Standing Up in the Snow: 116 Voices for Democracy

A snowy afternoon became a powerful reminder of community & commitment

A note from Judith:

Saturday afternoon, as I waited for the protest to start and our volunteers cleared the snow from the path (thank you to Scott, David, and Dan for bringing shovels and doing the work!), I wondered how many people would brave the cold. I guessed maybe five, maybe twenty.

But at 12:55 p.m., you started coming and you just kept coming. In the end, 116 of you, plus one very dedicated dog, showed up to stand up for democracy for an hour. Drivers noticed too; many gave extra-long honks. I am so amazed and grateful to all of you.

WeCan

Many of you know Dave—the volunteer in the blue vest. He also volunteers at WeCan, an organization that provides emergency assistance, food support, and job-skills services. On December 6, we will be collecting items for WeCan.

We’re focusing especially on non-food items such as cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products (deodorant, toothpaste), and diapers. Here’s WeCan’s wish-list [PDF].

Charlie

Charlie is one of our security volunteers. When asked why he shows up every week, he said, “Democracy is not going to save itself.” He’s excellent at keeping calm, probably because he trains horses in his spare time.

Joan and Anne

Joan and Anne stood out this Saturday with their creative idea of wearing Christmas tree skirts as colorful capes over their jackets. They told me they keep coming because of “everything that is happening, there is just so much,” and because being here “makes you happy for a few hours.”

Charlie and Joan and Anne

I hope to see you on Tuesday at the Bellows for fun, laughter, and making plans.

Chaska Protests

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

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]

Drinking Liberally

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.