Tag Archives: Resist

Be the badass on the right

29 Friday Jun 2018

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This evening at the KC Rally for Muslims, Immigrants, & Refugees by the J.C. Nichols Fountain at Mill Creek Park near the entrance to the Plaza in Kansas City – the first of the anti-Muslim counter protesters:

We will only be saved by millions of ordinary people acting every day as individuals with moral courage and heroism.

Previously:

No, we cannot (June 29, 2018)

Children understand (June 29, 2018)

As we are all (June 29, 2018)

Habeas Corpus is not a city in Texas

26 Tuesday Jun 2018

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Habeas corpus ad subjiciendum. The Great Writ.

From Donald Trump:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
We cannot allow all of these people to invade our Country. When somebody comes in, we must immediately, with no Judges or Court Cases, bring them back from where they came. Our system is a mockery to good immigration policy and Law and Order. Most children come without parents…
10:02 AM – 24 Jun 2018

Fascist asshole.

When an agent of the government comes up to you and says, “I am detaining you and you will be immediately deported,” what are you going to do without judicial review? How do you prove your citizenship? Show your United States passport to the agent? “Well, that’s a fake, we’re deporting you immediately.”

Robert Bolt – A Man For All Seasons: A Play In Two Acts

…William Roper: So, now you’d give the Devil the benefit of law!

Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?

William Roper: I’d cut down every law in England to do that!

Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country ‘s planted thick with laws, from coast to coast – man’s laws, not God’s – and if you cut them down – and you’re just the man to do it – d’you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake…

Resistance is the only antidote to Fascism:

Historically speaking the authoritarian playbook is always the same. Their ultimate goal is to consolidate power and they always use the same time tested techniques. First they start by attacking the free press. This is just a way to weaken the media’s ability to hold a ruler accountable.

You can see this dynamic at play when Trump calls any negative coverage of his administration fake news and threatens to take away the media’s credentials.

Next they will usually try to blame the country’s problems on minorities or use other vulnerable populations as scapegoats. This gives the ruler a way to validate people’s concerns while redirecting their anger towards a specific ethnic group. If people start protesting or revolting they will blame the dissent on foreigners or paid protesters. This usually gives a ruler justification to use force against civilians or to strengthen internal police forces.

Next they’ll try to weaken judicial checks on power. They usually do this by publicly discrediting judges or the judicial system, defunding departments that investigate internal criminal activity, and working to remove people from powerful positions that are not loyal to the regime or its ruler.

Which leads us to the value of loyalty. Authoritarians will always reward loyalty over competence because they fear a system that holds them to the same ethical and legal standard as everyone else. This is why you usually start to see very unqualified people running departments that they shouldn’t be running. Under an authoritarian system their loyalty is more valuable than their knowledge or skill.

A lot of these dynamics are already happening in the United States. If we’re not careful the U.S. can slip into a modern version of authoritarianism where elections can and do happen but they have no power to yield any type of social or political change.

The good news is that humanity has had plenty of practice defeating authoritarian leaders.

The one thing that works surprisingly well is nonviolent resistance. In fact, studies show that between 1900 and 2006 campaigns of non-violent civil resistance were twice as successful as violent campaigns in defeating authoritarian leaders around the world. Nonviolent resistance movements are especially effective because they make it harder for the regime to justify using violence on its own people. The same studies also show that no government can withstand the challenge of three and a half percent of its population.

So what can you do? Authoritarians strive on popular fear and collective resignation. The most powerful thing you can do is simply participate in resistance campaigns that are peaceful and nonviolent. Following movements like Indivisible or participating in campaigns by the ACLU are good places to start.

Democracy is more fragile than we think. Let’s put into action this time-tested way to defeat authoritarianism before it’s too late.

Peace

“…And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you, where would you hide…?”

See you in the streets.

#resist

Immigration protest at Rep. Kevin Yoder’s (r) district office – Overland Park, Kansas – June 22, 2018

23 Saturday Jun 2018

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Yesterday afternoon in Overland Park, Kansas, over five hundred people showed up for immigration protest in front or Representative Kevin Yoder’s (r) downtown district office.

The demonstration, scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. started as people gathered in the half hour before the start and continued beyond 5:30 p.m. Passing traffic, for the most part, expressed support with the sound of honking horns. A small handful openly expressed their support for placing children in concentration camps.

At one point, for a relatively short time, two counter protestors with signs expressing anti-immigrant sentiments positioned themselves near the end of the line of protestors.

Earlier in the protest an individual across the street who was recording with her cell phone taunted the protestors, shouting that she dealt in “facts” while the protestors were influenced by emotion. Those across the street protesting who heard her just laughed and then ignored her.

“No body is illegal”

“God loves all his children”

“No kids in prison camps”

Kansas City media.

“Nope”

Doing the right thing.

Throughout the demonstration one individual sat in the small courtyard area in front of Representative Yoder’s (r) office quietly holding his sign:

“Yoder is complicit in Facism”

“Prison is not Summer camp”

There were a number of variations of commentary about Melania Trump’s (r) attempt at social activism:

“Proud son of an immigrant”

We are all God’s children”

There are more of us than there are of them. #Resist.

Previously:

Protest imitates fashion (June 22, 2018)

Performance Art (June 22, 2018)

Somebody’s grandmother (June 22, 2018)

Rally and March in Columbia, Missouri – January 20, 2018 – Valérie Berta-Torales

21 Sunday Jan 2018

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Valérie Berta-Torales – Columbia, Missouri – January 20, 2018.

Valérie Berta-Torales spoke in Columbia, Missouri at yesterday’s rally and march to commemorate last year’s Women’s March and to protest Donald Trump, his administration, and his republican enablers.

Just watch the whole thing:

[Video by Jerry Schmidt]

Previously:

Rally and March in Columbia, Missouri – January 20, 2018 (January 20, 2017)

Good riddance to 2017. Don’t think 2018 is going to be any better.

31 Sunday Dec 2017

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All the badness of 2017 started in 2016. And way before then.

Then Secretary of State Jason Kander (D) had a thing or two to say to the republican majority in the Missouri House on the first day of the 2017 legislative session. They got upset.

Secretary of State Jason Kander (D) waiting to address the Missouri House at the opening of the legislative session – Jefferson City – January 4, 2017.

Secretary of State Jason Kander (D): [….] I know I’m not who you came to hear and I know that none of this was what you wanted to hear. But I am your Secretary of State for a bit little longer, and as a result I feel a responsibility to tell you that even though you have the power to take away the right to vote from the citizens of Missouri, you that shouldn’t.

And that if you choose to follow the example of Wisconsin or North Carolina, well then, I guess we’ll see you in court. [….]

On the day of the inauguration of the current administration around 2,000 people showed up at the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City for a rally and protest march.

There should have been more.

Anti-Trump march in Kansas City – January 20, 2017.

On the next day for the Women’s March 10,000 people showed up in Washington Square Park in Kansas City to protest the new administration.

There should have been more.

Women’s March – Kansas City – Washington Square Park – January 21, 2017.

Less than ten days into the new administration 1,000 people showed up at the International Terminal at Kansas City International Airport to protest Trump’s first Muslim ban.

There should have been more.

Trump Muslim ban protest at Kansas City International Airport – January 29, 2017.

Anti-Trump March in Kansas City – March 4, 2017.

The belief in and hope for “bipartisanship” and “compromise” with people in control in our current political environment who neither believe in nor hope for bipartisanship is as useful in modern American politics as signing a petition.

There are some people who will never vote for any Democratic party candidate. Ever. Accept that. Act accordingly. Don’t waste your time or energy.

Pro-Trump rally and march in the rain in Jefferson City – March 25, 2017.

Interestingly, in our current political environment not one republican member of Congress representing Missouri has seen fit to hold open (and accessible) public town halls for their constituents. Do you ever wonder why? There are no consequences for them. And we let them get away with it.

Yet, in 2017 Senator Claire McCaskill (D) held fifty open public town halls across the state in areas that Donald Trump carried in the 2016 election. People in the City of St. Louis and in Kansas City will be waiting for their turn in 2018.

Call you Senators and Representative. Visit their offices. Tell them what you think. Often. Demand their accountability in open public town halls.

At a Senator Claire McCaskill (D) town hall– Parkville, Missouri – April 13, 2017.

March for Science – Kansas City – April 22, 2017.

Climate March – Kansas City – April 29, 2017.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) before speaking to the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus – Kansas City – May 6, 2017.

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r), in the 4th Congressional District, has glued herself to Donald Trump and his agenda. Сделать Америку великой Снова.

There is a challenger, but she, too, like previous challengers will be grossly underfunded in the race against an entrenched incumbent funded and beholden to special interests.

Find something constructive to do for the Democratic Party challenger. Then do it. Then repeat.

A pro tip – in October 2018 don’t complain to anyone who’ll listen that the Democratic Party candidate doesn’t have enough yard signs out. Empty lots don’t vote.

Renee Hoagenson (D) – at an open public campaign town hall in Warrensburg – June 13, 2017.

If you want to accomplish any good in 2018 don’t waste your time and energy preaching to the choir on social media or signing petitions no one reads.

1) Make sure you’re registered to vote. 2) Be certain you have the required ID to vote. 3) Make sure everyone you know and all the potential voters you help to register to vote have the required ID to vote. Provisional ballots aren’t worth shit. Solve ID problems before the fact. 4) On Election Day in 2018 drag your sorry ass to your polling place and vote. Then drag the sorry asses of your friends and the people you registered to vote to their polling places so that they do actually vote.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s (r) voter photo ID tour – Warrensburg – June 16, 2017.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – town hall in Lee’s Summit – June 17, 2017.

“Rule #4: Be outraged. [….] it is essential to maintain one’s capacity for shock. This will lead people to call you unreasonable [….] It is no fun to be the only hysterical person in the room. Prepare yourself.”
– Autocracy: Rules for Survival – Masha Gessen

Planned Parenthood #PinkOut demonstration in Kansas City – June 21, 2017.

Elections always have consequences. Ask Supreme Court Justice Merrick Garland about that when you get the chance. Ask the 1% about that, too. Ask any public school classroom teacher.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – town hall in Versailles, Missouri – July 5, 2017.

March to Give Keystone XL the Boot – Lincoln, Nebraska – August 6, 2017.

Don’t waste your time trying to engage fascists or Nazis in “constructive” dialogue. They’re fascist and Nazis for a reason, not because of “economic anxiety”.

“Rule #5: Don’t make compromises. [….] In an autocracy, politics as the art of the possible is in fact utterly amoral. [….]”
– Autocracy: Rules for Survival – Masha Gessen

Kansas City for Charlottesville, Virginia – August 12, 2017.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – Labor Day rally and march – Kansas City – September 4, 2017.

In support of DACA – Kansas City – September 5, 2017.

“Rule #2: Do not be taken in by small signs of normality. [….] …history has seen many catastrophes, and most of them unfolded over time. That time included periods of relative calm. [….]”
– Autocracy: Rules for Survival – Masha Gessen

None of this is normal. Act accordingly. Given the last two years I’m not holding my breath.

Previously:

The Political Year in Pictures – 2017 – part 1 (December 28, 2017)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2017 – part 2 (December 28, 2017)

Our top ten traffic posts for 2017 (December 29, 2017)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2017 – part 2

28 Thursday Dec 2017

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The continuation of our retrospective.

July:

Fireworks.

“Booms and Blooms” – Powell Gardens, Kingsville, Missouri – July 1, 2017.

Getting closer (July 3, 2017)

Again, someone from Missouri in Congress isn’t afraid of holding open public town halls.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) [2017 file photo].

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): even more town halls (July 5, 2017)

Claire McCaskill Town Hall Meeting in Eldon Missouri – video by Jerry Schmidt (July 5, 2017)

On Health Care – Claire McCaskill Town Hall Meeting in Eldon Missouri – video by Jerry Schmidt (July 8, 2017)

Constituents show up, Roy Blunt (r) doesn’t.

“healthcare not wealthcare”

Talking about health care at Sen. Roy Blunt’s (r) office in Kansas City – July 14, 2017 (July 14, 2017)

In Arizona.

“Our Lives on the line” rally, Rudy Garcia Park, Tucson, Arizona, July 29, 2017.

But it’s a dry heat (July 29, 2017)

August:

A Keystone XL pipeline protest and march in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Banners leading the march.

March to Give Keystone XL the Boot – Lincoln, Nebraska – August 6, 2017 (August 6, 2017)

Joye Braun, Indigenous Environmental Network – March to Give Keystone XL the Boot – Lincoln, Nebraska – August 6, 2017 (August 7, 2017)

March to Give Keystone XL the Boot – Lincoln, Nebraska – August 6, 2017 – more photos (August 7, 2017)

After Charlottesville, Virginia.

Confrontation.

Kansas City for Charlottesville, Virginia (August 13, 2017)

Well, the plan was to hold fifty before the end of the year.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – Warrensburg, Missouri – August 17, 2017.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – town hall in Warrensburg – Press Q and A – August 17, 2017 (August 17, 2017)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – town hall in Warrensburg – August 17, 2017 (August 18, 2017)

There was a solar eclipse.

End of totality. F 4, 1/15, ISO 200, 200 mm.

That was some solar eclipse (August 22, 2017)

After Charlottesville, Virginia.

“Not today”

Somebody cared enough to try (August 24, 2017)

Donald Trump in Missouri.

“…Predator Trump” photo: Jerry Schmidt

Protesting Donald Trump (r) in Springfield, Missouri – August 30, 2017 (August 31, 2017)

September:

On Labor Day.

“We are worth more”

Labor Day rally and march in Kansas City – September 4, 2017

DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) protest in Kansas City.

“No human is illegal”

In support of DACA – Kansas City – September 5, 2017 (September 5, 2017)

We did a gallery show.

In the gallery – part 3 (September 26, 2017)

Sunrise.

Sunrise.

The Earth says hello (September 29, 2017)

October:

A butterfly or two.

American painted lady or American lady (Vanessa virginiensis). F 9, 1/4000, ISO 3200, 200 mm.

A brief moment of peace for a chaotic world (October 2, 2017)

Danaus plexippus.

Monarch (October 14, 2017)

Leaves.

In the wind (October 25, 2017)

November:

Hillary Shields (D).

Hillary Shields (D) – November 7, 2017

Hillary Shields (D) in the 8th Senate District: Sunday field operation (November 5, 2017)

Hillary Shields (D) in the 8th Senate District: Sunday field operation – a few words from Jason Kander (D) (November 5, 2017)

Hillary Shields (D) (November 7, 2017)

Vicky has an opponent.

In Warrensburg – November 11, 2017.

Organizing for 2018 (November 11, 2017)

December:

Fear.

“We’d better get back ’cause it’ll be dark soon and they mostly come at night. Mostly. “ (December 1, 2017)

A display.

Again: “…Compulsory unification of opinion achieves only the unanimity of the graveyard…” (December 11, 2017)

Anxiety.

Still waiting to be interviewed by The New York Times about their economic anxiety (December 18, 2017)

That was the year that was.

Previously:

The Political Year in Pictures – 2017 – part 1 (December 28, 2017)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2017 – part 1

28 Thursday Dec 2017

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It’s been another very interesting year for us.

We took a lot of photos in 2017. Many having to do with the aftermath of the 2016 general election.

Over the course of the last year we covered a number of government and political events in Missouri (and elsewhere), in the process taking thousands of photographs. Most of them didn’t make it into the blog. Some of the things we saw and heard made us smile, made us think, made us gasp, made us hope, and made us despair.

We thought we’d provide a retrospective of some of the pictures and stories we consider to be memorable.

January:

Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander (D) upsets the republicans on the opening day of the legislative session.

Secretary of State Jason Kander (D) addressing the Missouri House at the opening of the legislative session – Jefferson City – January 4, 2017.

Secretary of State Jason Kander (D): at the opening of the legislative session (January 4, 2017)

Women take the lead. They always do.

Women hold up the sky…

Anti-Trump march in Kansas City – January 20, 2017 (January 20, 2017)

Anti-Trump march in Kansas City – January 20, 2017 – part 2 (January 21, 2017)

Anti-Trump march in Kansas City – January 20, 2017 – part 3 – marching (January 21, 2017)

Rise up.

Women’s March – Kansas City – Washington Square Park – January 21, 2017 (January 21, 2017)

Women’s March – Kansas City – Washington Square Park – January 21, 2017 – part 2 (January 22, 2017)

Women’s March – Kansas City – Washington Square Park – January 21, 2017 – part 3 (January 22, 2017)

Another salvo in the “War on Christmas”.

Hannah Kelly (r) [2017 file photo].

HB 696: Now you’ve gone and done it. You’ve really upset the Pastafarians. (January 23, 2017)

Just nine days into the new administration.

“Not this time” – Trump Muslim ban protest at Kansas City International Airport – January 29, 2017

Thankful.

Trump Muslim ban protest at Kansas City International Airport – January 29, 2017 (January 29, 2017)

February:

Meeting with constituents. On immigration.

A crowd mic.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – Immigration Town Hall in Kansas City – February 4, 2017 (February 5, 2017)

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – Immigration Town Hall in Kansas City – press statement – February 4, 2017 (February 5, 2017)

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – Immigration Town Hall in Kansas City – press Q and A – February 4, 2017 (February 5, 2017)

Not meeting with constituents.

“…Subject startles easily at the sight of concerned consituents…”

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): about those missing public town halls (February 9, 2017)

Meeting with a few constituents.

(left to right) Denny Hoskins (r), Glen Kolkmeyer (r-53rd Legislative District), Dan Houx (r-54th Legislative District).

A stylized dance (February 17, 2017)

More useless legislation from the right wingnut republican controlled Missouri General Assembly.

Pre 1973 medical instruments.

HB 1014: the exhibit should include pre 1973 medical devices (February 22, 2017)

What can we say? We were in the right place at the right time.

Stormy weather (February 28, 2017)

March:

A sign.

“Make America Great Again” – in Russian.

A conversation at the flag pole (March 3, 2017)

We just love Kansas City.

“Bullhorn” – March 4, 2017.

Anti-Trump March in Kansas City – March 4, 2017 (March 4, 2017)

Anti-Trump March in Kansas City – March 4, 2017 – part 2 (March 5, 2017)

Anti-Trump March in Kansas City – March 4, 2017 – part 3 (March 5, 2017)

Someone did resist.

[Used with permission.]

A New York tourist destination (March 21, 2017)

Still no open public town halls in the district.

This is what Democracy looks like – Harrisonville, Missouri – March 22, 2017 (March 23, 2017)

Sometimes they march, too.

“I am a deplorable” – Trump Teabagger rally in Jefferson City – March 25, 2017

You got that right (March 25, 2017)

April:

At least one member of Congress from Missouri does open public town halls.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – speaking to the press – Parkville, Missouri – April 13, 2017.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): press availability – Parkville, Missouri – April 13, 2017 (April 14, 2017)

What a difference eight years makes (April 13, 2017)

This ain’t 2009 and right wingnut billionaires ain’t paying to rile up teabaggers (April 13, 2017)

Of science.

If I die, I’m taking you with me.

March for Science – Kansas City – April 22, 2017 (March 22, 2017)

March for Science – Kansas City – April 22, 2017 – part 2 (April 23, 2017)

March for Science – Kansas City – April 22, 2017 – part 3 (April 23, 2017)

March for Science – Kansas City – April 22, 2017 – part 4 (April 23, 2017)

On climate.

There are no jobs on a dead planet.

Climate March – Kansas City – April 29, 2017 (April 29, 2017)

Climate March – Kansas City – April 29, 2017 – Sergio Moreno (April 30, 2017)

May:

Anywhere, anytime.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) [2017 file photo].

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): on Zombie Trumpcare – May 6, 2017 (May 7, 2017)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): on Trump and Russia – May 6, 2017 (May 7, 2017)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): on Trump’s policies and Missouri – May 6, 2017 (May 8, 2017)

Still no open public town halls in the district.

Closed for meetings…

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) – Columbia District Office – May 10, 2017 (May 10, 2017)

Jackson County Democrats.

Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) [2017 file photo].

Truman Gala – Jackson County Democratic Committee – May 20, 2017 (May 21, 2017)

Truman Gala – Jackson County Democratic Committee – May 20, 2017 #2 (May 22, 2017)

June:

Hate and bigotry.

Ready to react.

Anti-Muslim protest and counter-protest, Washington Square Park, Kansas City – June 10, 2017 (June 10, 2017)

Anti-Muslim protest and counter-protest, Washington Square Park, Kansas City – June 10, 2017 – part 2 (June 11, 2017)

Anti-Muslim protest and counter-protest, Washington Square Park, Kansas City – June 10, 2017 – part 3 (June 11, 2017)

Some members of Congress have no problem with holding open public town halls in their district.

Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) – [2017 file photo].

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D): town hall in Lee’s Summit – June 17, 2017 (June 17, 2017)

Reproductive health and rights.

Planned Parenthood #PinkOut in Kansas City – June 21, 2017 (June 22, 2017)

Where is Roy Blunt (r)?

Talking about health care at Sen. Roy Blunt’s (r) office in Kansas City – June 23, 2017 (June 23, 2017)

A Sen. Roy Blunt (r) health care story (June 23, 2017)

Photos at Roy Blunt’s Office – June 23 2017 Indivisible – KC Hillary Klofkorn Shields (June 26, 2017)

Talking about health care at Sen. Roy Blunt’s (r) office in Kansas City – June 23, 2017 – signs of the times (June 24, 2017)

What’s the matter with Kansas?

“Resist”

Talking about health care at Sen. Jerry Moran’s (r) office in Olathe, Kansas – June 28, 2017 (June 28, 2017)

Talking about health care at Sen. Jerry Moran’s (r) office in Olathe, Kansas – June 28, 2017 – signs of the times (June 29, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 12

30 Monday Oct 2017

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“The Poetry of Protest” our show in the Gallery of Art and Design at the University of Central Missouri of large prints of photographs from rallies, protests, marches, and demonstrations opened on September 26th. The exhibit closed on October 28th.

The exhibit is closed.

We left an open notebook with blank pages and pencils on a podium next to the exhibit title wall. The last comments:

Awesome: Thanks for all the clear evidences of democracy. It was truly enjoyable.

So important that children in the future know that were those of us who stood up against the war on democracy, truth, kindness [and] the environment – oh, yeah [and] the nuclear war being waged against women. Thank you for preserving this so the protests are not lost.

Previously:

The Poetry of Protest (September 9, 2017)

In the gallery (September 21, 2017)

In the gallery – part 2 (September 23, 2017)

In the gallery – part 3 (September 26, 2017)

In the gallery – comments (September 30, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 2 (October 3, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 3 (October 4, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 4 (October 6, 2017)

In the gallery – today (October 10, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 5 (October 16, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 6 (October 17, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 7 (October 19, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 8 (October 23, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 9 (October 26, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 10 (October 27, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 11 (October 28, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 10

27 Friday Oct 2017

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“The Poetry of Protest” our show in the Gallery of Art and Design at the University of Central Missouri of large prints of photographs from rallies, protests, marches, and demonstrations opened on September 26th. The exhibit runs through October 28th.

We left an open notebook with blank pages and pencils on a podium next to the exhibit title wall. We get comments.

January 20, 2017 – Kansas City, Missouri – photo by Jerry Schmidt

September 5, 2017 – DACA Protest – Kansas City, Missouri – photo by Jerry Schmidt

August 6, 2017 – Keystone Pipeline Protest – Lincoln, Nebraska – photo by Michael Bersin

January 21, 2017 – Women’s March – Kansas City, Missouri – photo by Michael Bersin

Terrific shots, and an altogether thought provoking display. I couldn’t help but notice the intensity of expression that Mr. Schmidt caught in many of the portraits; when you combined that expression with the subject’s attire (or even that of the people around them) the photo took on a kind of time suspension. The photo of the man in a green hat was especially striking – between the man, [and] the woman just to his left who is wearing a yellow cap, I could almost imagine this having been taken in the 1930s which in itself is an interesting experience for the viewer.

Another favorite: the gentleman in a PYO t-shirt [and] a red bandana on his face. [….] The expression in the gentlemen’s eyes suggests to me a kind of resignation/fatigue that again reminds me that the struggle is anything but new.

[….] The horse group picture is interesting for the same reasons as the photos I’ve mentioned already. Their expressions are much “older” than their attire which makes for a jarring juxtaposition, something I (well, now you can tell, clearly) find thought provoking.

The lady in scarf photo I like for different reasons. Her expression coupled w[ith] the luminosity of the photo in general just speaks to me one word – “optimism”. So much so that, had you told me that it was a staged photo for an advertisement I would have aid, “OK, well, that’s laying it on a bit thick, no? [….]!” But the fact that it was a ‘real’ shot just makes it too good for words. Here again, the clothing adds an unexpected dimension to the way I perceive any “message” of the flag symbolism. The fabrics she wears are all soft [and] she is completely covered by layers of the things she wears. It gives me a message that we are “covered”/”encapsulated” by the notion of “country”, that, for good or bad, it is bigger than the individual. But the women’s face really draws the eye in (her smile is arresting) [and] then sends the viewer’s eye out, because you wonder what she was seeing that caused her to react. Coupled with the light, as I said before, it just gives a hopeful, optimistic effect.

[….] I just want you both to know that I didn’t just think “ah, these are nice shots”. I found them to be a thought provoking, multi layered experience. “Poetry” was a great title for this exhibition. [….]

This is an historical exhibition of the times we are living in. Having been in demonstrations in the 60s, I did not think we would have to do this again. Unfortunately we do.

We must never forget that progress has never occurred without such protests. These are pictures of the best in our country.

Let’s celebrate that and never forget that we must stand against the reactionary forces moving our country back.

Previously:

The Poetry of Protest (September 9, 2017)

In the gallery (September 21, 2017)

In the gallery – part 2 (September 23, 2017)

In the gallery – part 3 (September 26, 2017)

In the gallery – comments (September 30, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 2 (October 3, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 3 (October 4, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 4 (October 6, 2017)

In the gallery – today (October 10, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 5 (October 16, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 6 (October 17, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 7 (October 19, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 8 (October 23, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 9 (October 26, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 5

16 Monday Oct 2017

Posted by in meta, Resist

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“The Poetry of Protest” our show in the Gallery of Art and Design at the University of Central Missouri of large prints of photographs from rallies, protests, marches, and demonstrations opened on September 26th.

We left an open notebook with blank pages and pencils on a podium next to the exhibit title wall. We get comments.

Thank you for hard work. A picture is worth a thousand words. Each and every photo is telling me stories.

Love the emotions displayed in these photographs.

Thank you for giving these people a voice on campus without even having to speak. A picture is worth 1,000 words!

The heart is there, but maybe add some other views. It would be more fair to represent the U.S. a whole.

Seriously? More fair? Corporations and billionaires aren’t out in the streets – they don’t have to be to get what they want.

We repeat ourselves:

1. “A gallery exhibit is not a vehicle for the ‘all opposing views are equal’ mantra in some circles of old media.”

2. “It would be impossible to cover and ‘show all sides of American protest’. Again, some protests were so minimal or obscure and there was no public notice. We’re not omniscient, nor do we claim to be…”

3. “Right wingnuts in America now have everything they’ve ever wanted – they control the Presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court. For the most part they’re not in the streets protesting in any significant numbers…”

4. “Here’s the thing. You want a gallery show about those particular subjects? Go get a decent full frame camera, drive all over the state and the Midwest to cover these types of events, photograph them in some competent manner, make aesthetic choices about which images will work, start a discussion with a gallery over a period of two years, make numerous test prints on various papers, make the exhibit prints, and put the show up. Knock yourself out. But you won’t, will you? You’ll just complain about the unfairness of it all.”

5. “All art is biased.”

Thus endeth the lesson (for today).

Unpopular opinion: I don’t think Trump is Hitler 2.0

Wait, was it the Tiki torches, the raised arm salutes, or the swastikas that gave it away? Just asking.

There’s so much to unpack in just the first two words. Trump is unpopular, eh?

We don’t recall a single image in the exhibit labeling Donald Trump as “Hitler 2.0”.

From December, 2001:

Aaron McGruder, creator of “The Boondocks”

[….]

….I wanted to ask you specifically about the Thanksgiving strip where Huey compares President Bush to Osama bin Laden. Do you think that’s crossing the line on a holiday like that after a major tragedy such as Sept. 11?

A couple of things about that: One, I stole that joke from an Internet forward that was going around. I don’t even know who originated it. Two, the best thing about that strip is that it never says G.W. Bush. The reader has to make the connection. If the reader reads what I wrote and thinks about G.W. Bush, that means it’s fucking true! So I didn’t make it up; you came to the conclusion as well. And if it’s true, why are you mad at me? If he’s not all those things, then what are you mad at? (Laughs.)….

[….]

Hitler 2.0? We didn’t say it, you did.

I lose brain cells every time I look @ Trump :/

So does he.

Previously:

The Poetry of Protest (September 9, 2017)

In the gallery (September 21, 2017)

In the gallery – part 2 (September 23, 2017)

In the gallery – part 3 (September 26, 2017)

In the gallery – comments (September 30, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 2 (October 3, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 3 (October 4, 2017)

In the gallery – comments – part 4 (October 6, 2017)

In the gallery – today (October 10, 2017)