6:30 - 8:30 Joe Brothers is hosting his campaign kickoff in Waconia. Joe is running against Representative Jim Nash in House District 48A. [Details]

Judith

Chaska Protests

Every Friday from 3:00–4:00 p.m. at the corner of Chaska Blvd. and Chestnut Street (Highway 41) [Map]

Every Saturday from 1-2 pm at the corner of Hazeltine Boulevard and Highway 41 (Chestnut) [Map]

Chanhassen Protests

Every Saturday from 10-11 am at 7700 Market Boulevard [Map] Public parking is available behind City Hall.

Norwood Young America

Every Sunday, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. (Line up at the bike path south of Highway 212 and Faxon.)

Victoria

Every Wednesday from 4:30-5:30 pm on the corner of Highway 5 and Victoria Drive/County Rd 11.

Waconia

Every Saturday from 11:30-12:30 pm at Highway 5 and County Road 10 in front of the Starbucks and Jersey Mike’s. [Map]

SW Protectors

Every first and third Tuesday from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. It’s no cost and come and go as you like.

Please do buy something to eat or drink, though, to support our venue, which is The Bellows restaurant and it’s located at 232 Pioneer Trail in Chaska.