The Sound of 1,500 People Singing for Democracy
Seeds rattling: 5% of Alaska's capital showed up to the Hands Off! rally
Hello, love!
Do you hear the seeds rattling? The blooms a-blooming?
Last week, 1,500 people, or 5% of the population of Alaska's capital, sang out for democracy.
My sisters from other misters, the Off the Hook Honeys, fronted by Juneau legend Collette Costa, stood on the steps of the Alaskan state Capitol and led the crowd in a powerful singing of “What‘s Up” by 4 Non Blondes.
You could hear us all the way up in the mountains.
If you read my last newsletter, you know how birdsong awakens seeds buried deep in the ground. On Saturday, the seeds awoke. And dare I say, blooms are blossoming. Happy damn spring.
They can sever our blooms, but they can’t uproot our seeds.
And P.S., dead-heading a flower only makes it grow back stronger.
“No way that many people showed up unless paid”
5% of Juneau’s population turned out for the rally. They say it only takes 3.5% of the population peacefully protesting to enact meaningful change.
“No way people showed up without being paid,” said the naysayers. “That could only happen with organization and funding from George Soros or another wealthy benefactor.”
It made me sad that some people think money is the only thing that holds any influence in this life. Money is fleeting. Taking care of others is forever. You can’t put a price on freedom or community care.
In 2024, SMU DataArts ranked Juneau #3 as one of the most arts-vibrant small communities. In the same way that people don’t make art to make money, people don’t turn out to protests to make money. It’s no coincidence that artsy-fartsy Juneau had a turnout of 5% of its population at the Hands Off! rally.
Our passion for freedom is like art: priceless.
Art as protest
This exact time six years ago, during the Alaska Folk Festival, I formed a band with my father called Yard Signs. I wrote and sang songs that protested the policies of the president and the Alaskan governor (see video above). Before I became a writer, I was a singer-songwriter activist.
This week is the 50th celebration of the 50th annual Folk Festival in Juneau. Speaking of love and community being more important than money, the festival is 100% free!
Last Wednesday, I performed with my Off the Hook Honeys, dancing for Juneau-famous band the High Costa Livin’ on the mainstage of the Folk Fest. We dressed in Scream costumes and danced to a funkified version of Alice Cooper’s “Welcome to My Nightmare.”
Then we quickly changed into 1975 disco era sparkles and a full horn rendition of “Get Down Tonight.”
Political commentary, man. Peaceful protest. It’s timeless. Groovy.
We’re planning another protest for April 19. Bring your joy. We’re bringing rainbows and clowns and music. We’re bringing drums and drag queens and the Haka.
This isn’t just about the U.S. anymore. It’s a global wave united in love, an ideology that rejects the fear and hate on the rise worldwide.
Hope v. fear
Depending on how the whole Insurrection thing goes, this might be my last newsletter about politics. Honestly, I wish I could stop writing about politics. This was supposed to be a newsletter about changing culture for the better. But politics influence the culture, and I’ll keep writing about revolutions — political, cultural, and otherwise — as long as it’s safe for me to do so.
Lately, I’ve been stressing about that whole Insurrection thing. When is it no longer safe for me to speak out? When do I take my thoughts underground?
I’m a primary care provider for my children, one of whom is disabled and homeschooled. I’ve refused offers to ride in friends’ planes and on backs of motorcycles due to concerns about what would happen to my kids if anything happened to me.
I know that to protect myself and my kids, I should stay quiet. But also, if I don’t speak up and say something, I might die. During childhood, I was always sick because I didn’t speak up for myself. The body keeps the receipts.
What do you do when what saves you might end up killing you? Damn, I love a good paradox!
But I also understand that protecting my children means standing up for their future. And I realize how privileged I am just to be able to write and protest. Many people don’t feel safe doing so, and I know I should stand up for those who cannot speak out.
Are you self-censoring? Where do we draw the line between speaking up for the greater good versus becoming smaller for self-preservation? Gawd, it feels like middle school all over again with the bullies and conforming to keep safe.
I listened to a live call with Heather Cox Richardson yesterday, who reminded me that “they want to sow fear so that we stay quiet.”
“They don’t actually have that much power,” Richardson reminded us. “And the power is with the people.” Which is why we must keep speaking up, making art, singing, dancing.
Now tell me…
How are you feeling these days? Hopeful? Nervous?
Did you attend a rally?
How are you balancing your need to be informed with your need to stay sane? Asking for a friend - if that friend is my inner child.
💚, Summer
P.S. The guest artist at Folk Fest said “Love this festival, how it is community oriented [it’s free!]. It’s so rare to find things like that, geared toward community and not for making money. But still you gotta keep the thing going.”
This newsletter is like that. It’s Community oriented. Free to read. But still I gotta keep the thing going. Still gotta do capitalism. So if you can, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. It’s only $4/mo. when you sign up for the full year. 🙏
Love the dancing! Go you! How am I feeling? Largely terrified, but it's impossible to just sit mutely and do nothing. I didn't know I had friends left to lose after 2016, but turns out I did. Oh well. How do I stay sane? I've put time limits on my news and social media apps / sites. I occasionally even forget where my phone is. I get outside. I read books. I work on my own book and try to ignore the fear that T---p and his goons will try to shut down university presses like the one that has agreed to publish it. Mostly it works. I'm thankful to have an inner circle where we get each other and there's unlimited rights to joy and to fear, to meltdowns and to raucous bonfires. That helps more than anything
Thank you Summer, and all your compadres, for standing up and showing up for those of us who are afraid, scared... May She protect you and your family,!