{"id":3844,"date":"2020-09-27T14:55:13","date_gmt":"2020-09-27T21:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portland.raginggrannies.org\/?p=3844"},"modified":"2020-09-27T14:55:13","modified_gmt":"2020-09-27T21:55:13","slug":"dont-let-democracy-die-march","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.raginggrannies.international\/portland\/dont-let-democracy-die-march\/","title":{"rendered":"“Don’t Let Democracy Die” March"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Portland Raging Grannies, in mourning black and carrying a mock coffin, marched from Lownsdale Park to Pioneer Courthouse Square at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, September 27, 2020 to encourage voting by all.<\/p>\n

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Democracy means the people have the authority to choose their governing legislation. Who people are, and how authority is shared among them, are core issues for democratic theory, development and constitution. Cornerstones include freedom of assembly and speech, inclusiveness and equality, membership, consent, voting, right to life and minority rights.<\/p>\n

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The Raging Grannies are deeply concerned that the right to vote and access to voting this year especially is threatened. Democracy is in danger as is our constitution. It is crucial that all who are able register their vote this November.<\/p>\n

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\"Gathering
Gathering in Lownsdale Square.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"Media
Media interview with River Montijo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"Marching
Marching to Pioneer Square.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"Marching
Marching to Pioneer Square.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"In
In Pioneer Square.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"In
In Pioneer Square.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"In
In Pioneer Square.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\"A
A toast to a common fight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPrevious\n\t\t\t\t\t\tNext\n\t\t

REMARKS<\/h3>\n

Good Sunday Afternoon, Everybody & Thank you all for joining us, The Portland Raging Grannies, as we conclude our \u201cDon\u2019t Let Democracy Die\u201d March here in \u201cPortland\u2019s Living Room\u201d, the place designed to welcome us all regardless of who we are or where we came from; the place where we all belong regardless of our age, our abilities, the color of our skin, or whom we love.\u00a0 This is OUR Pioneer Courthouse Square, a place where we come to celebrate, to protest, to sing and dance and listen to music and make speeches; a place where, even during these strange times of uncertainty and social distancing, we come to be together in community.\u00a0 Take just a moment to look around and let our eyes smile at each other over our masks. \u00a0<\/p>\n

We are here today to remind ourselves what that great experiment called Democracy<\/em> looks like .\u2026. \u00a0to remember the words Government Of <\/strong>the People, By<\/strong> the People, and For<\/strong> the People<\/em>; essentially a system in which it is We<\/strong> The People who have absolute rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, who are meant to have both equal opportunity and equal protection under the Law, and who have the authority to not only choose our leaders but to remove those leaders should they fail in their sworn commitment to uphold the Constitution.<\/p>\n

Today we are at a crisis point and we are concerned, not just for ourselves, but for our children and our children\u2019s children. We live in the eye of a Pandemic, with our planet\u2019s clock ticking away the hours to irreversible climate change.\u00a0 We are in the midst of a year of enormous challenges \u2026. from a virus that has already caused the deaths of more than 200,000 Americans to Police Brutality and wanton indifference to Black Lives; from devastating hurricanes to Climate Wildfires burning out of control\u2026<\/p>\n

And<\/strong> from an out-of-control Would-Be Dictator, a White Supremist worshiper of nothing but personal and corporate greed, who talks openly about \u201cgetting rid of the ballots\u201d, who with his handpicked posse has been quietly setting the stage not for a peaceful transfer of power, but for a coup.<\/p>\n

On the 100-year anniversary of finally acquiring the vote, \u00a0WE THE WOMEN PEOPLE especially cannot let that happen. WE THE PEOPLE, ALL THE PEOPLE must not let our democracy die. WE THE PEOPLE must Show Up, Step up and Stand up NOW. RIGHT NOW! At the very least, WE MUST VOTE! \u00a0The deadline for Voter Registration in Oregon is October 13th<\/sup>.\u00a0\u00a0 If you\u2019ve never voted before, NOW is the time to start.\u00a0\u00a0 THIS YEAR, WE MUST VOTE AS IF OUR VERY LIVES, OUR VERY DEMOCRACY, AND OUR VERY PLANET depend on it. Because they do.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Can we close our time together this afternoon by speaking in one voice:\u00a0\u00a0 DON\u2019T LET DEMOCRACY DIE.\u00a0 VOTE!<\/strong> \u00a0<\/p>\n

Thank You.
Sulima Malzin
for the Portland Raging Grannies<\/p>

Media:<\/p>\n