Ridgecrest Matters

Ridgecrest is giving people across California hope:

📍My husband and I went to a conference where 150 group leaders from all across California spent their own money to meet and learn from each other. At one of the breakout sessions, I met a leader from Three Rivers who was excited to meet me. She recalled looking at the map for Hands Off and seeing that even Ridgecrest had organized. For a while, it was just us in our district who were hosting a Hands Off event, but then a couple weeks went by and the major cities joined us. If the small red towns have the guts to step up, everyone has to get onboard.

🌍 Early on, there was a group of international students from Berkeley who made a detour to meet us during their spring break road trip. They explained that they had heard we were protesting every week. To see Americans put their rights into action, despite being in a place that was against the majority opinion, was fascinating to them.

🚙There have also been a dozen people passing through Ridgecrest who have stopped to thank us. It gave them hope to see a small desert town protesting.

NSPM-7

When the BBC first broke the news about National Security Presidential Memorandum, I asked my boss the next day 2 questions:

• Do I still have a job?
• Can I proceed with my duties?

✅The answer to both were yes. He later sent out information to the entire branch to ensure people every employee has rights to protest on their own time and added “just don’t try to overthrow the government.” He also provided a link to the employee handbook from 2024. Yes, current written guidance supports the idea that we still have 1st Amendment rights and can practice them.

😟I know you have doubts, I do too.

Before NSPM-7 was announced, I had gained a lot of confidence that I could continue to protest and organize. I haven’t gotten into any trouble at work over the last 7 months and 25 events Ridgecrest 50501 has hosted. Not even a warning.

😨 But now there’s this new NSPM-7 and the possibility of the Insurrection Act on the table. Despite my fears, I know that it would be very hard for DHS to make the claim against us when we have such a good report with the City and Ridgecrest PD. It may sound crazy to press forward despite the threats and false accusations the government has made against protestors for No Kings, but I’m doing it anyway. There is risk involved, but it’s a risk worth taking.

✊If you’re scared, that’s good. It means you’re human. Find courage in our speakers for the event: Patrick Robb and Sandra Van Scotter who are running for Congress. Come get inspired by the lecture about the Constitution and fighting tyranny from Professor Endicott. We still have a chance to turn this ship around. Fair winds and following seas.

Sign up for No Kings on Mobilize.

“Know Your Rights” Webinar by the ACLU Wednesday at 5pm.