When I reserved a 32-person room at the Richland Library to start an Indivisible chapter here in the Tri-Cities, I hoped we’d have a few people discuss how we could collaborate to resist the Trump administration’s recent actions and make our voices heard in the community and beyond.
What I didn’t expect was a line of people out the door. As I scrambled to welcome everyone and find space, it quickly became obvious that there were not only too many people for the conference room, but too many people for the library itself! Some two hundred and twenty people had shown up on a cool day in mid-March, wanting to hear how they could get involved and make a difference.
Indivisible is a collection of grassroots efforts to resist the destruction of our democracy by Trump and the Republican lawmakers who are in lockstep with corporate America, rather than with the American people. More than a million members across the U.S. have organized to “resist the GOP’s agenda, elect local champions, and fight for progressive policies."
While Indivisible is a national movement with thousands of groups across the country, the two-hundred-plus people who showed up that Sunday afternoon are folks from across the Tri-Cities area. A myriad of reasons brought these people together, from concerns about social security, the rise of fascism, and discrimination against transgender people, to mass deportations, the dismantling of federal agencies, and many more issues.
Later in March, Indivisible Tri-Cities hosted a town hall. U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse was invited to hear from residents but refused to engage. Even though he was absent, we raised our voices to have them recorded and shared with the congressman. Tri-Cities residents shared their disappointment with Dan Newhouse, who once voted to impeach Trump but now votes to support the Trump administration. Residents voiced their feelings of betrayal, as this administration negatively impacts the backbone of our community: veterans, farmers, seniors, the working class, and the most vulnerable.
One person raised concerns about Social Security. “I have paid into social security my whole life,” she said as she choked up a bit, “and I’m scared to death it is going to go away to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”
Then, a veteran described her horror at the cuts to federal services, such as those that provide mental health resources to veterans, and indicated that she has utilized the 988 hotline in the recent past. 988 is a suicide prevention and crisis hotline administered by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which has lost 10% of its staff since January, including those that support outreach for the 988 program.
A younger person in the crowd commented on the economy. “We know the budget that you’re working on. We know the ‘cost-cutting’ that you’re trying to implement. We know the hit that federal job loss, that immigrant loss, that welfare loss, and tariffs are going to make to our communities. We are already suffering. We are exhausted. We are working multiple jobs, we are self-sterilizing, and we are already in survival mode. We are not the parasite class; but we cannot pull ourselves up by our bootstraps because we do not have legs anymore. The rich have eaten them.”
Someone asked, simply, “Dan Newhouse, what are you so afraid of?” Another person added: “Are you going to continue to be complicit with the destruction of our democracy, or are you going to do something about it?”
Approximately three hundred people showed up to that town hall at the Kennewick Library. While we were better prepared for crowds this time, we still had to hold the town hall in two shifts due to overwhelming turnout. These large crowds reflect the concern among Tri-Cities residents, with a wide range of views and concerns. This is a non-partisan group. We welcome everyone.
“It’s such a relief to make our voice heard on these topics,” says Jamie of Richland. “The news makes us feel so powerless, but there are things we can do: calling our congresspeople, protests, raising awareness. And it’s great to bond with folks that are fighting for our freedoms, fighting to protect each other.”
Loren Malone is the founder of Indivisible Tri-Cities.
If this struck a chord with you, consider getting involved. Sign up to receive updates on upcoming events, and to learn how you can take action to protect our democracy and defend our neighbors and beliefs. Email contact@indivisibletricities.org or find us on social media.
Facebook: fb.com/people/Indivisible-Tri-Cities-WA/61574196605785
Blue Sky: bsky.app/profile/indivis-tricities.bsky.social
Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/indivisible-tricities/
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