What a difference in these photos over the years. This date in 2020 was the date that we knew we defeated Trump and celebrated. And six years ago, we learned that we had flipped the two IL Congressional seats where we worked so hard. And today – we woke up to the fact that Trump will return to power and that he has vowed to use that power to punish his enemies, to send in the military to our cities to search for undocumented immigrants, and to "protect women whether they like it or not." Today, I have alternated between feeling sadness and anger, and between anguish and beginning the planning to organize safely, to look out for those who are most vulnerable and will be under the greatest attack, to resist whatever is coming, and to continue to fight to build the movement and just world that we want to see. In the meantime, Mony and I went for a walk and things appeared unchanged – but everything is. As I passed this group of workers preparing Christmas lights, I asked myself: how many voted for Trump? how many didn't or couldn't vote? how many woke up as terrified for the future as I did?
2020: Celebration! Taken on Campbell just south of Lawrence in Chicago. Ok they haven’t quite called the election yet -- but they will soon, very soon. And no, I obviously didn’t take this photo (Chad Fitzgerald did). But the Indivisible Board met in person in Jason’s back yard -- the first time we were all together since February, and opened up the champagne in anticipation. And to top it all off, I got a job offer from the National Wildlife Federation today. It almost makes me want to believe in karma, but it is luck, and priviledge, and some hard work. 2018:Two years of work to flip those seats. Taken at Gideon Welles Bar at Lincoln at Sunnyside in Chicago. closed we filled the Gideon Welles Bar to wait for the returns. When they announced that Sean Casten won and flipped the 6th Congressional District, Jason shouted with joy then had this moment of reflection. Only a short time later we learend that Lauren Underwood was elected and flipped the 14th Congressional District.2016:Nasty women vote -- and canvass too. Taken in NW near Johnson Ave in Cedar Rapids, Iowa 2012:Volunteering on a cold, wet election day. Taken at the ATU Office at 26th and Wells in Milwaukee.