Heckling a Congresswoman? Hunting deer with AR15s?

When it comes to political activism, we need a broad change of strategies in the toolbox. But heckling? No. That’s never cool. It’s especially troubling when a Democratic candidate for the Iowa House heckles Congresswoman Axne, Iowa’s only Democratic member of Congress, to the point that she has to shut down the event before others in attendance are able to ask their questions.

Whatever craziness exists on the Left is often dwarfed by what the Right has to offer. Enter the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature. On the very last day of session — the same day as the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas — Republicans passed legislation allowing deer to be gunned down with AR15s. That’s a special, and dangerous, kind of crazy that makes heckling look tame. Continue Reading →

Guns don’t belong at protests

I never thought I’d see the day when Americans parade through downtowns carrying assault weapons, and that our lax gun laws would actually allow this in many states. Tension over systemic racism is already at a boiling point. When the conflict gets uglier, does anyone believe those guns won’t be used? For those who embrace the moral and political necessity of nonviolence, our challenge is to put out the message, over and over again, that injustice will not be defeated with guns. We defeat injustice with love that is sincere, creative, organized, and disciplined. Continue Reading →

First Nation – Farmer Climate Unity March

Dear Friends, After a stormy night, marchers carpooled to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) for a press conference to announce the First Nation – Farmer Climate Unity March. Though the Continue Reading →