TODAY’S NEWSLETTER INCLUDES:

1. WAKE UP SONOMA HITS FUNDRAISING GOAL FOR SIS!
2. WE ARE NOT LETTING HOMOPHOBIA WIN
3. GUIDANCE FROM EXPERT OF AMERICAN FASCISM
4. MAY DAY ACTION FOR SONOMA VALLEY - TAKE THE PLEDGE AND SHOW UP!
5. MEET AND GREET- LESBIANS WHO LUNCH + FRIENDS

WE DID IT TOGETHER! WE REACHED OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL OF $2,000 FOR SONOMA IMMIGRANT SERVICES!!!
Thanks go out to all of you who helped make this happen by buying ICE OUT, BE GOOD or ARE YOU OK? buttons from Wake UP Sonoma.
This campaign was a brainstorm by our wonderful webmaster
Jocelyn Simone Rhude to raise money for Sonoma Immigrant Services (SIS). She designed and ordered the buttons, created a website store for us, and then recruited Refill Madness and Valley Swim Club to be the drop off and pick up spots for sales. These partners have been invaluable to our pro-democracy efforts in Sonoma Valley and are true partners and collaborators. We are so grateful to each of them and we hope you will support their businesses! Shout-out to Elizabeth Norris who helped with sales.
We chose to support SIS because are so grateful to them for all of the work they do to keep people safe in Sonoma Valley. We are very much aligned with their goals and values and we are proud to be collaborators in support of their work.

From the SIS Website
”Located in Sonoma Valley, our mission is to strengthen the community through education and advocacy, including immigration legal services.” 
If you want to continue to donate, here is their website donate link:
Donate | Sonoma Immigrant Services

Buttons are still available until they are all sold out
WE HAVE limited supplies. But we will pivot to sell the rest as a fundraiser for Wake UP Sonoma to help us recoup our costs for the buttons, and to continue to support our work. We invite you to visit our store - link below, and be sure to get these while they still are available!
Home | ICE OUT Fundraiser
More store items in the brainstorming process!!
____________________________________________

CALL TO ACTION - CALL TO ACTION - CALL TO ACTION

FIRESIDE CHAT WITH SALLY KOHN

Wake Up Sonoma community,

This is an important moment for us.

We’re bringing Sally Kohn to the Sebastiani Theatre from NYC for a conversation about how we move forward in these times - together. Conversations like this work so much better when the room is full.

Sadly, not only is the room not full now, but the ads we have promoted online as well as through SIT have been receiving horribly homophobic comments. We need to show up for Sally, and for the LGBTQ Community. It’s hard to believe this kind of thinking and hate filled rhetoric is still out there - but it’s also evidence that the hate is growing, and that’s so ironic given the talks that Sally does on THE OPPOSITE OF HATE!

Sally continues to show up and speak up as a loving and compassionate presence. We will continue to support people doing good work like Sally Kohn.

So, we ask - if you can buy a ticket, please do. That support allows us to keep doing this work.

If cost is a barrier, just come to the door. We will make space. No one turned away due to lack of funds. We just want you in the room to show up for Sally.

Friday, April 24

Doors 5:00 PM | Event 5:30 PM

Moderated by Martín Gobbée, of Wake UP Sonoma
Friday, April 24
5:30 PM–7:00 PM - Doors open at 5:00 PM

Sebastiani Theatre - Sonoma Valley
SUPPORT SEBASTIANI THEATRE!!!

TICKET LINK: Fireside Chat with Sally Kohn - No Hate | Press Democrat News Group

To read the full SIT interview with Sally, click this link:
Fireside Chat with Sally Kohn - No Hate - Sonoma Index-Tribune Calendar
___________________________________________________

ALSO - FRED GLASS, EXPERT ON AMERICAN FASCISM IS COMING SOON - A CRITICAL FREE COMMUNITY TALK
Another moment that you will WANT to be in the room. His talk is unforgettable, riveting and can give some guidance to us as we enter ever more deeply into a state of war, chaos, and uncertainty.
This is a timely moment to come together in Solidarity to hear the very important perspective of expert Fred Glass. What exactly IS American Fascism and WHAT can we do about it? Join us for this important moment and see what other groups in the region are doing as well.
American Fascism: What It Is & What To Do About It
Wake UP Sonoma’s Community Conversation with Fred Glass
MAY 2, 2026 - 11:00 - 1:00 -
FREE RSVP LINK: COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH FRED GLASS — Wake UP Sonoma
Check out this video put out by Fred
Tax the Rich: An animated fairy tale
Tables on display at the talk: NBRRN, Sonoma Valley Democrats, Working Families Party, Wake UP Sonoma, North Bay Local is pending. Hoping for a few more to come.

___________________________________________________

MAY DAY STRONG ACTIONS IN SONOMA VALLEY - SPREAD THE WORD! Then gather in the Plaza from 5 to 6 PM and make your voice heard. Sidewalk on Napa Street.

When we build community, we push back on oligarchy.
This May Day, the call is clear: tax the rich so families come first, not fortunes.

No ICE. No war. No private army serving authoritarian power. Expand democracy. Hands off our vote.

And make it personal.
Click the link to take the pledge :
May Day Pledge — Wake UP Sonoma
1. Shop local.
1. Shop local.
2. Support Sonoma Valley small businesses.
3. Skip Amazon, Prime, and the big box stores.
4. Buy less gas on May 1. (if possible)
5. Show up at the Farmers Market on May 1 and put your money into the local economy.

Did you know that
—Amazon owns Whole Foods? (yes, even the one in Sonoma)
—Jeff Bezos owns Amazon?
—Jeff Bezos is a major supporter of the Trump administration?

Get your signs ready to gather in the Plaza from 5 to 6 PM and make your voice heard. Sidewalk on Napa Street. We continue to have more and more reason to speak up and be heard!
CommUNITY is power.
Solidarity is power.
The people have the power.
SONOMA VALLEY MAY DAY STRONG.
____________________________________________________

LETTER TO THE EDITOR FROM WAKE UP SONOMA PROTEST AND ACTION TEAM.
Orban’s defeat dramatically shows power of the people

Editor: Victor Orban’s overwhelming defeat in Hungary this past weekend is a testament to the power of the people, a dramatic downfall of a powerful autocracy against overwhelming odds.

This is a defeat not only for Orban as Hungary’s prime ninister, but for the Trump administration and its MAGA backers – who exalted the anti-democratic Orban as “one of the great moral leaders of the world,” as he hacked away at civil liberties and the rule of law and demonized the European Union.

Trump sent Vice President JD Vance to Hungary just last week, exhorting “will you stand for western civilization?” as if Orban losing would be an existential threat to civilization.  Hungarians did not agree.

Credit for Orban’s loss goes to the people of Hungary who turned out to organize, support and vote for Peter Magyar and his new Tisza party in a record turnout.

The lesson here should not be lost on Americans. Organizing, protesting and voting works. That’s why Wake Up Sonoma, Indivisible and other pro-democracy groups are holding a May Day Strong national event this May 1.

On May 1, we ask you to join Americans across the nation in rejecting the online oligarch retailers like Amazon, (including Amazon-owned Whole Foods), Target, Home Depot, and others and refrain from buying gas. Instead, stay local and support our many local businesses from the Springs to the Sonoma Plaza and across the Sonoma Valley.

It’s true these actions will not immediately change the current political situation. But, going forward it will create a network, and the solidarity for what one day could be a very necessary national general strike. Think mid-term election tampering, worsening inflation, more widespread ICE deployment and deportations.

Remember, it was a citywide strike in Minneapolis that helped end the vicious and deadly occupation in that city.

You can sign a pledge of support at wakeupsonoma.org/may-day-pledge and join us on May 1 on Sonoma Plaza from 5 to 6 p.m. as we support local businesses, take a stand for democracy and this great country that we love.

— Laura Rosas, Protest and Action Team, Wake Up Sonoma
__________________________________________________

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A NEW VERY RELAXED MEET, GREET AND EAT!
COME MEET THE NEW SONOMA COUNTY DYKE MARCH FRIENDS!
For more information about SoCoDyke March, go to their website: Dyke March in Sonoma County, California, 2026
No agenda, just come together to meet new friends in your community. That’s all. Just fun and friendship.
Support your local eatery
Counter service available for lunch.

REMINDERS

Our Vision: To foster a vibrant, just, respectful and welcoming Sonoma Valley community.

OUR MISSION IS TO:
EDUCATE - by providing resources to Sonoma Valley residents to be informed and engaged.
ADVOCATE - for local diversity, equity, inclusion, civic and corporate transparency.
ACTIVATE - by promoting democracy and providing opportunities for local engagement.

We Educate. Advocate. Activate.
on issues related, but not limited to:
- LGBTQIA+ safety and visibility
- Protection of our immigrant population
- Defense against Christian Nationalism
- Transparency in large corporate investment and responsible development
- Active local civic engagement