At the North County Resistance gathering yesterday, emotions ran high. Some people were in tears, while others were visibly angry and cursing. Both reactions seemed justified and understandable given the circumstances. More than one person voiced the sentiment, “This is not the country I grew up in.” It was clear that this group of people was fundamentally changed from who we had been in the past. Many struggled to find words to express their feelings, and there was a shared uncertainty about how much longer we can allow the destruction of our democracy to continue—and what actions we should take in response.
Looking ahead, there is hope that all Democratic lawmakers will vote to stop funding ICE. If they fail to do so, those individuals should not be reelected. ICE should be dismantled immediately, and those leading the organization should be removed from their positions—though perhaps only after experiencing the conditions of an ICE detention unit themselves for a couple of months. Witnessing these events, I am reminded of the lesson I was raised with: “two wrongs don’t make a right.” Yet, I admit to feeling a desire for those responsible to face consequences, even harsher than what I am willing to say aloud.
Please do not hesitate to email me with your feedback. We need to stick together in times like these. We must not give up!
North County Resistance will meet again next Saturday, January 31 in Nehalem, from noon to 2 PM. Thank you to the 80 people who showed up on Saturday. Our numbers grow weekly. Patty