Gathering

The aftermath of the funeral march on Sunday at the Marin Civic Center is still with me.  Over 1500 people gathered the to protest the deaths by ICE.   

Robert Hubbell today: Since the first day of his second term, Donald Trump has refused to follow the Constitution. This month, Trump is asking Congress to continue his lawless reign by passing a “continuing resolution” that will fund the government at its current levels—including its current levels of lawlessness.

Congress should refuse to do so. Instead, Congress should: Defund Trump, Defund and abolish ICE, Defund and abolish the Department of Homeland Security, Defund Trump’s ability to invade sovereign nations and NATO allies, and Defund the corrupt DOJ that investigates the victims of crime and protects the out-of-control thugs wearing facemasks and flak jackets.

Is it “radical” to suggest “defunding” major agencies in the federal government? Hmm. . . let’s see. What did Donald Trump threaten to do today? He threatened to “defund” every state that has a “sanctuary city” —which means Trump will “cut off” federal funds to states representing 37% of the American population.

To be clear, Trump. has no authority to “cut off” funding to any state or city. Congress controls appropriations and the president is obligated by law to carry out those appropriations. But Trump has been violating his obligation to “faithfully execute the laws” by refusing to spend money as directed by Congress.

I just read James Rebanks book, The Place of Tides.  Rebanks writes of a summer he spent on a remote Norwegian Island where he learned from 70 year old Anna Masoy, known as the Norwegian “duck woman”, about the ancient tradition of collecting eiderdown from eider ducks.  Her dedication has brought the ducks back to these islands, ducks threatened by the introduction of minks and other predators.  It shows the power of one woman, and right now, we have thousands of people across the country demonstrating against the policies of Trump.

Today in Heather Cox Richardson: On Sunday, David Marcus of Fox News warned that “organized gangs of wine moms” are using “Antifa tactics to harass and impede Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.” He claimed that those people organizing to protect their neighborhoods from ICE may be “criminal conspiracies.” He complained of “self-important White women” protesting “with a weird and disturbing glee.” He seemed to threaten them by warning: “if we simply allow these cosplaying would-be revolutionaries to do whatever they want…, Renee Good will not be the last to needlessly die.”

“Organized groups of wine moms”.  Wow!  I do love my glass of wine, but I can tell you there was no “weird and disturbing glee” on Sunday.  It was a funeral procession, and my heart is still heavy with the weight and sorrow of the experience.

A stump the ocean carried in on which to sit at Rodeo Beach
The Amaryllis now has three flowers and continues to delight!