Yesterday in Jefferson City on the grounds in front of the main steps to the capitol building close to 1,000 individuals from across Missouri gathered to demonstrate for trans rights and in opposition to SB 39 and SB 49.
“In the Image of God” – צֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים
“Sports are for Everyone!”
“Trans Rights are Human Rights”
“We Will Not Erase Our Kids”
“MO Rights…”
“I Fight Nazis”
“Side With Love”
“Gender Affirming Healthcare Saves the Lives of Children”
“Don’t Like Drag Queens? Ignore Them Like You Ignore The 130 Mass Shootings This Year”
During today’s demonstration for trans rights in front of the capitol in Jefferson City open windows on the southeast front of the building had individuals watching the proceedings, with at least one of the open windows a source of loud music. Given the volume of the music the sound must have been deafening in the source office. It’s probable that these particular offices were those for republicans since the small Democratic minorities in either chamber do not get their pick of prime office real estate. We didn’t check, though.
The reactions were amusing. Once photographers started taking images of individuals standing at the windows, when those persons noticed the attention they were getting, they backed away from the windows or closed the windows. In one instance an individual standing at a closed window closed the blinds when they noticed cameras recording them.
A 400 mm lens will do that. Heh.
They were most probably republicans by their demeanor. We’ll correct the record if we’re mistaken.
Democrats were outside in solidarity with the demonstrators.
House Minority Floor Leader Crystal Quade (D).
Representative Keri Ingle (D).
House Assistant Minority Floor Leader Richard Brown (D).
Today in Jefferson City on the grounds in front of the main steps to the capitol building close to 1,000 individuals from across Missouri gathered to demonstrate for trans rights and in opposition to SB 39 and SB 49.
“I Will Say Gay and I Will Protect Trans Kids”
“Y’all Means All”
“Show Me Equality for Trans Kids”
There was a significant supportive presence of clergy from a wide variety of faith traditions.
“This Pastor Loves You”
Ministers.
“Don’t Legislate Hate”
“Protect Trans Kids”
“Protect Trans Kids”
In front of the capitol in Jefferson City. (click for larger view)
A letter to Barry Loudermilk (r) from the chair of the committee:
[….]
June 15, 2022
Representative Barry Loudermilk
United States House of Representatives
2133 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative Loudermilk:
On May 19, 2022, the Select Committee invited you to meet with us about evidence of a tour you provided on January 5, 2021. Based on our review of surveillance video, social media activity, and witness accounts, we understand you led a tour group through parts of the Capitol complex on January 5, 2021. That group stayed for several hours, despite the complex being closed to the public on that day.
Surveillance footage shows a tour of approximately ten individuals led by you to areas in the Rayburn, Longworth, and Cannon House Office Buildings, as well as the entrances to tunnels leading to the U.S. Capitol. The below image shows you leading individuals on the tour:
[….]
Individuals on the tour photographed and recorded areas of the complex not typically of interest to tourists, including hallways, staircases, and security checkpoints. [….] For example, the below image shows an individual appearing to photograph a staircase in the basement of the Longworth House Office Building while you speak with others nearby:
[….]
The below image shows members of the tour you led also taking photographs of the tunnel leading from the Rayburn House Office Building to the Capitol:
[….]
The behavior of these individuals during the January 5, 2021 tour raises concerns about their activity and intent while inside the Capitol complex.
The Select Committee has learned that some individuals you sponsored into the complexattended the rally at the Ellipse on the morning of January 6, 2021. According to video recordings from that day obtained by the Select Committee, the individual who appeared to photograph a staircase in the Longworth House Office Building filmed a companion with a flagpole appearing to have a sharpened end who spoke to the camera saying, “It’s for a certain person,” while making an aggressive jabbing motion. Later, these individuals joined the unpermitted march from the Ellipse to the U.S. Capitol. While standing near the Capitol grounds, the same individual made a video that contained detailed and disturbing threats against specific Members of Congress. For example, as the individual filmed the march to the Capitol, he said, “There’s no escape Pelosi, Schumer, Nadler. We’re coming for you.” As he looked up at the Capitol, he went on:
[“]They got it surrounded. It’s all the way up there on the hill, and it’s all the way around, and they’re coming in, coming in like white on rice for Pelosi, Nadler, even you, AOC. We’re coming to take you out and pull you out by your hairs. … When I get done with you, you’re going to need a shine on top of that bald head.[“] [….]
While we had hoped to show you the video evidence when you met with us, and since you have thus far declined, the Select Committee provides the video in question for your review [….].
The foregoing information raises questions the Select Committee must answer. Public reporting and witness accounts indicate some individuals and groups engaged in efforts to gather information about the layout of the U.S. Capitol, as well as the House and Senate office buildings, in advance of January 6, 2021. For example, in the week following January 6, 2021, Members urged law enforcement leaders to investigate sightings of “outside groups in the complex” on January 5, 2021 that “appeared to be associated with the rally at the White House the following day.” [….] The Select Committee’s review of urveillance footage showing the above-described tour is consistent with those observations. [….]
We again ask you to meet with the Select Committee at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
s/
Bennie G. Thompson
Chairman
“…coming in like white on rice…” They don’t even attempt to hide it anymore.
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 3, 2021 – The Missouri Department of Resources announced today that an exhibit detailing the history of the LGBTQ community in Missouri has been relocated for display at the Lohman Building, part of the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site. The exhibit will be available for viewing beginning tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 4. (The Missouri State Museum and the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site will be closed Sunday and Monday for Labor Day.)
The Lohman Building is located adjacent to the Capitol and is easily accessible. Missouri State Museum team members staff and operate the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site.
The display was moved from the Missouri State Museum in the Capitol earlier this week after the department received complaints.
“We apologize for the way this unfolded,” said Dru Buntin, director of the Department of Natural Resources. “We agree the history of all Missourians is an important story that needs to be told, and we’ve made a commitment to work with the members of the State Capitol Commission and the Board of Public Buildings to do so.”
Careful review of the museum’s interpretive and exhibit guidance shows that exhibits on loan from other institutions like this one are often housed at Jefferson Landing State Historic Site.
The Making History: Kansas City and The Rise of Gay Rights exhibit is on loan to the Missouri State Museum from UMKC. The exhibit, which was produced by UMKC, was borrowed due to its connection to a notable date – the formation of the Phoenix Society of Individual Freedom – on the Missouri Bicentennial timeline on display in the museum’s History Hall. It is on loan through the end of the year.
“In response to a number of concerns, we made the decision to move the exhibit while we clarified and reviewed our internal process to make sure we were complying with state law,” said Mike Sutherland, deputy department director.
The Department of Natural Resources is charged with maintaining an historical state museum in the Capitol. The museum develops many of its exhibits, but it also accepts exhibits on loan from other institutions to expose visitors to a wide variety of topics significant in Missouri history and culture. State law requires the museum to coordinate with the Board of Public Buildings for the use of space in the Capitol. The board has delegated responsibility for that coordination to the Missouri State Capitol Commission.
The department invites the public to attend its Sept. 16 public meeting for the Missouri State Museum and Jefferson Landing State Historic Site. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Riverside Collections Facility, 117 Riverside Drive, Jefferson City. Following the informational meeting, museum staff will provide a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum’s collections area.
Another profile in courage.
“…’In response to a number of concerns, we made the decision to move the exhibit while we clarified and reviewed our internal process to make sure we were complying with state law,’ said Mike Sutherland, deputy department director…” Ah, pearl clutchers.
“The Parson administration’s removal of an exhibit on LGBT history from the Missouri Capitol Museum was disappointing. That the governor lied about his reasons for doing so is indefensible. The statutory procedure the governor says wasn’t followed for approving exhibits does not exist. State law authorizes the Board of Public Buildings to allocate space to the museum but gives the board no power to determine the content of exhibits, and there is no evidence the board has ever done so. The governor had no justification for removing this exhibit and no excuse for not restoring it.”
Josh Hawley @HawleyMO
Honored to meet with the @Missouri_NG 220th Engineer Construction Company who’ve been proudly supporting Capitol Police — special thanks to Specialist Ben Laws and Sergeant Trey Lawrence for their outstanding service during the unit’s deployment. You make Missouri proud
[….] 5:28 PM · Apr 14, 2021
He can’t be that arrogantly clueless.
A reminder of why they are there – from some of the responses on Twitter addressed to Josh Hawley (r) documented at Long term memory loss (March 30, 2021):
And a sample of some of the responses to Josh Hawley’s (r) April 14, 2021 Twitter post:
No fist in the air for our troops?
Only the insurrectionists get the fist pump?
Was there any tension, you being the legislator most responsible for their forced deployment?
I don’t know how they could stand being next to you. You’re the disgraceful reason they have to be there.
We’ll never let you forget your involvement in the insurrection.
Same suit and tie
Same suit and everything eh?
Just when I think you can be any more of a tool you prove me wrong.
Maybe if you hadn’t spread the big lie and helped incite an insurrection these service members could be home with their families. I wish you had values, or cared about democracy.
Thank you @Missouri_NG for protecting us against the depredations of seditionists like @HawleyMO
Sorry you are being used as a prop for his PR photo op. You deserve better.
Did you tell them about your plan to remove the fence and make them more vulnerable?
Did you apologize to them for helping to rile up a bunch of lunatics to attack the Capitol? I’m sure they’d rather be at home with their families, but you screwed that up for them.
You still supported a coup against our country
Hey man, why are they there?
Glad they’re helping guard the Capitol from your supporters…
So, the only time you speak to Missourians is if they’re in DC? When was the last time you were in…MISSOURI?
Is that the same suit and tie you wore on January 6th?
Gosh, I wonder why they have to be there
Same suit dude!
Now explain why they’re there, Senator Fistpump.
Did you forget?
Never forget. We will not, seditionist.
Hmm… I wonder why they are there
Josh Hawley joined in the inciting the insurrectionist attack on the US Capitol. Now he pretends there aren’t consequences?
You thought we forgot?
You and your good ol’ boys propping up the big lie are the reason they need to be there in the first place, you should be too ashamed to stand in the same room as them.
Mr. Hawley trying to have it both ways-encouraged an insurrection that killed and injured capital police and here acting like he stands with the nat’l guard that had be called in to protect the capital from those Hawley cheered on. Not fooling anyone Hawley.
Oh, the hypocrisy!
Commemorating the outfit?
Also known as “returning to the scene of the crime”
Ummmm you praised insurrectionists attacking our Capitol and you tried to overthrow an election that you know was legitimate. So I’m confused…
If only they had a senator who did the same. What, no raised fist?
You’re the reason they have to be there Senator, at least have some shame about that.
01-06-21
Did not recognize you without your arm up and fist clenched.
They look real uncomfortable standing next the reason they are deployed
Did you tell them about the sedition and insurrection thingy.
This morning in Jefferson City several hundred individuals showed up at the capitol building (in rainy weather) to protest the radical anti-choice policies and legislation of the republican controlled Missouri General Assembly and Governor Mike Parson (r) and his administration. The rally portion was scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. on the south lawn, but rainy weather moved that portion of the event indoors under the dome.
“We aren’t ovary-acting”
Individuals with their signs started showing up under the dome after going through security shortly after 8:30 a.m.
“I am not your incubator”
The rally and subsequent march to the Governor’s Mansion was initiated by one grassroots individual via social media. The idea snowballed and a permit to demonstrate on the capitol grounds was secured.
“Queen of my own uterus, thank you very much”
The rally under the dome allowed time for individuals to gather, chant, and speak out before the short march to the Governor’s Mansion.
“Keep your rosaries off my ovaries”
“My body, my choice”
“My uterus has more regulations than your gun”
“If you cut off my reproductive choices can I cut off yours?”
“We will not go back”
“Keep your bans off my body”
Speaking.
“Never again”
“If I wanted government in my womb I’d fuck a senator”
Jefferson City. We’d heard the rumors over a day ago. Then we saw this:
Jane Dueker @JaneDueker
Missouri Capitol security concerns raised by @SenatorNasheed to the Department of Public Safety re: @EricGreitens. Add these to suspicious package and arrest of accused pedophile staffer. No everything is not ok in JC.
[….] 3:48 PM – 19 Apr 2018
Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D) sent a letter to the Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety yesterday asking for increased security at the capitol complex. There’s this paragraph in the letter:
“…There are additional unconfirmed rumors circulating the Capitol involving an incident at the Greitens’ Innsbrook home involving troubling behavior, the presence of firearms and a member of the Governor’s cabinet. While these reports are unconfirmed…”
It’s long past time to clean up this mess. The Missouri House of Representatives has the authority and the obligation to do so.
