Organizing

Authoritarianism Thrives on Demoralization: How to Fight Trump and Stay Psychologically Healthy

July 2, 2018 by Source

By Dawn Villines / Daily Kos

My daughter was a newborn when Donald Trump was elected. On Election Day, I dressed her in a pantsuit, covered her in feminist stickers, and ensured she saw me voting. We took lots of pictures. I wanted her to know she was part of the moment in history when the first woman president was elected. So waking up to a Trump win hit me hard. I feared for my daughter’s future, and for my own.

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End the NRA and Its Reign of Hate and Greed

February 20, 2018 by Doug Porter

By Doug Porter / San Diego Free Press

The National Rifle Association needs to be put out of its misery. Despite all the talk about mental health, thoughts and prayers, a national conversation, and sensible gun laws, the solution to our gun madness is obvious.

The gunman in Parkland, Florida did not act alone as he carried out the 18th school shooting of 2108.

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Protests Dog Reps. Darrell Issa and ‘Dirty’ Duncan Hunter

March 28, 2017 by Doug Porter

By Doug Porter / San Diego Free Press

These are troubled times for San Diego’s Republican Congressmen.

District 49’s Darrell Issa would appear to be one of the early political casualties in the failed battle for #TrumpDontCare.

District 50’s Duncan Hunter is in bigger trouble, as the House Ethics Committee has been told by the Justice Department to step aside while a more consequential investigation proceeds, one with a high probability of criminal indictments.

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Progressive Activist Calendar March 24 – April 4, 2017

March 24, 2017 by Doug Porter

Editor’s Note: The following is Doug Porter’s weekly progressive calendar published originally at our sister website, the San Diego Free Press, every Friday. We wanted to get it reposted asap today, but we were unable to add events in Ocean Beach and Point Loma.

By Doug Porter

The Trump administration’s agenda continues to run into a buzz saw powered by public opinion. Defeating these horrible schemes is, however, going to take an ongoing effort. This is a marathon, not a sprint. We’ll win some, we’ll lose a few, and we need you to keep active.

So what will you do? Check out this week’s Progressive Activist Calendar listings below. Following those listings are upcoming events of national importance, along with opportunities for organizational involvement.

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Citing FBI Probe of Trump, Democrats Told to ‘Declare National Emergency’

March 23, 2017 by Source

‘The Democratic leadership in the House and Senate,’ says filmmaker Michael Moore, ‘needs to bring a halt to all business being done in the name of this potential felony suspect, Donald J. Trump.’

By Jon Queally / Common Dreams

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“No bill [President Trump] supports, no Supreme Court nominee he has named, can be decided while he is under a criminal investigation,” says filmmaker Michael Moore in message to Democratic lawmakers.
(Image: Screenshot/“2001: A Space Odyssey”)

Documentary filmmaker and political activist Michael Moore on Wednesday said it’s time for the Democratic Party in Congress to “declare a National Emergency” and put a stop to all legislative activity—including the confirmation process of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch

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Ballast Point Boycott Tied to Support for Congressman Paul Ryan and Trumpcare Fight

March 21, 2017 by Doug Porter

By Doug Porter

A boycott of Ballast Point products is being pushed by groups in Chicago as part of a campaign of resistance to the Trump administration’s hurry-up plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Ballast Point is the largest brewer in San Diego and was acquired by Constellation Brands in November 2015 for a reported of $1 billion. The parent company’s Political Action Committee has donated $25,000 thus far in 2017 in support of Rep. Paul Ryan, who’s leading the congressional fight for passage of what I like to call #TrumpDontCare.

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Ocean Beach Town Council to Host “Engage OB” Forum – March 22nd

March 17, 2017 by Source

From the Ocean Beach Town Council

In the past few months there has been an explosion of political activism across the country. Grassroots advocacy organizations are steadily gaining new members and civic engagement is high. A national discussion is taking place, and it is our responsibility as citizens to be fully engaged through voting, representation in Congress, and actively speaking out on the direction of our nation. …

To foster democracy and further our civic engagement and community activism, the Ocean Beach Town Council is hosting an Engage OB forum to invite individuals and organizations to speak on ways in which community members can get involved in political advocacy at the local and national levels. The next OB Town Council public meeting, held 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, will be dedicated in part to hearing from activists on a wide variety of current political issues.

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Congressman Duncan Hunter Just Said Some Crazy Sh*t at his Recent Town Hall

March 15, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

San Diego Congressman Duncan Hunter just said some crazy sh*t at his Ramona town hall meeting on March 11th over last weekend. And he said it in front of a raucous crowd of hundreds.

There’s a good transcript and video of what he said, thanks to Indivisible San Diego’s four and half minute video and Dan Weisman’s annotated transcript at Escondido Grapevine’s Duncan Duane Hunter town hall (annotated).

You have to see it to believe it (the video is inside). But read the crazy stuff first.

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Neighbors Mobilize Against Additions to Short Term Vacation Rental on Saratoga in Ocean Beach

March 15, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

Neighbors in and around a property on the 4900 block of Saratoga Avenue are mobilizing tonight, Wednesday March 15th, at the OB Planning Board’s subcommittee meeting.

They aim to speak out against planned additions to the property at 4925 Saratoga, because the recently rehabbed main house is being used as a short term vacation rental – and they view this permit to add a garage and a house over the garage as an expansion of yet another STVR and a threat to their neighborhood.

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Reader Rant: “We Need a Point Loma Town Council”

March 15, 2017 by Source

By Michael Winn

We need to elect a Point Loma Town Council that appropriately reflects demographics on the Peninsula, and charge it with promulgating a vision to preserve and restore quality of life on the Peninsula.

The Emerson project and San Diego airport (SAN) flight path expansions show us what we should expect from traditional back-door politics and ad hoc citizen protests.

Kellogg Beach shows us that unless we organize better, this will continue to plague our community because we must organize unpaid labor for each new proposal, while developers can budget it.

Our Peninsula Community Planning Board carries little political weight, has no authority and is limited in scope.

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‘Ides of Trump’ March 15th Action Aims to Overwhelm White House with More Mail Than Trump Can Ignore

March 14, 2017 by Source

ides

We “will overwhelm Washington…and we will bury the White House post office in pink slips, all informing the president that he’s fired!”

By Nadia Prupis / Common Dreams

A new movement is aiming to mail at least 1 million postcards to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, March 15—historically dubbed “the Ides of March” and known as the day Julius Caesar was assassinated—to show “the man, the media, and the politicians how vast our numbers are…to make it irrefutable that the president’s claim of wide support is a farce.”

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Town Halls in San Diego: Darrell Issa Deflects, Duncan Hunter Sings Off Key

March 14, 2017 by Doug Porter

By Doug Porter

As town halls in San Diego featuring Representatives Darrell Issa, Duncan Hunter and Susan Davis drew big crowds and garnered national attention, the American Civil Liberties Union rolled out the inaugural event of People Power, with more than 2,200 events in cities coast-to-coast. (See additional coverage of the ACLU campaign here.)

There were more than a dozen expressions of activism on Saturday, March 12th ranging from the raucous to the reserved in venues large and small throughout the region.

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San Diego Indivisible to Rally Tuesday March 14th Against GOP Health Care Bill

March 14, 2017 by Source

Senators Feinstein and Harris Asked to Host Town Halls in San Diego – Duncan Hunter to Be Called Out on Ethics Violations

From Indivisible San Diego Media Team:

SAN DIEGO – Following a successful weekend mobilizing thousands of members at four congressional town halls, San Diego Indivisible will rally this week to stop the TrumpCare legislation proposed by Republicans to replace the Affordable Care Act and to call out Rep. Duncan Hunter for his ethics violations. They will also ask California’s two U.S. senators to hold town halls in San Diego during the April recess.

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Progressive Calendar for San Diego Activists, March 10 – 21, 2017

March 10, 2017 by Doug Porter

By Doug Porter / San Diego Free Press

Progressive ActivistWow. Here’s another calendar packed full of events for local activists. I’ve made some cosmetic changes this week, including icons to make events more recognizable.

So what will you do? Check out this week’s Progressive Calendar listings below. Following those listings are upcoming events of national importance, along with opportunities for organizational involvement and a few reading suggestions.

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Ocean Beach Spring Cleaning – Saturday, March 11 – 8:30 AM

March 10, 2017 by Source

Ocean Beach – Clean, Green and Ready for Spring!

Over 300 Volunteers Pitch in to Clean Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach will be cleaned and enhanced by over 300 volunteers under the direction of I Love A Clean San Diego and funded by Councilmember Lorie Zapf.

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Planned Parenthood Says No to Trump – Women’s Right to Choose is “Non-Negotiable”

March 9, 2017 by Source

Trumpcare effectively destroys access to affordable women’s healthcare services

By Lauren McCauley / Common Dreams

Women’s healthcare providers are readying for a fight. Refusing to back down from its commitment to women’s choice, Planned Parenthood is now at risk of losing nearly 40 percent of its funding—and is calling for a massive mobilization to resist the attack on women’s health.

Ahead of the official release of House Republicans’ the American Health Care Act (AHCA) on Monday evening—which guts funding for any healthcare organization that “provides for abortions”—Planned Parenthood reportedly rejected an offer from the White House to stop terminating pregnancies in exchange for the group to continue receiving federal funds for other essential services.

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Cities and States Prefer Public Banks To Wall Street

March 9, 2017 by John Lawrence

Public Banking

Profits Can Stay In State, Provide Local Funding

By John Lawrence

Alarmed by the corruption and greed of Wall Street, many US cities and states are studying the feasibility of establishing public banks. Public banks are owned by cities, states or other jurisdictions and serve to keep funds local instead of being deposited on Wall Street. The funds are then used to support local economic activities like small business loans and student loans.

Washington state has already cut its ties with Wells Fargo because they funded …

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OB Rag Stands in Solidarity with A Day Without a Woman

March 8, 2017 by Staff

By OB Rag Editors

Can you imagine a day without a woman?

We join with our fellow editors at San Diego Free Press, in the strike for women on International Women’s Day 2017, and will remain “dark” for the day.

Many of the staff and contributors of the OB Rag are women. 50% of the volunteer SDFP editorial board and 50% of SDFP volunteer contributors are women.

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600 Protest at Indivisible Congressional Office Rallies across San Diego Region

March 7, 2017 by Source

Crowd Demands Answers from Issa on Healthcare Bill

By Indivisible San Diego County

More than 430 constituents of Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-49) rallied outside his district office in Vista this morning to demand answers about the newly released GOP health care bill. The Republican legislation was kept secret from the public by its authors, and alarmed citizens with Indivisible 49 turned to their congressman for clarity. They did not get it.

Led by Reverend Beth Johnson of the Palomar Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the voters sent a delegation to meet with Issa’s District Director, Bill Christensen.

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A Day Without a Woman – Wednesday, March 8th

March 7, 2017 by Source

Wednesday, March 8
A Day Without a Woman

A Message From: The Women’s March on Washington

On International Women’s Day, March 8th, women and our allies will act together for equity, justice and the human rights of women and all gender-oppressed people, through a one-day demonstration of economic solidarity.

In the same spirit of love and liberation that inspired the Women’s March, we join together in making March 8th A Day Without a Woman, recognizing the enormous value that women of all backgrounds add to our socio-economic system…

Anyone, anywhere, can join by making March 8th A Day Without a Woman, in one or all of the following ways:

  • Women take the day off, from paid and unpaid labor
  • Avoid shopping for one day (with exceptions for small, women- and minority-owned businesses).
  • Wear RED in solidarity with A Day Without A Woman
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Protest Muslim Ban 2.0 – San Diego Airport – Monday, March 6th – 6:30 pm

March 6, 2017 by Staff

Muslim Ban

EMERGENCY CALL TO ACTION!!

Donald Trump just signed The Muslim Ban 2.0. He calls it “fantastic”…

It is just as repulsive and as unconstitutional as the first one. We need to come together NOW!! Let us unite together and SEND THE MESSAGE THAT MUSLIMS AND REFUGEES ARE WELCOME HERE!!!

We will be meeting – 6:30pm – at terminal 2! Our theme is NO BAN NO WALL.

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More Photos from “Impeach on the Beach” in O.B.

March 6, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

Here are more photos from the wonderful “Impeach” and “Resist” event on Saturday, March 4th in Ocean Beach. These are in chronological order, more or less.

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Ocean Beach Resist Trump Rally – Photo Gallery

March 4, 2017 by Source

Ocean Beach

From Indivisible San Diego:

More than six hundred San Diegans marched from Dog Beach to the Ocean Beach Pier this morning with a demand to impeach President Trump. The protesters created a performance art project by standing in patterns to spell the messages “RESIST!” and “IMPEACH!” on the sand. Drone cameraman Caleb Serban-Lawler of Sabre Springs captured the images.

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O.B. March 4 Impeachment – Sat., March 4

March 2, 2017 by Source

The OB March 4 Impeachment is gaining momentum as it will happen this Saturday, March 4th, where participants will spell out “Impeach” just north of the OB Pier.

There will be a Beach Clean-up and March from Dog Beach to the Pier, says the facebook and the main event will be to “Replicate Human Protest Banner from Ocean Beach, San Francisco,” just that here in Ocean Beach, San Diego, participants will spell out “IMPEACH”. The OB Rag and Indivisible San Diego support this action.

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Ocean Beach Home Hosts Sanctuary House Teach-In

March 1, 2017 by Source

sanctuary

By Dianne Lane

A couple of activists hosted a Sanctuary House Party/Teach-in at their home in Ocean Beach on Saturday, February 25th.

The impetus for the event sprang from a “Teaching Positive Alternatives to Trump Teach-In” last month in Balboa Park.

The aim is to build a San Diego network of sanctuary homes in resistance to Trump’s fascism and to corporate capitalism.

Over the next few months, a series of neighborhood house parties throughout San Diego …

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Indivisible San Diego Targets Issa and Hunter for the Week

February 27, 2017 by Staff
Thumbnail image for Indivisible San Diego Targets Issa and Hunter for the Week

Indivisible San Diego, the network of county groups who have adapted the format and organizing techniques of the guidebook, Indivisible, are targeting Congressional Republicans Duncan Hunter, Jr. and Darrel Issa the week of Feb. 27th. Most actions this week are on Tuesday, Feb. 28th (only 10% chance of rain).

The document was written by congressional staffers who experienced the Tea Party’s impact. They put together the 23-page Indivisible: A Practical Guide for Resisting the Trump Agenda,

Thousands of groups have formed nation-wide as well as several dozen within San Diego County. At my last count, there were 44 groups, including 2 in Point Loma and 3 in Pacific Beach – Mission Bay area.

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Save Peninsula Trees Group to Hold Tree Advocacy Class

February 27, 2017 by Source

By Save Peninsula Trees

Save Peninsula Trees is at it again!

Last fall we began assembling information for a citizen’s guidebook on how to protect our community trees. What started a few months ago as some hastily scribbled notes over a pleasant, afternoon coffee at the New Break cafe has now become an honest to goodness handbook. And we’re pretty excited … because …

We are now ready to launch our draft San Diego Tree Advocacy Handbook.

Plus we will be holding a Tree Advocacy class on Saturday, March 25, 2017, 9:30 to 12:00 noon .

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The Michael Moore Easy-to-Follow 10-Point Plan to Stop Trump

February 23, 2017 by Source

By Michael Moore

First, let’s acknowledge what we all know to be true: Trump is in deep, deep trouble—in the pocket of Russians, surrounded by alt-right idiots, alone in his bathrobe in a mostly empty White House—and caught inside a disgusting “shit-sandwich,” so said his supporter who turned down the NSA job.

Only one month into his so-called presidency—and yet there is good news, as this is what the American landscape looks like:

• Tens of thousands of citizens across the country have stormed congressional district offices and town hall meetings to express their rage at the Trump agenda (a dejected Republican congressman, after a three-hour verbal assault from his angry constituents, said on TV last night, “Let’s face it—they [the Obamacare supporters] have won”).

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Ocean Beach, Peninsula and Midway Planning Boards All Have Elections in March

February 23, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

All three of the planning boards that make up the Point Loma planning areas have their annual elections coming up in March.

The Ocean Beach Planning Board holds its election on Wednesday, March 15th, the Peninsula Community Planners hold theirs on March 16th, and the election for the Midway – Pacific Hwy Planning Group will also take place March 15th.

Here are details for the various planning committee elections:

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Organizers of Spelling Out “Impeach” on Sands of Ocean Beach Issue Mission Statement

February 22, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

The good folks who are organizing the “OB March 4 Impeachment” have issued a Mission Statement (the OB Rag is co-sponsoring the event) on the facebook page – and as of this posting, nearly 400 people pledged their participation, with another near 2,000 interested.

Here is the statement:

Mission Statement:

Welcome to the resistance!

The March 4 Impeachment is just one of thousands of events to promote the efforts to resist the Trump agenda. We resist his misogynistic, xenophobic, and climate denial policies to name a few.

Why Impeach?

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