“Turn the cold into an opportunity." — Jami Attenberg
Saturday morning dawned clear and cold (by California standards). A couple of friends and neighbors were coming by the house so we could do the People’s March together, which was assembling at Alameda City Hall at 10AM, so I was up looking for the sign I’d made back in 2017 for the Women’s March. I’d repurposed the sign — reading ‘I’m with Her’ with a bunch of arrows pointing in every direction — multiple times since then and hoped to do so again. I couldn’t find it, or my pink hat from the same era, but I did have my fairly new Jaimee Harris ‘Listen to Women’ sweatshirt With “Listen to Folk/Listen to Punk/Listen to Hip Hop/Listen to Women,” written across its front, its been serving a similar purpose these days. I’ve already worn this more than once this week and expect to do so again!
Speaking of women songwriters with wares worth buying: A couple of weeks ago, I had an email from Melissa DePrato, about her song, ‘Snakes,’ which she wrote in the wake of the Dobbs decision. Given the looming inauguration date, she felt compelled to at long last record the song. Now she was looping in a bunch of her friends to add backing vocals on a couple of its choicest lines, including “we’ve come too far to ever let them take away our choice.”
Hello and yes! The next weekend, a bunch of us assembled at her home studio to form her Choir for Choice.
‘Snakes’ is a pissed-off song, but it was still a joyful afternoon. Yesterday, she released the finished result on Bandcamp. Go take a listen and download the song. Proceeds from the sales will go to NNAF.
Saturday morning’s People’s March was similarly joyful. A crowd has assembled at City Hall where organizers had set up tables for sign-making as well as getting involved with local Democracy and action groups including my new favorite, All Rise Alameda. Sure, we were mourning what would happen on Monday (today, ugh) and what might happen as a result, but for the moment, the focus was on connection and solidarity. We caught up with friends and neighbors. We applauded the speakers who offered encouragement for the work ahead, as well as the verse of poet Kimi Sugioka. We sang along to ‘This Land is Your Lang’ led by a folk quartet. Then we all marched down Park St. to Southshore, heartened when passerby cheered or honked in support. After, four of us looped back home via the beach and the Gold Coast, enjoying the fresh air, clear views and company. Despite everything, I felt somehow, that yes we can get through this, whatever shape this takes.
After rehearsal yesterday, I tuned into Heather Cox Richardson’s guest spot on a Red, Wine & Blue action call. “Keep Calm and Listen to Heather Cox Richardson,” who I encourage you to read if you’re not already doing so. She offered both a wealth of historical context and some some simple guidance along the lines of pick your battles and manage how much outrageous news you take in.
Today, ironically, but helpfully, is of course, also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Heeding Richardson’s words, I’m re-reading some of his quotes this morning instead of ingesting any inauguration play-by-plays.
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."
MLK Jr. Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, Oslo, Norway, 1964.
For all there is to resist, there’s certainly a lot of truth and joy and good to get behind!1
Resistance Guidebook, by the good folks at The Action Network.
Amen.