practicingdemocracy1
@pd1ljw.bsky.social
My record of "practicing democracy" as our USA begins its slide into authoritarianism. When we practice, we learn & get better. Defending public education (Snyder #2). Chicago, IL. Join the sequence: practicingdemocracy# @pd#yourinitials
What’s up in my Chicago neighborhood tonight: Volunteers like myself make whistle kits (whistles with info about rights under the law) against the backdrop of an American dream mural at Taquizas Valdez on Irving Park Rd. It was a full house, standing room only. The Burrito Valdez was delicious.
October 30, 2025 at 1:38 AM
What’s up in my Chicago neighborhood tonight: Volunteers like myself make whistle kits (whistles with info about rights under the law) against the backdrop of an American dream mural at Taquizas Valdez on Irving Park Rd. It was a full house, standing room only. The Burrito Valdez was delicious.
Happy patriots at Chicago’s NO KINGS march on Oct 18, 2025. We were leaving the park for the streets after a defiant and unifying speech by Governor Pritzker. The crowd ROARED in response to him. 250,000 strong according to BlockClub Chicago (pls consider donating for their pro-democracy reporting).
October 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Happy patriots at Chicago’s NO KINGS march on Oct 18, 2025. We were leaving the park for the streets after a defiant and unifying speech by Governor Pritzker. The crowd ROARED in response to him. 250,000 strong according to BlockClub Chicago (pls consider donating for their pro-democracy reporting).
I made my signs today for the NO KINGS march in Chicago!
October 17, 2025 at 12:10 AM
I made my signs today for the NO KINGS march in Chicago!
Poster board was completely sold out at Target in my Chicago neighborhood as of 2 pm Thursday, 2 days before No Kings march. Hope that's a good sign!
October 17, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Poster board was completely sold out at Target in my Chicago neighborhood as of 2 pm Thursday, 2 days before No Kings march. Hope that's a good sign!
June 14, 2025 No Kings March in Chicago. “God Forbid A Girl Wants Justice and Liberty for All”
June 15, 2025 at 1:04 PM
June 14, 2025 No Kings March in Chicago. “God Forbid A Girl Wants Justice and Liberty for All”
Side one of my sign for No Kings march tomorrow in Chicago. So excited!!
June 13, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Side one of my sign for No Kings march tomorrow in Chicago. So excited!!
Side two of my sign for the No Kings rally in Chicago tomorrow. Looking forward to it!
June 13, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Side two of my sign for the No Kings rally in Chicago tomorrow. Looking forward to it!
This is the second side of my sign for tomorrow. I'm ready for International Workers Day!
In Chicago, program starts at 10 a.m. in Union Park. 4 mile march to Butler Field begins around noon with 2 pm arrival. Rally wraps up by 4 pm. Woo-Hoo!!
In Chicago, program starts at 10 a.m. in Union Park. 4 mile march to Butler Field begins around noon with 2 pm arrival. Rally wraps up by 4 pm. Woo-Hoo!!
April 30, 2025 at 10:54 PM
This is the second side of my sign for tomorrow. I'm ready for International Workers Day!
In Chicago, program starts at 10 a.m. in Union Park. 4 mile march to Butler Field begins around noon with 2 pm arrival. Rally wraps up by 4 pm. Woo-Hoo!!
In Chicago, program starts at 10 a.m. in Union Park. 4 mile march to Butler Field begins around noon with 2 pm arrival. Rally wraps up by 4 pm. Woo-Hoo!!
I'm getting ready for International Workers' Day march and rally tomorrow. First side of sign. Now to do the other side.
April 30, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I'm getting ready for International Workers' Day march and rally tomorrow. First side of sign. Now to do the other side.
Daley Plaza in Chicago on April 19, 2025
April 19, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Daley Plaza in Chicago on April 19, 2025
About the Trump regime’s contemptuous response to the courts, Joyce Vance & team write: “…we believe we are firmly in a constitutional crisis.” Thank you for the inspiration. I’m ready for today’s protests. April 19th reminds us that history is on our side.
April 19, 2025 at 1:56 PM
About the Trump regime’s contemptuous response to the courts, Joyce Vance & team write: “…we believe we are firmly in a constitutional crisis.” Thank you for the inspiration. I’m ready for today’s protests. April 19th reminds us that history is on our side.
I made a donation to NAACP today. With DEI under attack, Blacks are under attack. I signed their Black Consumer Pledge. See naacp.org/campaigns/bl... for good & bad DEI companies. NAACP supports issues I care about and conducts outreach to Black voters to increase participation (volunteer, maybe).
April 17, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I made a donation to NAACP today. With DEI under attack, Blacks are under attack. I signed their Black Consumer Pledge. See naacp.org/campaigns/bl... for good & bad DEI companies. NAACP supports issues I care about and conducts outreach to Black voters to increase participation (volunteer, maybe).
I donated to Public Citizen @publiccitizen.bsky.social today. They are filing lawsuits against the Trump regime, incl. to protect taxpayer data, & demanding that Congress stand up for due process in response to the regime's lawless treatment of Abrego Garcia. I like their informative emails too.
April 17, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I donated to Public Citizen @publiccitizen.bsky.social today. They are filing lawsuits against the Trump regime, incl. to protect taxpayer data, & demanding that Congress stand up for due process in response to the regime's lawless treatment of Abrego Garcia. I like their informative emails too.
Sign I made for HandsOff rally at Daley Plaza in Chicago
April 5, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Sign I made for HandsOff rally at Daley Plaza in Chicago
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
#HandsOff
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
#HandsOff
April 5, 2025 at 11:12 PM
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
#HandsOff
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
#HandsOff
Yesterday, I made a donation to the Associated Press @apnews.com for its integrity in not caving to Trump's ridiculousness and the quality of its content and writing. I expect to rely on the AP for "mainstream" news now that I no longer subscribe to NYT and WaPo.
April 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Yesterday, I made a donation to the Associated Press @apnews.com for its integrity in not caving to Trump's ridiculousness and the quality of its content and writing. I expect to rely on the AP for "mainstream" news now that I no longer subscribe to NYT and WaPo.
Today I wrote to Senator Durbin and Senator Duckwork to tell them not to support legislation to sunset Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
April 1, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Today I wrote to Senator Durbin and Senator Duckwork to tell them not to support legislation to sunset Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Today, I wrote Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, Senator Duckworth and Senator Durbin and told them to vote NO on the SAVE Act.
April 1, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Today, I wrote Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, Senator Duckworth and Senator Durbin and told them to vote NO on the SAVE Act.
I've reserved April 7th, 4:30-6:30 pm, to learn more about Albany Park Mutual Aid.
Thank you @ward33chicago.bsky.social for Neighbor Nights. This will be my first one.
Thank you @ward33chicago.bsky.social for Neighbor Nights. This will be my first one.
March 25, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I've reserved April 7th, 4:30-6:30 pm, to learn more about Albany Park Mutual Aid.
Thank you @ward33chicago.bsky.social for Neighbor Nights. This will be my first one.
Thank you @ward33chicago.bsky.social for Neighbor Nights. This will be my first one.
SPEAKING OUT for Mahmoud Khalil: I sent message to Todd Lyons, Acting Director of ICE. Calling out @chicagotribune.com for defending Khalil's rights, but describing him, without evidence, as a Hamas' supporter and smearing his name in the discussion. Be careful of Republican talking pts.
March 24, 2025 at 9:57 PM
SPEAKING OUT for Mahmoud Khalil: I sent message to Todd Lyons, Acting Director of ICE. Calling out @chicagotribune.com for defending Khalil's rights, but describing him, without evidence, as a Hamas' supporter and smearing his name in the discussion. Be careful of Republican talking pts.
Adding this to my list of important topics to take up with my elected representatives--education is my area. Thank you, @mrs-frazzled.bsky.social. Just found you on Substack.
March 24, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Adding this to my list of important topics to take up with my elected representatives--education is my area. Thank you, @mrs-frazzled.bsky.social. Just found you on Substack.
April 5 on my calendar to join "keep your hands off" protests and events. I subscribe to @contrariannews.org to keep up with the national pro-democracy movement & support critical court cases challenging the Trump regime.
March 21, 2025 at 3:23 PM
April 5 on my calendar to join "keep your hands off" protests and events. I subscribe to @contrariannews.org to keep up with the national pro-democracy movement & support critical court cases challenging the Trump regime.
I worked the phone banks on Wed, 3/19 to support Susan Crawford in the WI Supreme Court election. I signed up again for next Wed, 3/26. Thanks to @indivisiblechicago.bsky.social for training & support. Also @wisdems.bsky.social. They do a good job & I'm getting good practice.
March 21, 2025 at 2:50 PM
I worked the phone banks on Wed, 3/19 to support Susan Crawford in the WI Supreme Court election. I signed up again for next Wed, 3/26. Thanks to @indivisiblechicago.bsky.social for training & support. Also @wisdems.bsky.social. They do a good job & I'm getting good practice.
Updating what it means to practice democracy, with a focus on actions--actions speak louder than words.
March 21, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Updating what it means to practice democracy, with a focus on actions--actions speak louder than words.
More about the book On Tyranny by historian Timothy Snyder. These are the 20 lessons. Thank you, practicingdemocracy2 @pd2klb.bsky.social
March 17, 2025 at 12:01 AM
More about the book On Tyranny by historian Timothy Snyder. These are the 20 lessons. Thank you, practicingdemocracy2 @pd2klb.bsky.social