Life of Wry

I maintain — and I’m certainly not alone — that it’s essential that we show up. All the historians, all the scholars who study authoritarian/fascist regimes, all the resistance leaders.. are clear about the importance of being counted, using your voice, fighting in whatever way possible (including checkbook activism). But showing up is key because it shows everyone — those who are on the other side, those who are on the right side and those who are on the fence — that there is energy and momentum in the movement, that it’s big, it’s real, it’s powerful. Energy begets energy, mo begets mo.

If we’re going to deny trump’s takeover and makeover of our government, we need the people to rise up. We need a massive resistance movement.

They say that in order to beat back an authoritarian takeover of government you need to mobilize around 3-4% (of the general public, I think). That the only time authoritarian advances have succeeded is when the resistance falls below those numbers. Or put another way, authoritarian takeovers can be stopped if the resistance can actively mobilize at least 3% of the population. Analysts and pollsters right now are saying we are close to that number. I haven’t done the math and don’t pretend to understand it well enough to defend the theory, I’m just happy (desperate) to do my part. I do NOT want to sit on the sidelines and watch trump and his goons destroy our country.

I’m 100% convinced that’s exactly his goal: to completely tear down government. It’s become evermore evident since he’s taken office and as Project 2025 has become so publicly visible as their obvious blueprint. Destruction of the state is exactly what their strategy is and I’m not here for it. If all I have to do is show up when asked, call my reps, give some money, stay informed… I can do that.

Especially when it’s fun and inspiring, especially when it includes hanging out with friends, especially when it involves some of the key leaders and fighters of our time, in our history, like Bernie and AOC.

To that end: The Fight Oligarchy rallies that are happening all over the country, headlined by two lions of the progressive left, Bernie and AOC. The rallies are attracting tens and tens of thousands of attendees at all of their stops.. even in red zones like Idaho, Salt Lake City, Bakersfield (and Montana tomorrow). It’s just awesome what these two are doing. They’re educating millions of people, and inspiring them to action.

Today, the tour came to Folsom… right up the street! Folsom is probably the only Northern Californian stop on this historic tour so it attracted folks from all over this part of the state.

I met Sarah, Gabe and their daughter Rachel in line on the campus of Folsom Community College. We arranged to meet at noon-ish and stake out a place in line. We set up our chairs, like everyone else in line, and ate our lunches. Organizers came by handing out free water, vendors sold t-shirts, hats and buttons. People were super friendly and joyful (and inside: angry, anxious and quaking in their boots). We were fairly close to the first entry point, which they opened up at 2:00. We made our way down to the security check point and waited there for almost an hour and a half. We were early enough to be in the first wave of folks to be checked and scanned; they had about 15-20 lines, we were about 6 or 7th in our line. That’s all to say, we got into the venue early (the college’s track) and found a place on the grass next to a pair of giant speakers and within about 25-30 yards of the stage. No obstacles.

Music started around 4:00 or so — two pretty great groups — then at 6:00 a number of pre-speakers spoke, then at 6:30 AOC came up to the podium and spoke for about a half an hour, then Bernie, also about a half an hour. Things wrapped about 7:30. The whole thing was exceptionally inspiring.

I like Bob Dunning’s stats on it: 35,000 folks in attendance (that may or may not include the people who did not make it inside, and def didn’t include the many who left because they couldn’t get inside), and a line to get in that stretched 3 miles.

Some pics:

As seen in the crowd (check out the t-shirt with a vintage picture of Bernie being hauled out of a protest):

The main attractions:

It was a beautiful day and a glowy, beautiful evening:

They greeted the crowd a final time, then walked together off the stage:

Here are a few other photos worth sharing, with attributions:

This was from Bernie, himself: