Dissenter Digest—The Latest in Protest News

Freeway bannering, food collection, and peace protests—a busy week for protesters across the nation

Welcome to the Dissenter Digest.

We live busy lives. In the midst of that busy-ness, it’s easy to miss the stories of hope. Unlike other publications, we will focus on the people, not politicians or headlines. Though few of our stories will feature on legacy media sites, they are the true story of the resistance.

Send tips to me at my website wethepeopledissent.net.

Happy Dissenting, K

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RUSH HOUR RESISTANCE

Photograph courtesy of Dawn in Virginia

While protests have become a fixture on main street, another kind of dissent is cropping up in an unexpected location—overpasses and footbridges. Groups like the Backbone Campaign and Visibility Brigade equip handfuls of protesters to make a bold statement. Through “rush hour resistance,” groups are disrupting the routine: they are reminding their neighbors that this is not normal.

This week banners were raised in places like Cleveland, OH, Ocala, FL, Tucson, AZ, Larkspur, CA, Atlanta, GA, Newark, DE, and North Seattle and Bainbridge Island in WA. For more information and training, go to The Backbone Campaign or The Visibility Brigade.

STANDING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS

Despite the negative press, ICE continues to arrest and disappear our neighbors. In response, grassroots movements and nonprofits has risen to stand alongside immigrant communities.

Several states are creating networks and rapid response systems to alert the community to the presence of ICE, as well as stand with their neighbors at immigration hearings.

You can report ICE activity, volunteer, and more. If you know of an organization in your state, share it with me in the comments, and I will add it to the list.

California | Nor-Cal Resists: Visit their website
Connecticut | (475) 323-9413 or visit their website
North Carolina | Siembra NC at 335-543-0353
Ohio Immigrant Alliance | 419-777-HELP or visit their website
Oregon - Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition | 1-888-622-1510

NO KINGS! YES, CANNED GOODS

While researching the counts for No Kings Day, I came across this article by the Scioto County Democratic Party. On June 14 in Portsmouth, OH, 400 community members came together and raised their dissent while also collecting canned goods for two local food banks.

According to the article, “Alongside the protest, the community came together in an inspiring show of generosity through a very successful food drive.”

PUBLIC LANDS PROTESTS

Among other concerning provisions, Republican lawmakers attempted to slip in a massive public land sell off into the the budget bill. In response, communities across the nation have risen to protect our forests and wild spaces.

One such group of demonstrators took their concerns to the feet of power—the Western Governor’s Association meeting in Santa Fe, NM. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, around 2,000 people gathered yesterday to stand against the sale of public lands. The crowd’s chants and drumming were so loud they could be heard within the conference rooms where the governors gathered.

Though much of the land will likely be protected by the Byrd Act, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah continues to pursue means to sell off public spaces. Check our weekly list tomorrow for protest in your area.

ANTI-WAR PROTESTS FAN ACROSS THE NATION

After the attacks on Iran, protests have sprung up in dozens of cities across the United States. In places such as Nashville, TN, Laguna Hills, CA, Gainesville, FL, Kansas City, MO, and Austin, TX, demonstrators at rapid response rallies are taking a stand. Protests of this nature are only possible due to months of community building through national and weekly protests.

I will be highlighting upcoming anti-war protests in tomorrow’s weekly list of protests.