According to Alt National Park Service, the final count for this historic No Kings protest movement was over 13 million people at over 2300 events around the country. I am proud to have been part of it at the Oklahoma City No Kings protest where estimates range from 8,000 to 10,000 participants. For many it was their first time to protest. For others, like myself, it was the latest in a long line of protests.

The atmosphere was cautiously festive and celebratory and colorful. There were people of all ages, colors and creeds. Many people, like myself, had homemade signs expressing a shared concern that our country is going in the direction of fascism and authoritarianism. It was a peaceful event with only the rain as an obstacle. I saw no counter-protesters, although they may have been there. I saw very little police presence, but I understand that they accompanied the marchers who came from Scissortail Park to City Hall. A private drone flew above us at several points, as did a local news helicopter.

The No Kings Protest was organized in order to bring to the public's awareness the fascist authoritarian nature of the current DJT regime. Some of the public are apparently asleep at the wheel when it comes to the way this regime is dismantling our federal government, targeting vulnerable populations like the poor, LGBTQ, immigrants and the Black and Brown communities, targeting universities, and bullying the legacy media, several of which have capitulated by paying the regime millions of dollars and failing miserably at adequately covering important stories.

Farmers, who make up a huge part of our Oklahoma population are suffering because our trade partners have cut ties due to DJT's idiotic and chaotic tariff policies. Our country can no longer be counted on as a trade partner, or to defend other democracies like Ukraine. People in red states like Oklahoma seem to have a hard time understanding that what this DJT regime is doing is against their interests. He is limiting a woman's right to reproductive care, of which abortion is an important aspect. He is also kidnapping immigrants who are NOT criminals, but merely trying to feed their families and then trafficking them to El Salvador's most notorious prison with NO DUE PROCESS. When one person is denied due process, we are all in danger.

But what did we expect from this DJT regime? I refuse to call it an administration because it is behaving like the criminal enterprise that it truly is. One homemade sign read: IKEA Has Better Cabinets. And it is spot on. The term kakistocracy refers to a government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous people. This fits the current DJT regime to a T as our world standing plummets and our former allies can no longer trust our government.

When will Oklahomans wake up from their stupor and start to realize that their blind obedience will not save them from this fascist authoritarian regime? I simply do not understand the narrow-minded bigotry that courses through the veins of some people. We must never give in to despair or listlessness. We must never forget who we are. We must stand up, speak up, question authority, and call out the viscous lies this criminal DJT regime spews in its attempts to promote division, hatred, fear and political violence. We are better than that. We want to build a better world than the dystopian vision this criminal regime has for our country. We will not bow down to a mad king. We will not blindly capitulate to their demands. NO KINGS!!

Democratic Affirmations and Words
By Virginia Harr

Grady County Democrats have had several meetings where discussion centered around using positive words and possible prayer. So I bring for contemplation/discussion some of these words/phrases. I am thinking that our group might want to adapt a phrase/word or two to say out loud at our meetings. These are not extensive or exhaustive.

DEMS AT WORK

Democrats--Champions for the Climate.

Hot enough for you? Here's something that we can do together. Examples: Plant a tree. Use overhead fans. Do what my grandmother did--pull all the window shades down when you leave for work, raise them when you come back. Use a window shade.

We are for the birds, the bees, the turkeys, the deer. Let's make a plan to keep them going.

We want YOU!! If not you, how about an honest discussion on any issue of your choice.

Democrats leave no one behind. Everybody gets to come to the dance.

Let's make some good trouble.

Democrats want you to have a good job. Unlike the Republicans, we mean a good job that someone working 40 hours a week can buy a house, not worry about food on the table.

Democrats want all to benefit. Your success is my success.

Just because you don't agree with me, doesn't mean that you don't have a good idea.

July Service Project
By Laura Ford

Hip, hip, hooray! It's almost the Fourth of July! And that means celebrating! Parades! Picnics! Flag waving! Marching bands! Fireworks! Litter!

Wait - litter? What does litter have to do with the Fourth of July?

I am sure that you will be as astonished as I was to find out that fireworks produce litter. Lots of litter. For each gorgeous spray of light in the sky, you get fuses, casings, wrappings, and labels, and they ALL end up in pieces on the ground. For us here in Chickasha, that means litter in Shannon Springs Park - lots of litter because we have lots of fireworks!

While the city and the folks who actually shoot off our annual display of patriotic pyrotechnics sometimes sweep or brush off the walkway across the dam, what they do is sweep all the stuff into the grass and rocks, leaving it for other people to pick up. Those other people are (sigh) us.

Please join me on the walkway at Shannon Springs Park on Saturday, July 5th at 9:00 am to help clean up after the Friday night fireworks. Fresh air! Sunshine! And the chance to see the inner workings of a Roman candle! A chance to see the inner workings of MANY Roman candles!

I will supply trash bags and a few grabbers. The Parks Department has promised to supply a few extra trash cans close to the dam for our use. Please bring your own water and gardening gloves.

JUNTEENTH
We will have a booth at the Chickasha Annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 21st from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Washita Valley Park in Chickasha. Following the event, we will stay and help clean up as our June Service Project. Come join us!

Meeting notes from June

We had a great monthly meeting on June 10th. Jared Deck came and spoke to us about activities at the state legislature and state party. We also spent some time laying out plans for the next couple of months including our booth & service project at Juneteenth in Chickasha, our July service project picking up trash on the 5th of July at Shannon Springs Park, and State Convention at the end of July. We have a lot of exciting activities coming up so be sure to join us at our July 8th Monthly Meeting at the Chickasha Public Library at 6:30 PM. Democratic House Leader and candidate for Governor Cyndi Munson will be our special guest speaker.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

JUNE 21 – JUNETEENTH - BOOTH & SERVICE PROJECT - H – We will have a booth at the Chickasha Juneteenth Festival at Washita Valley Park from 11:00 AM until 4:30 PM. Following the event, we will stay and help clean up as our June Service Project.

JULY 5 - SERVICE PROJECT - Picking up trash at Shannon Spring Park, 9:00 AM, Chickasha, OK

JULY 8 - MONTHLY MEETING - Speaker will be Cyndi Munson, 6:30 PM @ Chickasha Public Library, Chickasha, OK

AUGUST 12 - MONTHLY MEETING - 6:30 PM @ Emerson Room at USAO, Chickasha, OK