I’m asking each one of you to step forward and join the protest line. It’s not enough to cheer and honk at those who do….the big ugly bill passed. That means the ICE budget has gone up to 40 BILLION DOLLARS. More than any other law enforcement budget. They’re not just arresting criminals, they’re arresting grandparents and schoolchildren.

The recent tragedy in Texas was heartbreaking. But the fact remains: Climate change is accelerating those “once in 100 year natural disasters” to be much more frequent. And, at the same time, the republicans have cut the budget for weather monitoring and emergency notification systems. Then, after a natural disaster hits, FEMA may not be able to help (it’s being defunded.) The president has denied natural disaster relief TWELVE times since mid-May.

The Environmental Protection Agency has lost its teeth to prosecute polluters. Rebates for clean energy are cancelled. They have increased the “maximum contaminant levels” for PFAS. They’ve opened national forests and parks to mining and deforestation. They’ve cleared the way for drilling and mining near waterways.

They are defunding our schools, changing our history books, criminalizing love.

Social scientists say that authoritative regimes can be toppled, but only if we can get 3.5% of our population to reject their leadership. Thats about 11 million people. The last national protest brought out about 5 million. We need more voices, and we need them now. Things are escalating quickly. Trump is now threatening to take over NYC and DC.

I am asking you to attend this weeks rally. Please bring a few friends. I know it’s summer in the northwoods and we have such a limited time to enjoy it …but democracy cannot wait for a more convenient time. The destruction is happening now.

I’ll mow my grass on Sunday, because I need to be able to tell my grandchildren that I did not remain silent.