Activism

There are 149 posts filed in Activism (this is page 3 of 15).

Political violence, political speech, and political hate

I am totally against political violence. I agree with Frank McPherson that I am sad about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. People should not be shooting people because they disagree with their speech or behavior. I agree with Andrew Shell that Charlie Kirk had the right to free speech (1st Amendment). The “Golden Rule” would be a good starting place here. If you would not like being shot to death, don’t do it to others.

People should also think about their speech and whether it meets the Golden Rule or not. I was not aware of who Charlie Kirk was before this South Park episode. (which has now been pulled from repeat broadcast on Comedy Central). I was not aware that Kirk has spoken out that felt it was “worth it” to have some gun deaths in the US to preserve the Second Amendment (right to bear arms), or aware of the extent of his racist and bigoted behavior. How does this behavior square with the Golden Rule?

Finally, an atmosphere of political hate pervades our federal government. From Stephen Miller to Tom Homan to Donald Trump, demonizing of people and groups occurs on a non-stop basis. Is this in line with the Golden Rule? I think not.

My thoughts on the Los Angeles protests

As I posted earlier today, the Monday protest were handled by local law enforcement. The National Guard and Marines were not needed. Trump should back off on this, but he will not. Sounds like there is a hearing scheduled for Thursday on California’s suit against Trump.

I am against violence and property damage. I am also against unrestricted actions to sweep up people off the streets and deporting them to foreign countries without due process. In my opinion, this is what the protests are about. The actions of ICE in Los Angeles were the ignition point.

I live in the Portland, Oregon area, and I covered the 2020 protests on Portland Protest News. To me, the reason why protests continued for so long is that there has been a demonstrated evidence of racist behavior by the Portland Police Bureau, and people had had enough. Were there bad actors? Sure. Were there people inciting violence? Yes. But there was also the Wall of Moms, there were other protesters of the racist behavior who were peaceful. Was there attempts to defuse the situation? Not really.

Protests are spreading across the nation. No Kings protests are being planned across the nation. There is a growing number of people who are protesting the actions of the Trump adminstration.

Further reading:

I watched the live coverage of the LA protests Monday on CNN, looks like local (California) law enforcement were handling it, no need for National Guard/Marines/Feds. They should go home. More on this later….

How you can help Ukraine

I am harvesting these links from multiple issues of Tim Snyder’s “Thinking About…” Substack newsletter. Ironically, although these are available online, and I received them as part of a free subscription, the online version cannot be viewed without a paid subscription – sad.

March 1, 2025

If you are thinking today about how to help Ukrainians, here are some possibilities: Come Back Alive, a Ukrainian NGO that supports soldiers on the battlefield and veterans; United 24, the Ukrainian state platform for donations, with many excellent projects); RAZOM, an American NGO, tax-deductible for US citizens, which cooperates with Ukrainian NGOS to support civilians; and BlueCheck Ukraine, which aims for efficient cooperation with Ukrainian groups and is also tax-deductible.

https://snyder.substack.com/p/help-stop-a-genocide

So rather than indulge my own preferences, I asked where I could be most immediately helpful.  The answer from the Ukrainians I asked was a system to defend against the Iranian drones.  And so that is what, as an ambassador of the president’s United24 platform, I have pledged to do: to raise $1.25 million for such a system, a Shahed Hunter. 

https://snyder.substack.com/p/the-challenge-of-6

1.  Safe Skies.  This is passive drone-detection system that allows Ukrainians to detect drones and cruise missiles in time to shoot them down.  President Zelens’kyi just posted some photos of that end of the operation.  Thanks to thousands of people, including many of you here, I was able (with support from some great historian colleagues) to raise enough money to protect eight Ukrainian regions with five thousand sensors (map here).  Ukraine needs 12,000 total sensors to protect the entire country, so 7,000 more.  The technology is inexpensive and effective.  I have seen it at work.  It saves lives.  This is a very direct way that you can help Ukrainians protect themselves.  Just go to this page and hit the button “Protect Ukrainian Skies.” 

2.  Razom for Ukraine.  This is an American 501(c)3 that carries out important policy advocacy work in Washington DC and around the country.  Aside from their terrific advocate team, they have a large group of volunteers who work tirelessly with Ukrainian NGOs to deliver aid and supplies to Ukraine.  I have worked together with their great team on events for years and am always filled with admiration of their energy, efficacy, and devotion.  A donation to them is a very safe bet.  Please visit their page and donate.

3.  Come Back Alive Foundation.  More and more I hear from people who wish to help the Ukrainian army directly.  A Ukrainian NGO that supplies soldiers on the front with what they need is Come Back Alive.  They have been doing this job since the first Russian invasion and are very well reputed and highly reliable.  You can see their fundraisers here.

4.  1 Team 1 Fight Foundation.  This is a group with some very active European volunteers who have shown their mettle and devotion in getting supplies to the front in Ukraine.  They are also an American 501(c)3.  You can find their campaigns here.

5.  Liberty Ukraine Foundation.  Here we have a small group of (mostly) Texans who have done a great job in delivering humanitarian and military aid to Ukrainians.  You can find their current projects here.  They are a US 501(c)3.

6.  Documenting Ukraine.  As many of you will know, I helped establish this project to support Ukrainian scholars, journalists, writers, artists, photographers, librarians, archivists, and others who are documenting the war, each according to their own talents and following their own projects.  We have given grants to 360 Ukrainians at this point, and are aiming for 500 by the end of the year.  (One of those 360 was Mstyslav Chernov, the director of 20 Days in Mariupol, which just won an Oscar).  I am proud of this effort to give Ukrainians a voice and to create a record of the war in real time and across multiple media.  You can donate here.  This is also a US 501(c)3.

https://snyder.substack.com/p/how-to-help-ukrainians-during-the (flood)

1.  Ukraïner have a small group on the scene who have been evacuating people right from the beginning.  Your donation would mean a lot to them.  You can support them on Paypal from abroad via tymoshenkoyulia99@gmail.com or follow this link.

2.  Rescue Now UA is a Ukrainian evacuation organization founded when this invasion began now active in Kherson.  They are constituted as a US 501(c)3 so donations by Americans are tax-deductible.  You can send money by PayPal here or consult the donation link here.

3.  The Ukrainian Firefighters Foundation is raising money to buy pumps for the Kherson Emergency Services.  You can help via Paypal via bimbirayte@gmail.com or by going to this page and hitting the Paypal button.

4.  Vostok SOS is a Ukrainian evacuation organization working in the flooded Kherson region now to move people with limited mobility, children, and animals.  You can support them through Paypal on nfo@vostok-sos.org or use this donation link

5.  The Prytula Foundation is an established Ukrainian NGO specializing in matching equipment to local needs.  They are already delivering boats and other gear.  You can support them via Paypal on serhiy.prytula.kyiv@gmail.com (specify goal) or follow this donation link.

6.  UAnimals has been evacuating and caring for animals throughout the war and is raising funds to do so now in Kherson region.  As you might have noticed Ukraine is a country that cares for its land and its animals.  Donation link is here.

7.  Razom is an American NGO that cooperates with local Ukrainian NGOs.  If you donate to Razom, they will make sure your support is appropriately directed.  It is a US 501(c)3.  You can donate here.

8.  World Central Kitchen is an international NGO that has done extraordinary work in Ukraine during this war.  They are providing excellent nutritious food in Kherson region right now.  You can support them here.

9.  United24 is President Volodymyr Zelens’kyi’s official fundraising platform (I am an ambassador).  Their “Lifeboat Ukraine” project is raising money for gear for rescue operations.  Follow this link and look for the Help button.

10.  ComeBackAlive is a trusted NGO that supports Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian soldiers are now evacuating disabled people and the elderly. They are also using their drones to deliver water to people stranded on rooftops.  Beyond that: rescue operations are hindered by Russian artillery and snipers.  Only Ukrainian soldiers can get them out of range.  Here’s a link.

Yeah!

What is the plan for Democrats?

So, here we are. Mike Johnson was elected speaker of the House 218-215 (in a 90 minute vote with phone calls to the holdouts by Donald Trump). What was the next opportunity to test the Republicans? The rules package. What was the vote? 215-209, with 10 not voting and one Democrat voting for the package.

WHAT!

If all Democrats voted against (including that one outcast), it would have lost 214-215. Why didn’t the Democratic conference flex their muscle there? Ugh.

Next, the electoral count. I was not expecting any challenges, and there were none, which is as it should be. Today, the House passed the Laken Riley Act. The Hill reports that “The legislation cleared the chamber in a 264-159 vote, with 48 Democrats joining all Republicans in support. The Senate is expected to take up the legislation this week…..Democratic leadership did not whip for or against the Laken Riley Act, allowing members of the caucus to vote their conscience.”. Well, I guess the Democrats are “keeping their powder dry”….

Now Trump is boasting about buying Greenland and taking back the Panama Canal, among other stupid ideas. Representative Jim McGovern has the right idea:

This would be a good start – don’t let the people forget about what Trump “promised” he would do when he became President. Democrats, let’s get out there and keep the pressure up! And, let’s try not to feed the troll…