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Monday, April 21, 2025
4-21-25 Newsletter
INCO COMMUNITY MEETING Saturday, April 26 10:30 - 11 am - mix and mingle; vent and validate 11 am - 12:30 - meeting Grace Episcopal Church parish hall 1545 Franklin, Astoria
On the agenda:
• Protests, rallies, and other actions: What's next? • What did INCO's March survey tell us? • Enlarging the democracy community • Keeping our cool in intense situations • Actions for our neighbors: service and safety
GRATITUDE "My service club was awarded two grants to provide sight-saving assistance to Clatsop County residents." -- Ray, at February 15 INCO Community Meeting
NO KINGS MARCH + PROTEST + FOOD DRIVE = PEOPLE POWER
Kudoes to the 450 protectors of democracy who ignored cold winds on the Astoria waterfront to line both sides of Marine Drive for a few blocks at the April 19 NO KINGS IN AMERICA protest! German tourists told us how impressed they were with this protest to stop Trump, Musk, and Congressional Republicans from destroying the U.S.
More highlights: several drummers, people usng walkers and wheelchairs, new buttons made and donated by Bebe, and people protesting for the first time along with seasoned activists. Welcome to this democracy community, everyone! More photos below.
LITTLE BRIGHT SPOTS
"We are all linked to what has come before us and what will come after us. We all walk on the same ground; we all live, will struggle and will die And all at once we have these little spots of brilliance, ground level stuff- microcosms in a fleeting moment, that are also part of an epic story of victories and defeats In which all our brightness threads through, inextinguishable." -- excerpt from April Coppini's artist statement at her exhibit, 'Little Bright Spots/Big Migrations,' at Imogen Gallery, Astoria, through May 5.
"We show up, we protest, we speak up, we keep our solidarity and our determination intact, and then sometimes, somehow something happens and it's not just another protest, it's history, it's transformation, it's insurrection....history itself is made out of surprises that only seem obvious or inevitable in retrospect...." INCO recommends this thoughtful column by Rebecca Solnit.
250 YEARS AGO IN BOSTON
"Someone asked me once if the men who hung the lanterns in the tower knew what they were doing. She meant, did they know that by that act they would begin the steps to a war that would create a new nation and change the world."
INCO recommends Heather Cox Richardson's brief history of how ordinary people moved the story forward and began the Revolutionary War. Worth reading and sharing.
GOOD NEIGHBORS
INCO is developing service projects around the county and we could use your help. Our next project will be packing food boxes at the Clatsop County Food Bank on Thursday, April 24th from 9 a.m. to 12 noonfor delivery to distribution points. If you are interested in joining us for this project or for others in the future, please write Bruce Williams at b42wzz@gmail.com.
SOMETHING YOU CAN DO
Eager to do something to save America from Trump's billionaires and extremists? Try these suggestions from Oregon Indivisibles:
Host a “salon” in your home for friends and neighbors to learn about Indivisible. Include a local Indivisible leader, make desserts and hand-outs that will help your guests become active.
Show your resistance through art and other creative projects.
Paint resistance rocks and leave them everywhere.
Make and post brief videos about how Trump-Musk-Republican policies are affecting your life.
Write a resistance song, poem, or skit, and post it on social media.
Make resistance signs and share them with your Indivisible group.
Make resistance finger puppets for kids, or help them create their own resistance signs
Host a resistance party! Meet for pizza or coffee or beer at your home, a park or local restaurant. Resistance is more fun when you do it with friends.
Send your suggestions for more actions to incoregon@gmail.com.
A BIG BRIGHT SPOT
"Fourth Circuit panel rebukes Trump over Abrego Garcia while framing the constitutional showdown in an opinion written for the American people, the Supreme Court, and Trump."
INCO encourages you to read or listen to the opinion written by Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a Reagan appointee. Jay Kuo say it's "An Opinion for the Ages" and describes what makes this opinion so important.
HOW TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES IN LOCAL ELECTIONS
Kudos to the area residents who have stepped up to run for local offices on the May 20ballot. It's time for us to support them by volunteering with their campaigns! Put up a yard sign, help distribute yard signs, donate to their campaigns, support them with a letter to the editor or posts on social media. Ask the candidate how you can help.
INCO invites local candidates to introduce themselves at our April 26 Community Meeting. Please contact incoregon@gmail.com so we can include you in the agenda.
HOW TRUMP POLICIES HURT CLATSOP COUNTY
Many protesters handed out this information about the local impacts of Trump's policies as they marched through downtown Astoria as part of Saturday's NO KINGS protest.
COMMENT ON PROPOSED OREGON LEGISLATION
Oregon is halfway through its legislative session. Tell legislators how you feel about proposed bills. Go to COIN Legislation Watch Team here or at https://www.coinoregon.org/2025-legislation. Scroll down to see the list of bills where you can take action and submit comments with a simple click. Contact Cheryl Conway at conwayct2007@hotmail.com if you need assistance in using the web page.
Thanks to INCO activist Wendy for these photos from the April 19 protest in Maui, Hawaii.
Thursday, April 24 * noon -1, via Zoom Updates and Q&A with Indivisible co-leaders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin.
Submit questions when you register or in the chat during the event. REGISTER HERE for the next What’s the Plan call. Past events are on Indivisible's YouTube channel.
APPLAUDING COURAGE
"...after reading Robert Hubbell and watching the interview on Rachel Maddow, I felt compelled to send a postcard in support of whistleblower Daniel Berulis. who is speaking out about DOGE’s data hack of the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board). Such courage! I felt I needed to physically show my support with an actual postcard rather than just an email, though emails would be good too.
"I’d recommend that people send postcards, not letters — letters need special handling to be sure that no anthrax/poisons are in the letter. I sent my postcard to Berulis’ attorney:
"To Daniel Berulis c/o Attny Andrew Bakaj Whistleblower Aid 1250 Connecticut Ave NW, St 700 Washington, DC 20036-0000
"I’d also suggest that people follow that up with a call to their members of Congress to advocate for an immediate investigation into the matter." -- Bebe, INCO activist
CALL CONGRESS
Senator Ron Wyden 202-224-5244 or 503-326-7525 Senator Jeff Merkley 202-224-3753 or 503-326-3386 Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici 202-225-0855 or 503-469-6010
Using the5 Calls appis another way to reach your Members of Congress.
VOICES: NEWS AND PERSPECTIVE
"We are custodians of democracy until the next generation takes up the struggle as their own."
Thanks to INCO activist Jen for this joyful music from the Resistance Revival Chorus.
INCO INSIGHTS
"There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me." ― Jane Austen, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
INCO defends democracy by opposing authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption and by promoting civic engagement and building community. Sign up for the INCO newsletter here. Comments, news, and photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com. Resources and other information at www.incoregon.org and www.indivisible.org. INCO is part of COIN, the Consolidated Oregon Indivisible Network. Get updates, track Oregon legislation, and learn about Oregon's 40+ Indivisible groups. Sign up here. Look for the INCO column in Hipfish Monthly. Indivisible North Coast Oregon is on Facebook, Instagram, and Blue Sky. INCO Weekly Newsletter • April 21, 2025
