• About
  • The Poetry of Protest

Show Me Progress

~ covering government and politics in Missouri – since 2007

Show Me Progress

Tag Archives: Washington Square Park

Six years ago

21 Saturday Jan 2023

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, Kansas City, Washington Square Park, Women's March

At the Women’s March in Kansas City, Missouri in Washington Square Park – January 21, 2017:

January 21, 2017 – from the vantage point of The Link (covered overhead walkway between Crown Center and Union Station).

Previously:

Funeral for Democracy – Warrensburg – January 20, 2017 (January 20, 2017)

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)

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)

Lights for Liberty immigration rally – Washington Square Park, Kansas City, Missouri – July 12, 2019

13 Saturday Jul 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#LightsForLiberty, #resist, immigration, Kanas City, missouri, protest, Washington Square Park

This is America, July 2019.

Americans do not support Trump’s ICE raids
By Marshall Fitz, opinion contributor — 07/13/19 10:00 AM EDT

…Beginning Sunday morning, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), by order of President Trump, will begin a series of cruel, unnecessary raids aimed at rounding up, detaining and deporting thousands of people. Many of those immigrants detained will have had the removal orders against them filed in absentia — meaning they will have never been informed of the orders’ existence.

Among those specifically targeted will be families who had enrolled in the now-terminated Family Case Management Program — an effective, cost-efficient program that saw almost 100 percent compliance rates with immigration hearings and check-ins. Also targeted will be young immigrants who had previously been protected from deportation as unaccompanied minors, but who aged out of such protections when they turned 18.

By devoting resources to inflicting fear and hardship on immigrant communities at a time when children are being denied soap, toothpaste, blankets and other necessities in dangerously overcrowded Border Patrol facilities on the southern border, the administration is making the inhumanity of its policies plain for all to see…

Last night over 500 individuals showed up at Washington Square Park in Kansas City, Missouri for a rally on immigration which was organized as one of the Lights for Liberty demonstrations which were held across the country “to stand in solidarity with immigrant communities across the country and protest human detention camps”. The event, starting at 7:00 p.m., included information tables, postcards to Congress stations, speakers, and a vigil.

Teach your children well:

“Not today Satan”

“Will trade racists for refugees”

Call them what they are:

“Concentration Camps are a disgrace to God and our country”

“Families belong together, vote Trump out”

Teach your children well:

“Diversity makes America great”

“Side with Love”

“Summer Camps, not Concentration Camps”

“Give a damn”

“Reunite the families”

“Legal immigration should not be deadly”

“Close the camps”

Teach your children well:

“People don’t belong in cages”

“End family separation”

At Pershing and Grand:

“Keep families together”

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

11 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Kansas City, missouri, protest, Washington Square Park

More images from yesterday’s Anti-Muslim protest and counter-protest in Kansas City:

Counter-protesters.

Exchanging insults and yelling obscenities across the police buffer area.

In the buffer area.

Counter-protesters.

The First Amendment is expensive. And worth it.

Waiting and watching.

Anti-Muslim protesters – yelling from the barricade across the buffer area.

Counter-protesters.

Counter-protesters across Main – “Not this time…”

Previously:

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

10 Saturday Jun 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Kansas City, missouri, protest, Washington Square Park

If you’re going to do anything in a public space you have no expectation of privacy. You’re truly clueless if you believe otherwise, especially so in a world where almost everyone has a smart phone with a camera and instant access to social media.

This morning about forty anti-Muslim protestors set up in a fenced off area in Washington Square Park in Kansas City. Almost a hundred counter-protesters showed up, too. In the over two hours we were there the two groups yelled obscenities and hurled insults at each other, separated by a buffer zone and a considerable presence of Kansas City Police officers.

The anti-Muslim protest was part of nationwide demonstrations apparently organized under the aegis of ACT for America.

The KC Muslim Civic Initiative issued the following statement:

There is an ugly tide of hate rising against American Muslims on June 10, 2017. The march “Against Sharia Law and for Human Rights,” organized by ACT for America is the antithesis of the American democratic values that they claim to uphold.

The title of the march is an oxymoron because sharia law entails human rights. The march’s premise and leaders demonstrate a deep level of misinformation about sharia law, but Muslims are not responsible for clarifying their misinformation.

Such rallies fuel hate and sustain divisions between racial, ethnic and religious communities in the US. The Muslim Civic Initiative (MCI) of Kansas City condemns such rallies that spread hate and misinformation. However, we will not be participating in the counter-protest because we do not want our communities to face offensive messages and further anger and hostility between our communities. Below is our response to this rally organized by ACT for America:

To some of us at MCI, our faith is that of empowering women and upholding justice. The first act of empowering women and protecting children in Islam has been to stop female infanticide. Some dwell on the veil and see it as a symbol of oppression, while practicing Muslims perceive it as a tool of liberation and protection.

American Muslims, like many Muslims around the world, strongly condemn terrorism, and our communities are often the first scarred by violence. Islam is a faith of peace and justice. The majority of American Muslims embody those Islamic and American values in their daily lives. However, with respect to the TSA and FBI, stopping terrorism is not in their hands. It’s up to us to demand from our government to stop aiding military regimes abroad and militarizing their social policies under the guise of humanitarian aid. We call on our allies to unite and bridge the division that is being created at home. We also stand against this division because it enables the exploitation of resources and the severe loss of human life and dignity at all levels in the Muslim world.

It is sad to learn about Brigitte Gabriel’s early life. Instead of choosing to fight the same structural forces that made her experience war and violence in the first place, she beats the war drums of revenge and hatred. Brigitte, we see you and we love you, even if you want to enable killing our communities and feed into the war machine.

We thank our allies for seeing us for who we are, showing up, standing up and relay their message that:
Islamophobia cannot be justified.
Fear will not be manufactured.
Fascism will not be enabled.

American Muslims are an integral part that makes this country great. We love this country and love always prevails.

Statement issued by the Muslim Civic Initiative of Kansas City

The Muslim Civic Initiative is a direct action group dedicated to organizing and empowering the 30,000 Muslim Americans in the Kansas City metro area to be civically engaged.

Kansas City area Muslim organizations did not participate in the counter-protest, choosing instead to organize a rally and meal this evening.

What it was all about.

Resist hatred. An animated conversation.

Taunting counter-protesters.

One of at least two drones flying over Washington Square Park.

Counter-protesters.

Addressing counter-protesters.

An earlier speaker at the counter-protest warned the crowd to be aware, as a matter of personal safety, that there were sneaky and tricky individuals around the park taking pictures in the crowd. Seriously? There were a number of people including us and at least one freelancer with still cameras, in a addition to two different television network local affiliate camera crews covering the protests. Not to mention all the people with smart phone cameras taking photos and videos every which way.

The ACLU had a number of observers in the park actively monitoring the protests.

A trio from the Anti-Muslim group walking through the counter-protest area.

A counter-protester.

Facing counter-protesters taunting them across Main.

Ready to react.

During one of several long lulls of activity one of the television network local affiliate reporters engaged us in conversation, inquiring if we had covered any other protests like this with a similar lack of activity.

The counter-protesters (from a number of different groups) didn’t screen entrance to their area of the park, admittedly because there were no barriers to outside access, only yellow tape blocking off the buffer between them and the anti-Muslim protesters. The anti-Muslim protesters’ area was surrounded by barricades. They would not allow us access to their area. Interestingly, a trio of anti-Muslim protesters marched through the counter-protest area with an ACLU observer hovering nearby.

After that display a number of counter-protesters marched around the taped off buffer area across to Main and faced the anti-Muslim group across the street, chanting and exchanging insults. As we were photographing the counter-protesters one and then a number, without any sense of irony, took issue with us doing so. Think about that for a minute. After a testy exchange we walked away. Two hours and over a thousand stills were enough.

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

23 Sunday Apr 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Kansas City, March for Science, missouri, protest, Resist, Washington Square Park

Yesterday over two thousand people participated in Kansas City’s March for Science and rally at Washington Square Park.

From the march into the park:

Think while it is still legal.

#resist.

Love your mother.

Science not silence.

Expect defiance.

Science, because you can’t just make shit up.

There is no Planet B.

Knowledge is power.

Science.

Y’all need science.

If you’re not part of the solution…

In the park:

Government science denial is fascism.

Previously:

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

23 Sunday Apr 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Kansas City, March for Science, missouri, protest, Resist, Washington Square Park

Yesterday over two thousand people participated in Kansas City’s March for Science and rally at Washington Square Park. One local broadcast outlet estimated the crowd at three thousand.

At the rally in the park:

Don’t hate, educate…

I love evidence.

Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone…

Stand up for Science.

We love Science.

Science is Truth.

Science!

There were quite of few of these knit caps:

Brains.

Resist the Stone Age.

Stay positive.

Old school.

Listening.

Previously:

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 2

23 Sunday Apr 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Kansas City, March for Science, missouri, protest, Resist, Washington Square Park

Yesterday over two thousand people participated in Kansas City’s March for Science and rally at Washington Square Park.

Generations:

Nevertheless, she persisted.

Marching down Grand toward Washington Square Park, staying on the sidewalk to avoid citation/arrest:

Marching.

It is horrifying…

Science and truth matter.

Imaginary.

Heretic.

We must seek truth.

Science matters.

Defunding progress.

Girls just want to have fun(ding)…

There’s no crying in Science.

…without science.

Expertise matters.

You’d think.

Carl Sagan is pissed.

Among many others.

Previously:

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

March for Science – Kansas City – April 22, 2017

22 Saturday Apr 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

#resist, Kansas City, March for Science, missouri, protest, Washington Square Park

Kansas City’s March for Science started before 9:00 a.m. as people gathered at 27th and Grand for the 9:30 march past Crown Center to Washington Square Park.

If I die, I’m taking you with me.

In science we trust.

Donald Trump isn’t a popular figure:

Trumpcare is an oxymoron, Trump is just a moron.

I’m with her.

Keep your theology out of biology.

Make America smart again.

The marchers streamed into the park.

Science is the antidote to superstition.

Don’t tread on me.

The crowd in the park, easily numbering over two thousand, listened to a number of speakers.

Science trumps silence.

Insufficient facts always invite danger, captain.

Is it worth it?

May the facts be with you.

Give a schist.

I’m with her.

Science benefits everyone.

Trump is hazardous to your health.

It’s the truth.

Some of the marchers clung to the illusion that science is non-partisan. Not when the party in power is militantly anti-science.

One speaker praised Roy Blunt (r) for being pro-science. Maybe on K Street? I couldn’t tell if the crowd’s silent reaction to the statement was because they didn’t hear it, chose to ignore it, or were incredulous.

One of the speakers asserted they were a moderate republican. There are no moderate republicans. They’re either the radical right or they’re enablers of the same. Own it.

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

22 Sunday Jan 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Donald Trump, Kansas City, missouri, protest, Resist, Washington Square Park, Women's March

More images.

10,000 showed up in Kansas City. That’s the number from several reports. We were there.

Getting in the way of your bigotry?

Getting in the way of your bigotry?

Men of quality.

Men of quality.

Nasty women unite.

Nasty women unite.

You're out of your element Donny.

You’re out of your element Donny.

The rule of law is not a reality show.

The rule of law is not a reality show.

Nasty.

Nasty.

Tiny.

Tiny.

I'm with her.

I’m with her.

Pink hats.

Pink hats.

On the way home.

On the way home.

20170121-606a2569

Watching the crowd leave the park.

Watching the crowd leave the park.

Showing up is half the battle. Continuing to do so is the rest of it.

Previously:

Funeral for Democracy – Warrensburg – January 20, 2017 (January 20, 2017)

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)

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 2

22 Sunday Jan 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

#resist, Donald Trump, Kansas City, missouri, protest, Washington Square Park, Women's March

More images.

10,000 showed up in Kansas City. That’s the number from several reports. We were there.

Why we all march.

Why we all march.

Protest is patriotic.

Protest is patriotic.

Stronger together.

Stronger together.

Expect resistance.

Expect resistance.

I'm with her.

I’m with her.

Back in the USSR.

Back in the USSR.

Oh, hell yes.

Oh, hell yes.

All women.

All women.

Nope.

Nope.

Make womb for women.

Make womb for women.

So my sons won't behave like assholes.

So my sons won’t behave like assholes.

Keep your tiny hands to yourself...

Keep your tiny hands to yourself…

He finds that difficult.

Dissent is patriotic.

Dissent is patriotic.

In right wingnut world that only applies to teabaggers.

Previously:

Funeral for Democracy – Warrensburg – January 20, 2017 (January 20, 2017)

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)

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

← Older posts

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007

Categories

  • campaign finance
  • Claire McCaskill
  • Congress
  • Democratic Party News
  • Eric Schmitt
  • Healthcare
  • Hillary Clinton
  • Interview
  • Jason Smith
  • Josh Hawley
  • Mark Alford
  • media criticism
  • meta
  • Missouri General Assembly
  • Missouri Governor
  • Missouri House
  • Missouri Senate
  • Resist
  • Roy Blunt
  • social media
  • Standing Rock
  • Town Hall
  • Uncategorized
  • US Senate

Meta

  • Log in

Blogroll

  • Balloon Juice
  • Crooks and Liars
  • Digby
  • I Spy With My Little Eye
  • Lawyers, Guns, and Money
  • No More Mister Nice Blog
  • The Great Orange Satan
  • Washington Monthly
  • Yael Abouhalkah

Donate to Show Me Progress via PayPal

Your modest support helps keep the lights on. Click on the button:

Blog Stats

  • 736,290 hits

Powered by WordPress.com.

 

Loading Comments...