Sending Messages Via Magical Markers
Dear Leading Ladies,
I’m sitting at my dining room table — alone since Covid continues to demand my isolation from others for a few more days — penning posters for Saturday’s No Kings rallies. As I push down on my markers, I picture my words transformed into action. With every stroke, I imagine I can magically create some needed change.
“We want a president, not a dictator,” I write in bright red, picturing each letter delivering a deciding vote for democracy and equality in an upcoming close election.
“Real leaders aren’t bullies,” I pen in purple, visualizing my words forcing the swearing-in of Rep-elect Adelita Grijaiva of Arizona and the subsequent release of the Epstein files.
“Our kids shouldn’t need lockdown drills,” I scrawl in blue, envisioning my words translated into gun control laws that will save hundreds if not thousands of lives each year.
“Up with democracy, Down with autocracy,” I script in green, hoping to teleport the message to Supreme Court Justices who have forgotten about the independence of three branches of government promised by the Constitution.
Chalk my musings up to Covid brain. I know my posters don’t have the power I wish they had. Still, I am optimistic. Alone, my posters surely won’t make a difference. I believe that enough posters made on kitchen and dining room tables in the next few days will surely have some impact. Maybe not the “cancel my Disney subscription” impact that got Jimmy Kimmel his job back, but perhaps some “I should listen to my constituents” effect.
Heroes Corner
In the meantime, we want to give a shout out to some people of influence — with at least one surprise — who have stood up for decency and change recently.
Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois continues to stand up to Trump; block troops from other states coming to Illinois; speak truth to power; and challenge other Democratic leaders to do the same.
MAGA supporter Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, usually a thorn in the side of Democrats, broke ranks with the Republican Party, blaming the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader for the government shutdown and arguing for extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. She may have done it to appease her constituents but she is sure to invoke Trump’s wrath.
US District Court Judge Karin J. Immergut, appointed by Trump, ruled recently to block Trump’s order to deploy 200 members of the Oregon National Guard, stating the facts didn’t provide a legal basis for the deployment. Now she’s smack in the middle of one of the most consequential cases ever regarding presidential authority.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) President Sally Kornbluth said “no” to a deal offered to nine universities by Trump to receive certain benefits in exchange for capping international student enrollment; freezing tuition for five years; adhering to definitions of gender; and prohibiting anything that would belittle conservative ideas. The other schools have not yet responded.
The five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee, appointed by Norway’s parliament for six-year terms, had the wisdom to choose someone other than Donald Trump this year for the Nobel Peace Prize.
It’s reassuring to realize there are some brave and righteous people out there fighting for what’s right. Let’s continue to show up for them and let them know it matters deeply to us.
And one more thought from the orange marker at my dining room table. “Silence isn’t neutral. It’s permission.”
Be well,
Judy (she/her/hers)
Therese (she/her/hers)
Didi (she/her/hers)
Leading Ladies Executive Team
Leadingladiesvote.org
ladies@leadingladiesvote.org