Little did I know the commitment this role would demand! Over the past few months, I've gained a profound and healthy respect for those who have held this position before me. This role truly embodies the saying, "You get out of it what you put into it."

I've gone from sitting idly by to literally being the voice for Grady County at the State Democratic Convention this past June. I've made connections I never would have thought possible without being a part of this incredible group. I'm even volunteering to help with Mitchell Jacob's Congressional campaign! My point is, four months ago, I couldn't have imagined that my current state would be possible without having found this group.

The people I've met along the way and the bonds we've forged are something I will always cherish. I am genuinely proud to say that I am part of this amazing group of humans.

Thank you all for being a part of this journey with me.

Grady County Fair

The Grady County Democrats showed up and showed out at the Grady County Free Fair from August 21st through the 23rd. We engaged with a large number of new people by registering voters, signing people up to the email list, and handing out goodies & campaign materials for Cyndi Munson & Mitchell Jacobs. Our "It's Cool To Be a Democrat" fans were a huge hit. Thank you everyone who helped man the table and everyone who stopped by to say, "Hello."

Tuttle's First Pride

We had the privilege of being one of the many groups to help celebrate Tuttle’s First Pride on August 17th. We were able to hand out campaign materials & meeting announcements, along with beads and temporary Pride tattoos. We formed a wall of people along with the other vendors to block out protestors and their ugly messages. By all accounts 200 to 250 folks showed up to enjoy the event. We loo forward to helping out again next year.

Not long ago, Dr. Ashanti-Alexander relayed a story at one or our meetings. He told of Henry Argo, a young black man who was lynched right here in Chickasha. The year was 1930. Not even a hundred years ago. Argo, only 19 years old, had been accused of sexual impropriety against a white woman, a charge that was commonly leveled without evidence during this time and often ended with the death of the accused at the hands of a mob. It was no different here in Chickasha. A mob of over 1,000 white men and boys stormed the jail, overpowered the security, and murdered Henry Argo. Henry Argo become one of the thousands of victims of racial terror in the US between 1865 and 1950.

In 1930, the population of Chickasha was around 14,000 people. Let’s say half of those were adults. That means 6,000 people did nothing while 1,000 others brutally murdered a man without trial or due process. What if just some of those 6,000 had stood up and said, “No”? But they didn’t. Instead, a minority of people scared the majority into staying silent and looking away. Now we come to 2025, and a loud, angry minority is trying to scare the majority into being quiet and turning a blind eye. What are we prepared to do to change things? How will we stand up for the weak, the oppressed, the marginalized? How will we prevent the next Henry Argo?

We start by not letting this angry minority have control over us. Their power is based on the illusion that they are the majority. They are not. Poll after poll shows huge swaths of the population, even here in Oklahoma, disagree with the policies of the far-right politicians who are currently controlling our state & federal governments. So, we have to start by being seen and being heard. We have no excuse to plead ignorance on how to act. We have had Selma and Stonewall and Standing Rock to show us how we need to act. We have to shake off our fears and stand up for what we know is right.

Meeting notes from August
For our August meeting, Krislyn Sherer conducted a Door to Door Organizing training. We learned how to utilize the MiniVan app to canvas/visit with our fellow Dems within our precincts as well as discussing the 5 Calls app to contact our legislators to address current concerns.

To learn more about taking action within your own neighborhood, visit
https://www.okdemocrats.org/precinct

If you would like to lean more about getting involved beyond your neighborhood, information is located at
https://www.okdemocrats.org/precinct

UPCOMING EVENTS:
SEPTEMBER 9 – MONTHY MEETING, 6:30 PM, @ the Emerson Room in Austin Hall at USAO, Chickasha, OK
Cyndi Munson, Democratic House Leader and candidate for Governor will be our guest speaker.

SEPTEMBER 26-27 – ROCK ISLAND ARTS FESTIVAL – 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Chickasha Ave, Chickasha, OK
We will have a booth where we will be registering voters and handing out materials.

OCTOBER 14 – MONTHY MEETING, 6:30 PM, @ the Emerson Room in Austin Hall at USAO, Chickasha, OK
This will be a planning meeting with no guest speaker