Four years ago today

[clevermanka]

When a friend of mine discovered that Kansas was one of the few states not holding an in-person protest at Trump's 2016 electoral vote, she organized one in, like, I don't remember, something just over a week. She's a force of nature. So on December 19, 2016 she and I drove the half hour to Topeka and stood in six-degree weather on the steps of the capitol building with a (very) small group until someone came out to tell us the vote was happening early, unannounced. The thirty or so of us who'd shown up managed to make it through security and into the gallery before things started (thanks for the tip, anonymous staffer!).

Of course it didn't make any difference, and none of us expected it to, but I needed to see it happen.

My friend sent me this today because FB had put it on her memories.

Yes, I did measure out the space before doing the letters.

I still have a lot of feelings about that day. Seeing the electors cast their votes, hearing them say those names. Getting yelled at by Kris Kobach because we booed them. Feeling so helpless but needing to witness it. I don't have the energy to hash it all out in words and my wrist is still fucked up anyway but I wanted to mark the anniversary.

Comments

[goss]

<3

[clevermanka]

❤

[umadoshi]

I wanted to mark the anniversary.

*hugs*

[clevermanka]

😚

[thetimesink]

Dear, there's no need to hack your wrists! Oh, shit, nevermind: reading too fast!

Solidarity Sister!

[clevermanka]

👍

[minoanmiss]

Thank you for standing up for the truth when lies were crowned.

"Then to side with truth is noble,
When we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit,
And 'tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses
While the coward stands aside,
Till the multitude make virtue
Of the faith they had denied. "

[clevermanka]

when lies were crowned.
What a great phrase.

[brandywine28]

I'm glad you went. And booed. And measured. :)

You couldn't stop the confirmation, but I wouldn't say you didn't make a difference. You'll never know exactly who saw you out there that day, what they felt when they did, what they chose to do with those feelings...for all we know, you're the butterfly that flapped its wings in Peking!

[brandywine28]

And yes, I am slightly horrified to have said something so Pollyanna-ish. But I stand by it!

[clevermanka]

Lol, there is news footage of of it, somewhere (I should've saved the video), where you can hear me yell "shame on you!" from the gallery after the first elector spoke their vote.

Honestly I barely remember it, but someone I know watched the coverage from home and recognized my voice. 😂

[naye]

♥♥♥

[clevermanka]

💞💞💞

[tinny]

<3

if enough people do the right thing, it does make a difference. <3

[clevermanka]

❤

[khellekson]

This is freaking AWESOME. I have this love/hate relationship with Kansas. It's like Lawrence is the only bastion of sanity in the entire place.

[clevermanka]

Lawrence is the only bastion of sanity in the entire place!