TODAY’S NEWSLETTER INCLUDES:

1. NO KINGS PROTEST - RECAP
2. A PERSPECTIVE - HEATHER COX RICHARDSON
3. WHAT’S NEXT?
4. TWO OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING FUN
(P.S. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED)

VISIT WWW.WAKEUPSONOMA.ORG TO SEE OUR WEBSITE FACE-LIFT. Many thanks to our expert web master
Jocelyn Simone Rhude!
More to Come!

NO KINGS WAS A PEACEFUL AND POWERFUL EVENT
Estimated number was 3,000 to 4,000. Pictured below is a portion of the crowd in front of City Hall
The weather was made to order, and the crowd was all about our unique and wonderful community. Thanks to our Protest and Action Team, All of the monitors and the Flash Mob for Signs of Fascism and the Sonoma Valley Democrats who co sponsored this event.

Photo above Courtesy of Chris Wall. Thanks go out to Chris Wall Wake UP Photographer, and also Leah Halper from Pro-Bono Photography for the hundreds of photos and videos they contributed and are being used in our social media.

SIGNS OF FASCISM PROCESSION MADE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE WAYS WE KNOW FASCISM IS NOW RAMPANT IN OUR NATION.
Hopefully you were able to see this troupe in action (some not pictured) as they wended their way through the crowds in and around the Plaza several times. You can go to YouTUBE to see them in action.
https://youtu.be/hJrUKQm20zs?si=rA7MQ6yrr3U8tNBD Coordinated by Ed Clay and Martín Gobbée we hope this is only the beginning of our street theatre troupe. Please let us know if your interested in being included in any our next creative actions as we want to form a street theatre group. Send us an email at: wakeupsonoma@gmails.com

We were lucky enough to even have the dancing frogs join us! You can see them here: https://youtu.be/wzdZzBlpV4M?si=F5Lss1X302BoIgRb

MAJOR THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR MUTUAL AID. An entire truck load filled with bags of gently used or new clothing was donated by you and was gratefully received by Homeless Action Services. WE are the village that supports one another.
____________________________________________________

A PERSPECTIVE BY HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

For those who ask what protests such as Saturday’s No Kings rallies accomplish, in today’s column, Heather Cox Richardson offers this:

“How much difference will the No Kings Day protests, even as big as they were, make in the face of the administration’s attempt to get rid of our democratic political system and replace it with authoritarianism? What good is an inflatable frog against federal agents?

Scholar of social movements Lisa Corrigan noted that large, fun marches full of art and music expand connections and make people more willing to take risks against growing state power. They build larger communities by creating new images that bring together recognizable images from the past in new ways, helping more people see themselves in such an opposition. The community and good feelings those gatherings develop help carry opposition through hard moments. Corrigan notes, too, that yesterday “every single rally (including in the small towns) was bigger than the surrounding police force available. That kind of image event is VERY IMPORTANT if you’re…demonstrating social coherence AGAINST a fascist government and its makeshift gestapo.”

Such rallies “bring together multigenerational groups and the playfulness can help create enthusiasm for big tent politics against the monoculture of fascism,” Corrigan writes. “The frogs (and unicorns and dinosaurs) will be defining ideographs of this period of struggle.”

WHAT DO WE DO NOW? WHAT NEXT?

UNFORTUNATELY, There is much to do in this ongoing fight for our democracy. Here are a few ideas about where to turn your attention now.
The Newsletter of Indivisible Sonoma County | Substack

Please read the latest Newsletter from Indivisible. This newsletter has important actions to take. Among them are:

1. Call your members of Congress to say its WAY PAST time to Impeach Trump.

2. Stop Sonoma County from Collaborating with ICE.

Sign this petition from Change.org
Petition · STOP Sonoma County From Collaborating with ICE/ Exigimos la Protección de las Comunidades - United States · Change.org

3. Pull out all the stops in passing Prop 50!
Prop 50 Actions for Oct 1 - Oct 8 plus more
Local efforts by Sonoma Valley Democrats who are
currently working to support the YES on Prop. 50 campaign. If you would like a yard sign, please email Beth Hadley  bethh@sonic.net  Watch for more details about upcoming GOTV actions (Get Out the Vote). The Democratic Headquarters in Santa Rosa ((707) 575-3029) also has yard signs and volunteer opportunities, some can be done from home, go to https://sonomademocrats.org/volunteer/ 

4. Call your members of Congress to demand they do not fund the war on Americans. Say, “ I’m asking the [Congressmember / Senator] to vote NO on extending government funding unless the regime stops its war on Americans. He must refuse to greenlight their assault on America.”
_______________________________________________

YOU ARE INVITED TO BUILD COMMUNITY, HAVE FUN, AND KEEP SUPPORTING OUR WORK AT THE SAME TIME!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE NEXT TWO EVENTS.
IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER AT THESE EVENTS CONTACT US AT wakeupsonoma@gmail.com

Come slay, stay spooky, and support the resistance,
all in one night.
Slay O’Ween at Bloom Carneros, Oct. 31

Bloom Carneros will host a 1980s-themed Halloween dance party from 7-10 p.m., Oct. 31, at the Sonoma restaurant. The 21-and-over event will include costume contests, DJ HurryKane spinning ’80s dance music and drag performances by San Francisco performer Lydia Darling. Proceeds benefit Wake up Sonoma. Tickets are $30 and available on Eventbrite. Bloom Carneros, 22910 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-412-0438, bloomcarneros.com

DON’T FORGET TO GET YOUR TICKETS FOR ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW!!
The Rocky Horror Picture Show | Press Democrat News Group
Let’s Do the Time Warp Again!

Sonoma Valley Pride Hosts A Screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Sebastiani Theatre for 50th Anniversary
Sponsored by Wake UP Sonoma, Matthew Long Design and Out In The Vineyards

Sonoma Valley Pride is inviting the community to celebrate a cult classic in true over-the-top style! On Saturday, November 8, the historic Sebastiani Theatre will host a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in honor of the film’s 50th anniversary. Doors open at 7:00 PM, with a costume contest kicking off at 7:30 PM, where prizes will be awarded to the best dressed of the night. The movie screening will start at 8:00 PM.

The night promises outrageous fun and plenty of audience participation. Guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite characters from the beloved midnight movie.

“This event is more than just a movie screening—it’s a celebration of queer joy, camp, and community,” said Matthew Long of Sonoma Valley Pride. “We’re thrilled to bring Rocky Horror to the Sebastiani Theatre which first showed the film 35 years ago., We can’t think of a better way to mark its 50th anniversary than by doing the ‘Time Warp’ together in Sonoma Valley.”

Proceeds from the evening will benefit Sonoma Valley Pride and its mission to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community through inclusive programming, visibility, and local partnerships.

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