Like many of you, I have spent this week feeling a mixture of fear, nausea, and shock. Now there is someone at the upper echelons of government whose stated views about everyone that is not a white Christian male—not to mention our planet earth—is disdain. I’ve had a hard time knowing the best way to respond. I would like to share ten thoughts that are guiding me now:

1.
We need to take good care of ourselves in this time. Eat well, drink water, nourish yourself. Being healthy means you can help others in need.

2.
Find strength in each other. Community magnifies our power. It is a dark moment, but we must never let our hopes and dreams dim.

3.
Be vigilant. Pay careful attention to those under attack: Women, Muslims, immigrants, Hispanics, Native Americans, Jews, LGBTQ, and Mother Earth. Attacks have already dramatically increased since the election. There must be zero tolerance for condescending, racists, misogynistic behavior. An attack on one is an attack on all.

4.
Bring healing to this moment. I refuse to believe that the millions who voted for Trump are all racist and misogynistic people. There are some, to be sure. But many working class people across the country are suffering. Their vote this week shows it.

5.
Commit to kindness and compassion. We must build bridges in our society, not walls. An us versus them mindset is counter-productive. Seek to understand first.

6.
Be creative. Write. Make art. Make media. Facilitate the voices of others—especially those in targeted communities. These stories will connect people and enrich all of our lives.

7.
Be active politically. Mobilize now. We need to quickly determine what organizations will be most useful in this time and build connections between them. ACLU Nationwide. 350.org. MoveOn.org. There are many. Let’s share resources, not work in silos.

46.9% of eligible voters did not vote on November 8—that’s 20% more than either Clinton or Trump received. It doesn’t help that Congress did not reauthorize the voting rights act. The years of Republican redistricting and suppression through voter ID laws are designed to make it harder for working people and people of color to vote.

From where I sit today I think we should immediately focus on increasing voter access across the nation, elect progressive candidates and retake control of both the House and Senate in two years.

8.
Use your limited time and energy wisely. Facebook is a great way to network and build community, but it can also be an eddy—leaving us swirling in circles and not moving downstream. Act intentionally and thoughtfully with your very finite resources.

9.
Resist. Obstruct any regressive policy. If actions are proposed or enacted that will hurt people, that will hurt the planet on which we all depend, they must be emphatically and actively resisted. The November 9th joint statement from California’s legislative leaders was powerful, as were Governor Jerry Brown’s comments to “lead the resistance” against Trump’s possible changes on climate and health care. Oregon, Washington, let’s join forces with California on this. To the nation’s first LGBTQ Governor Kate Brown: Your November 9th statement was a good start, now let’s turn that into the entire Pacific coast.

10.
When it comes to resistance, violence is counter-productive. The petty and misdirected vandalism that happened in Portland last night plays directly into the hands of those who would like to seize power by force. The news calls it a “riot.” It gets seen around the world. Not only is it misdirected (What does smashing cars in a Toyota dealership have to do with Donald Trump?), but it allows the entirety of the protest to be painted in a negative way. We must not give someone with authoritarian tendencies this kind leverage. We hold the moral high ground. Let’s act like it.

The Trump election can be a catalyst for a positive movement.
Tomorrow we begin.

Plazm has made some demented calligraphy inspired by Donald Trump’s demented words. Take them back and send him packing.

The screens are burned!  BYOB—Bring Your Own Bag or Shirt and pull a print Sunday night at Beacon Sound from 7-9 pm.

Green Line Press will be on hand so YOU can silkscreen our ‘nasty woman’ or ‘bad hombre’ designs onto your own t-shirt or bag— free.

E*Rock will be DJing.  

Enjoy the tunes.
Fill out your ballots with friends.
All ages.

7-9 pm
Sunday 11/6

Beacon Sound
3636 N Mississippi Ave

About this art

In 2008 I worked on an anti-John McCain poster, in 2012 anti-Mitt Romney art. I like to make political posters. To use my training in design for something important. But this year is different. More urgent. More personal.

As the grandchild of Holocaust survivors, I find Donald Trump to be deeply frightening. He has taken fringe racist and anti-semitic elements and given them a mainstream megaphone. This is very dangerous for our country far beyond this election cycle.

His rise mirrors that of the rise of Hitler and takes directly from that hate-filled playbook. This is not a comparison I make lightly. But I know my history. I can feel this threat in my bones.

I found myself recalling an anti-Nazi photomontage by John Heartfield entitled “Adolf, Superman” that I studied in design school. I have taken the liberty of updating it here to reflect the current peril we face as a nation.

Useful links

Register to vote—all US state deadlines
176 Reasons Donald Trump Shouldn’t Be President—Keith Olbermann in top form
This is How Fascism Comes to America—The Washington Post
Making America Hate Again—In an exceptional 30 minute speech, Hillary Clinton succinctly elucidates the danger we face.
John Heartfield—Wikipedia

Vote this election

I want to add that I worked for and supported Bernie Sanders in the primaries and that I will vote for Hillary Clinton in November. I believe it is important to vote for her. Staying home helps Trump. A vote for Jill Stein helps Trump. Republicans who care about their party might consider voting for Gary Johnson.

Yes, Clinton is an establishment candidate with vast corporate ties. There are things she stands for that I disagree with—and I will continue to actively work and organize against those beginning November 9, 2016. None of these are as evil as the violence and hate Trump is espousing.