Sunday, July 3, 2022: Nationwide March for Democracy

[Tom Rinaldo]

The time to start planning is now. In every state, in every city. Preceded by weeks of lectures, films, teach ins, and protests both on and off campuses, sponsored by anti-authoritarian coalitions ranging from progressive leftists to Anti-Trumper conservatives.

America is arguably the world's oldest democracy. This year our democracy can't be routinely celebrated on July 4th, unless we defend it with a massive, anti-autocratic, non violent show of force.

[brooklynite]

1. So, there ISN'T a march planned?

You're suggesting it as a date?

Or there IS a date but nobody's planned anything?

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. I'm suggesting it as a date. For all I know others may be on it already...

...but if not I propose that date. It is mid summer in a critical election cycle, and the fight for our democracy is linked to the history of the American Democratic experiment, and therefor to Independence Day weekend.

[brooklynite]

3. And what is your goal?

It won't change the mind of Republican legislators, and I'm not convinced it'll change the mind of voters.

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. At least two.

One is to seize and frame the political and media narrative, focusing added attention on the importance of these mid term elections The clear proximity to Independence Day would link our current anti-authoritarian efforts to America's history, and to Benjamin Franklin's' implied warning that our founders established "a Republic, if you can keep it."

The target audience would not be Republican legislators, and only to an extent non committed undecided voters. More so it would energize our base and boost organizing efforts by harnessing activists in a common effort, albeit decentralized in large part leading up to a national day for defending democracy. We need our core base active and in motion and expanding our organizing efforts early in the 2022 election cycle.

[brooklynite]

5. I'll repeat my previous comment...

The average voter isn't as driven by the Jan 6 insurrection and voting rights as activists. They should be but they're not. We will win or lose the 2022 election on inflation, gas prices, COVID levels and mandates, jobs, salaries and schools being opened.

As for teach-ins et al, I realize that has a great history with 60s-era civil rights and anti-war protesters, but I haven't seen any sign that they convince people who weren't already convinced.

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. It is not an exclusive strategy, it would not even have to be a primary election strategy impeding

other political messaging in any way. It would play out over one week in late June early July, with a natural tie in to patriotic themes associated with wide spread sentiments among a broad range of Americans about American "exceptionalism", specifically our democratic tradition and legacy in the world.

Participation in the first Women's March after the 2016 election wasn't driven by gas prices and inflation and other pocket book issues that move typical voters either. But it was a shot of energy for the resistance to Trump that accelerated from there, contributing I believe, to Democratic victories in off year elections. Defending Democracy is umbrella terminology that includes fighting voter suppression and voter nullification measure. Those issues don't so much move the average voter either, but they are critically important (justifiably so) to core Democratic constituencies. Where there is passion it can and should be built on. The result may be more door knockers discussing economic issues where that is called for, and more recruits for voter registration drives.

As for the history of teach-ins etc., I can personally attest that I was moved to become a very active activist, both for civil rights and against the Vietnam War due to that type of organizing on my campus at the time. I crossed over from passive to active as a result. I wasn't typical of average Americans in that way, but I wan not atypical for a young American of that time.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. P.S

Waiting in the wings are the 1/6 committee public hearings, which may well within weeks be prime time viewing. We don't know yet if they will impact average voters. Average voters are never as driven by any issue as an activist is If they ever do become that interested they move into activist ranks. The Right does well at moving previously apathetic voters into action.