Dear Progressives,
Organizing For America (OFA) is going to to be pushing out a mass email targeted to much of Dallas to encourage people on Monday morning to participate in a non-confrontational demonstration outside of the Charting America's Health Care Future, with Congresspersons Eddie Bernice Johnson and Pete Sessions' forum. (This forum has been moved from the SMU campus to Cityplace Tower - 2711 Haskell & I-75 in Dallas.) Washington D.C. found out that this is likely the only time that a Dem and Repub Congressional member would be meeting together outside of the beltway to talk about health reform. They recognize that this is an excellent opportunity to showcase the differences between advocates of health reform and the opposition. The call is out for progressives to stage a peaceful demonstration of support. We WILL showcase that difference.
The essence of the form of our counter-demonstration is to show the contrast between the raucus misinformation and fear-mongering of the opposition and the quiet rationality and determination of the advocates for health reform. We ask that people dress in plain white t-shirts - a clean, clear symbol of solidarity. People will hold signs with positive affirmations of health reform or corrections of misinformation. None of the nasty stuff. And people will have calm or pleasant facial expressions as they stand mute with their signs. Why? Because in front of them will be a banner with SILENT MAJORITY emblazoned on it, reflecting the true inclination of our country who silently cries out for reform every day.
We are going to let the fearful scream and holler as the opposition of everything but the status quo squirms on the wrong side of history. We will be quiet, resolute faces as the world turns in our favor. Trust me, the teabaggers will be more irritated at silent opponents then they would be if we take their bait and get in a shouting match.
We will be having a sign making party this Sunday, August 16th from 3pm to 6pm at the Progressive Center office in South Side on Lamar (1409 S Lamar). I've been told the sign-making materials are in the process of being collected by the local OFA chapter, so no worries there. We do need something else, however...
We need you.
Event contact phone number: 979-319-2443. Please RSVP to this number or this link to sign up for Monday demonstration so that we can get a headcount to prepare properly. We want everyone to be safe and comfortable. Thanks!
We will be meeting at 7am this Monday, August 17th, in the Target parking lot to get everyone together and get focused. DART has their Blue and Red train lines feed into Cityplace Station nearby along with a stop for the 409 bus line. If you have to drive, please try to get a carpool going. There is reasonable paid parking at Cityplace Tower and adjacent lots nearby. Go to www.DART.org to plan your trip.
We will move to the plaza outside Cityplace Tower (2711 Haskell, Dallas, near I-75) at 720am to setup ourselves in preparation for attending to pass by unharrassed. We will have a spokesperson to be our voice as we stand with silent strength with our signs. The "soldout" EBJ/Sessions event will open its doors to ticketholders at 730am. Speaking with other stakeholder organizers, the plan is to keep up the demonstration until around 930am when the EBJ/Sessions event will be , then people can break for follow-up activities or get to work.
Start looking at your schedules. (You think I like the early hour on a Monday? NO.) This is truly a rare opportunity to demonstrate our perspective and philosophy. I think we have a very effective hook for a media narrative that is all the more effective because... IT'S THE TRUTH. This is a rare ask of you and your friends and neighbors. Those of us working on this would not ask if we didn't think it had a high potential for effectiveness and merit. I personally consider this my only big "ask" for a good long while. This isn't any one organization's vanity project - this is North Texas coming together in a clash of ideas.
I hope to see many of you this Sunday, August 16th from 3pm to 6pm at the Progressive Center, where people all over town are coming together to prep for Monday morning. I hope to see just as many on Monday morning!
Did I mention that Monday's demonstration at Cityplace Tower (2711 Haskell, Dallas) starts at 7am? Woof...
Be Well, and Be Progressive!
Tracy Clinton, with Molly Hanchey
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Directions and Contact:
Our address is: South Side on Lamar, 1409 S. Lamar Street, Dallas, Texas, 75215
South Side is on Lamar Street between Belleview Street and Arnold. Enter South Side from Belleview Street. The Progressive Center is located on the ground floor artists' quarters next door to the Janette Kennedy Gallery.
Click here for a Google Map
Free parking for event guests is available in the Sala Tex-Mex restaurant parking lot on the northeast corner of Belleview and Lamar. Paid parking is available in the lot behind Bill's Records and Poor David's Pub.
We encourage you to carpool or ride
DART Rail to the event: either the Red or Blue line to the Cedars
Station, which is just down the street from South Side on Lamar.
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Center events by
contacting us. We will make any arrangements needed.
For this or any other questions or comments call us at 214.485.2720 or write to us at frontdesk@progressivecenteroftexas.org
Our web site is at http://www.progressivecenteroftexas.org
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