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What Organizing Obstacles Do You Face in Your Community?
The border between real people and fakers in Washington, DC
I live inside the Beltway. Yes, (egad) I'm one of
those people. In fact, no longer owning a car, I rarely go outside the Beltway, minus the handful of metro stops that extend beyond that nightmare of traffic and inopportune construction sites that is I-495. So, to folks who organize, I guess I'm the problem instead of the solution.
I moved to the Washington, DC area in the summer of 2002. But I had been there many times before: as a college student in NC, trips to Washington, DC for either the airport (to travel to Europe), or for protests were not uncommon. As a graduate student in the late 1980's and early 1990'2 in Philadelphia we often traveled to DC for anti-apartheid actions and then later, protests against the First Gulf War.
we start 'em young in DC
Living in the area was somewhat different, however. That was the run-up to the Iraq War, when the United States had already begun attacks on Afghanistan, but the prospect of invading Iraq hung just out of reach of the grasping hands of
PNAC fellows and tales of
yellowcake uranium were making the media circuit. I spent a lot of my time protesting with the local Women in Black chapter, helping to organize and write press releases for various peace groups at work during that time, and going to the large protests that were happening regularly. A lot of actions. A lot of emotions. And a couple of interesting spots from which to observe the dynamics of organizing and protest from a different vantage point.
Organizing effectively in a place where protests are commonplace is a tricky project. The local infrastructure is set up for protests in a way that reduces the act to just one more step in a bureaucratic process: the experienced activist groups (and there are many here) have designated "permit people". The police and authorities re-route the traffic, the notices go up for anyone working in the city. In fact, the most regular media coverage of protests happens not in the local and national news segments, but in the traffic reports. The actions become a routine part of the political and day-to-day landscape in a way I don't believe happens in any other locale. And it can take away some of the energy that the act of taking to the streets infuses activists with.
Add to that the fact that folks who live here don't think about politics in the same way that other people in the country do. They are cynical. Until, of course, you have a government shut down, then many of them aren't getting paid. (Or their kids can't have rowing practice because the boathouse is on National Parks property. But that's a different diary, sorry.)
That means, for me, whenever talk about local organizing comes up, I'm often silent, because the particulars of organizing in communities so close to the center of national politics demands a level of creativity I'm not sure I possess. The tried and true methods have all been tried here. Or at least, they've all been seen here. And if you couple that with the discrepancies between what the issues are for the folks who actually live IN DC and have no representation and very little control over the city they live in and those of us who live in other jurisdictions, we are often speaking different political languages. Creativity is definitely required. I only hope that I'm up to the job.
What kind of obstacles do you face when organizing in your local community?
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Connecting Kansas:
Democrats Unite in Emporia
by tmservo433 ♥ for Kansas & Missouri Kossacks
So our latest hero, tmservo433 provides a great re-cap to the event we promoted here for him.
At the time Paul Davis spoke, I had an in room headcount of 166, which is a heck of a turnout. Sam Brownback couldn't bring in 200 in the Kansas City Metro when Rick Santorum came to town.
Kossacks showed up. Several Kossacks were in the hall, as well as individuals who noticed I still had on my Netroots gear, and were happy to come and tell us how they are working for change in our communities.
tmservo433 is doing great work seeking out Kossacks and moving his state's progressive agenda forward.
Please visit tmservo433's diary for more photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Kansas & Missouri Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to tmservo433.
Los Angeles Kossacks June 28th Meetup Report
by susans ♥ for Los Angeles Kossacks
The Los Angeles Kossacks ranks have increased by 40% in the last few months. New members attended the latest recreational field trip to see the retired space shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center in Exposition Park near downtown Los Angeles.
Back Row L-R: Vyan, Chiwere, susans, Otoelbc, mommyp00ka, Ducktape
Front Row L-R: Robin, 714day, Little Loner, Moody Loner, jakedog42 and grandaughter, SanFernandoValleyMom
Please visit susans's diary for details on the Space Shuttle. You can still REC it. You can join Los Angeles Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to susans.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Sunday, July 27th
Phoenix Kossacks Get Pitchforks & Torches Ready for navajo
TIME: 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Mother Mag's Rooftop Terrace
(address given privately to RSVPs) • Downtown Phoenix
ORGANIZER: Send Mother Mags a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Mother Mags
2. navajo
3. Azazello
4. Mrs. Azazello
5. Sun Tzu
6. Stripe
7. Kane in CA
8. puzzled
9. Late Again
10. Mr. Late Again
11. rasbobbo
12. DaNang65
13. Gilmore
14. CenPhx
15. Mrs. Gilmore
16. Anonymous
17. itzadryheat
18. Bluejay RN
19. ramara
20. Hugo Polanco (with David Garcia's campaign)
21. CindyV
22. Mr. CindyV
23. SusieinArizona
24. SusieinArizona's friend
25. snearkers563
26. Mr. BluejayRN
27. Man Eegee
28. dobleremolque
29. Empty Vessel
30. PSzymeczek
35. Skippah
36. Thinking Fella
37. Josh
38. dewey of the desert
39. Mr. dewey of the desert
40.
41.
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Maybees:
arizonablue
Mr. arizonablue
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Latest diary: Arizona meet-up: Summer potluck with Navajo!
Monday, August 4th
Asheville Kossacks Connect for Lunch Before Moral Monday's Event with Reverend Barber!
Followed by a stroll through downtown to the Mountain Moral Monday event
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Rosetta's Kitchen
111 Broadway St • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. DawnN
5. Lamont Cranston
6. Gordon20024
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, August 9th
Northern & Central Florida Kossacks Meet-up
with (D) DC Koller who is running for House Representative against Rich Nugent
TIME: 10:00 AM
LOCATION: Vetwife's Home
Kosmail Vetwife for address • Inverness
ORGANIZER: Send Vetwife a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Vetwife
2. Vet
3. Gordon20024
4. nancyjones
5.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Attention Florida Kossacks !!!
Saturday, August 9th
Kansas Missouri Kossacks Picnic - Local Candidate Speaks
Meet at the Hays city park to enjoy a free hamburger/hotdog/watermelon feed. Jim Sherow along with other local candidates will be speaking.
TIME: NOON
LOCATION: Municipal Park
1st and Main • Hays, Kansas
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2. Skohays
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Major Kansas Events: Your Chance to Change a State
Saturday, August 9th
LA Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Guild Restaurant
611 W. 7th St • Downtown Los Angeles
ORGANIZER: Send susans a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. susans
2. Shockwave
3. navajo
4. Meteor Blades
5. Knucklehead
6. SanFernandoValleyMom
7. Otoelbc
8. Chiwere
9. Vyan
10. 714day
11. Ducktape
12. Mugwump Blues
13. Just Saying
14. Just Saying's friend
15. Panorama City Chick
16. jakedog42
17. Santa Susanna Kid
18. La Gitane
19. Susan from 29
20. gmats
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Los Angeles Kossacks June 28th Meetup Report
Saturday, August 16th
DC Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: National Mall
at the Smithsonian Metro stop • Washington DC
ORGANIZER: Send NinthElegy a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. NinthElegy
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.