Who are we?

I hope everyone had a safe and fun fourth of July celebration. Celebrations of this holiday (like other federal holidays, such as Columbus Day) are rooted in nationalism in ways that are often obscured in mainstream media. We are dished out red, white, and blue patriotism like it was a same-day delivery deal on Amazon Prime. Which might feel good to some people, but not to me. I prefer leaning into the type of patriotism that questions our systems in place so that we can strive for a better world for all of us.

Every year I contemplate my presence in our local fourth of July parades. This year, I chose to wear my Great Plains Action Society t-shirt that reads: “The Truth Will Not Be Whitewashed.” I was, admittedly, nervous to wear this t-shirt at a 4th of July parade, but I also felt like I couldn’t show up any other way. I have a responsibility to my ancestors and future generations to decolonize my understanding of the world around me. Through this framework, I can more visibly and honestly see the relationships I have to the place that I live, the people in it, and the systems that shape the way that I and others are allowed to exist. Truth be told, I was in good company- there were other people marching with the Democrats of Johnson County wearing t-shirts that read: “No Kings”; “Get your own (uterus image) and tell it what to do”; and “Never backing down! (Planned Parenthood)”.

This year, it felt more like a ‘defend our democracy’ kind of holiday.

So what do we do?

While it is very important for us (elected officials) to run local governments and make sure that we are budgeting and supporting roadways, social services, housing, etc. I think it is equally important in this moment to remember who we are.

Here’s where I’d like to introduce what I’m calling ‘3 from V’. Whether that’s three issues I’m working on, or three organizations I’m wanting to highlight, I will succinctly offer them in this part of the newsletter. Last week, it was three issues I’m working on (Juvenile Detention, Transgender Rights, and Manufactured Housing).

This week I’d like to highlight how we are locally connected to the fascist pressures of our federal and state leadership.

1. Trump’s bill and it’s impacts on our most vulnerable populations will be felt for generations. I am meeting with our Johnson County Public Health and Social Service directors in the next few weeks to begin to understand what these impacts will be in Johnson County.

2. Our Iowa residents are being unlawfully deported. Escucha Mi Voz is a local immigrant organizing group that is leading bus rallies to the Davenport Congressional Offices on Thursday 8/10 to demand the return of Pascual Pedro Pedro.

3. Our local non-profit organizations that serve the LGBTQ+ communities are getting federally defunded at alarming rates. CommUnity is a local crisis response organization that has a national impact. They not only lost their federal funding for the national LGBTQ+ suicide crisis hotline for teenagers, but the statistics are staggering- “The 988 LGBTQ+ line handled 69,057 calls, chats, and texts in May, marking a 35% increase from May 2024 and a 97% jump since data tracking began in September 2022.”

In the next coming weeks, I am going to work with other elected officials on a document that outlines who we are, the values we hold dear, and how we’re going to care for each other. I believe this is important because as our Public Health Director, Danielle Petitte-Majewski pointed out earlier this year, the people who took Anne Frank and her family to Nazi concentration camps were acting in accordance with the law, and the ones that hid her were breaking it. I refuse to be a blatant tool for state harm.

My question, dear readers, is- what are the qualities you seek in your elected officials? Please send your ideas in the chat or to my email: vfixmeroraiz@johnsoncountyiowa.gov

Thank you for reading this newsletter!

Maraming Salamat!!