Fight the Purge

Intro: Coming together from
across the United States.

The real issues you don't
hear about elsewhere.

Focusing on what matters
to you and your neighbors.

Welcome to resist bot live.

Melanie: Hey, y'all it
is Sunday, March 6th.

2022.

I'm your moderator, Melanie and beyond.

And this is resist bot live welcome.

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So this past week, Texas held
its primary on March 1st.

And to call it a debacle would be polite.

There were people who were turned away.

There were thousands of mail-in
ballots that are currently in jeopardy.

We're here to talk about what went wrong.

Who's impacted the most and
what is being done about it.

And I am going to bring up the rest
of the panel, our regulars this week.

First, we're going to
bring up Athena Fulay.

Athena: Mel.

How's it going?

Melanie: Hi, great.

Long time no see.

Athena: Indeed.

Happy to be here today and a
beautiful sunny day in new Orleans.

Melanie: Absolutely.

Absolutely.

We are going to talk about, well, my
neighbor Texas One of our favorite

places among other places, because
Texas, isn't the only place to get

to talk more about our function here.

We have little tidbits, but I
think today would be good to just

remind people of why we're here.

It's not just to whispering your ears
and podcasts, but also like there's

a big, broader function that can
help things like what happened on

Tuesday, not happen, or at least give.

Voters the tools of what to do next, when
they find themselves purged or whatever.

Athena: Yep.

There are a lot of great resources
out So I look forward to having a

conversation with everybody about
what we can do to stay, make sure

that our voter registration is on
point and that we're ready and geared

up to, in the next election cycles.

I'll be monitoring the chat.

So as Mel pointed out, please drop
any questions, concerns, insights

that you have, and we'll get to them.

Melanie: Thank you.

And we have Christine Lu.

Hello Christine.

Christine: Hi.

Melanie: Thank you for forgiving.

My game show announcer voice every
week it's something different.

Welcome Texas isn't alone.

So we're going to be digging into.

Who else?

What else?

Christine: Quite a few states.

Uh, we've got Georgia as usual doing
their thing with the voter suppression

Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania as well.

are states that were very close in
the election and ones that are On

the minds of Republicans who don't
want that to be the case in this,

you know, midterms And next gen.

So it's interesting what
they're doing there as well.

In addition to Texas.

Melanie: Absolutely.

And just to talk a little bit about
Texas one of the things that grabbed

me was actually Rachelle Carey.

She mentioned that she was turned away.

She was not able to vote . In
Houston as somebody who's

taken her civic responsibility,
seriously, her entire life.

I am going to read her tweet directly.

She says today I was turned away from a
polling booth in my hometown of Houston.

I voted in every major election
since the age of 18 years old as

it is my right as an American.

I take this so seriously that
I've applied for absentee ballots

went out of the country thread.

And one thing she goes on to say today,
I did not have the opportunity to vote.

And in a crucial primary in
my state, I was told that my

registration was canceled.

I felt enraged.

I could feel my power slipping away.

I was not allowed to vote
today and I'm mad as hell.

And then she goes on to with the.

Frustrations, of course of someone
who was denied one of our most basic

rights, as well as just her own personal
experience and information that you've

gleaned as someone in her position.

She wasn't the only one.

And in addition to that, there was
something, I think 12,000, I think it was

something like 12,000 Texans that were,
that whose boats are in jeopardy in this.

Very important primary.

I mean, these are the midterms
and these are precarious midterms.

I'd like to talk a little bit about one
of the, how incompetence plays into that.

Because in, Texas, one of their,
one of the shortfalls was just

flat out insufficient staffing.

The places that are insufficiently
staffed are typically, they typically have

something in common more often than not.

it's intentional.

There's, we're dealing with people
of color poor people We see it

time and again, where there are
voices that are just silent.

Texas is not the only place doing that.

Christine, can you talk a little bit about
the states that are vulnerable to purges

and kind of what you found the common
thread or your thoughts around that.

Christine: Yeah like I mentioned
a little earlier, but to go a

bit deeper into it, some of them.

The states, Georgia, Arizona,
Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

Some of these are the closest states
that we're very close in the elections

in last year in the 2020 elections.

And so, in the case of Georgia
and Arizona, you had the first

time in two decades where the
states went to a Democrat.

Presidential candidate.

And so it's, shouldn't come as a
surprise that subsequently right.

All last year and continues.

You see the rolling back of things
such as absentee ballots, uh, you see

the increase in emphasis on voter ID.

You see the reduction of the ability to
vote in different polling places, either

the reduction of polling locations or
in the case of drop-off boxes even.

And of course the purging of voter rolls.

And so these are things that are.

the states have in common.

And it's almost like I say this
because we were talking around,

it's like, that's interesting.

It's almost like it's
coordinated in a way.

Right.

And it's like, Hmm.

So what I find, amusing is not
the word, but it's more like

things that make you go Hmm.

Is the commonality of the tactics
that all of these states used to the

point where.

It feels coordinated to me.

So it walks like a duck, you know?

Melanie: I think the thing about being,
whether it's a personal call, color

margin, I mean, we're all women of color.

So when we see these things, it does
hold sometimes a sense of amusement,

not in the traditional entertaining
way, but more than that, of course,

because we're used to having to
circumvent oppression, nonsense

that's just, it's baked in the cake.

And one of the things I picked
up is when it comes down to the

matter of partisanship, I think
I'm like most people, I don't care

who does what I want the job done.

That being said, that
is the big idealistic.

It doesn't matter who get the job done.

When we start looking at
these restrictive voting bills

though, and who is behind them?

Overwhelmingly, these are
overwhelmingly GOP back bills.

That's the first thing.

The second thing, when we deal with these
restrictive bills is that the states where

there's a Democrat, when it works, that's
more or less controlled by Democrats.

Those are the ones where these bills.

Fizzle out, you know, they just,
they try it and it fades out.

But when we're dealing with states that
are, controlled by the GOP, those are

the restrictive bills that get traction.

So even though it's not a matter
of being partisan, we still have

eyeballs and we still have, we
still have to use our common sense.

So you have to acknowledge what the
driving forces behind suppression.

Christine: Well, even staying with
the not being partisan thing as

Americans, you would think as an
American, I would love for people.

Who are able to vote to be able to vote.

Like, let's just start there.

Right.

And so if we don't want to be
partisan about it since when

was being able to exercise your
right to vote a partisan thing.

Hence why it's interesting that
the parent is not by accident.

And sometimes we also have to say the
quiet thing out loud, and it's really

interesting for me because in recent
years I have become more active in the

onboarding of Asian American voters.

That's definitely the fastest
growing voter block and.

If we look at the past couple
of years, there is an awakening.

This is our first election major
election, since the general for us

to show up and say, you know what?

anti-Asian sentiment tired of it.

What we're going to do is
start paying more attention.

And oh, by the way, this is
interesting in all these states

where there are swing district.

We can represent, even though in
terms of the number of us, it's

small, we actually represent margin
of victory or loss, depending on

which party you're looking at.

in these districts.

So, as a block, as a voting block, we
are paying more attention and that's

very encouraging to see, and it's not
by accident that we are also being

lumped into the consequences of these.

suppression efforts that's
one thing I wanted to

mention.

Melanie: You and I have talked before,
too about how important intersectionality

is here and how could you and I are
part of two different ethnic groups

that did at one point, like we've
talked about how back in the pamphlets,

there were attempts at community and
realizing that our communities are

stronger together than they are in.

Then they are apart.

And also there's an investment
in people who enjoy the

status quo to make sure that.

Unity like that doesn't happen.

So how do we shift the conversation
in terms of recognizing that

intersectionality with, you know,
AAPI cultures with African-American

culture with African immigrant,
like how do we bring these?

How do we open the conversation where.

These two diasporas are able to
effectively unify discuss address the

oppression that we're dealing with.

Especially when we have a common
issue with voter suppression.

I feel like I said that really
convoluted, but I think, you know what I

Christine: No, I, I
totally get what you mean?

And you know, Athena I would
love to hear your take on this.

But for me, I was paying so close
attention to Georgia and, API

voters in Georgia, 84% voter game.

Right.

That's not by accident
and let's go back to.

Started the outreach
early on Stacey Abrams.

And so what really gives me, you know,
goosebumps is knowing what's possible.

If you look at the example of Georgia,
you had Asian-American groups side-by-side

with, black organizations who have
been doing this work for a while.

and to acknowledge that those
who have been fighting the fight.

Embrace the new group of folks who are
kind of a little bit new to this, right.

And to see if we can replicate that
in different states, again, not

being partisan, just wanting to help
Asian-Americans who traditionally have

not turned out in, in high numbers.

Continue to be motivated to
vote for whoever they will

choose to vote for it, just be engaged.

And so I'm very encouraged by that

Athena to you.

Athena: I agree.

A hundred percent.

More and more feeling
empowered to use their vote.

I think it's something that we've granted
but given these margins are so slim.

And polling collected by
election officials and all of

that has become so specific.

I think, just recently in Virginia,
there was a election that came

down to one single vote and then
they had to have ballots to make

sure like it came down to one vote.

basically the future of the
general assembly in that

state came down to one vote.

So this idea that I think this
is the rock the vote generation.

We have.

I think there was a big push in the
nineties to get more youth involved in

that these youth have grown up since
then, but I still feel that there

is an element of elite ism to this
concept of voting in this country.

This idea that you have to take off work
to vote is problematic in and of itself.

I think there should be a
national holiday for voting.

If it's something that important.

Things like this exist already within
American societies and Puerto Rico,

they have the day off to vote and
they'd actually don't sell alcohol

anywhere on the island on election day.

That's how important
voting is valued there.

And, I don't, that's probably
an episode in and of itself.

This idea of like how the vote is
sacred and how people have struggled

throughout centuries to ensure that the
marginalized and oppressed still get that.

To voice their beliefs
via the voting systems.

But I think that's a great place to
start and a round about way to get

there, but taking a look at like, why
are we trying to suppress the vote?

I illegal voting, but no, there are
no substantive facts to back that up.

This boogeyman that people trot out to
say, well, all these illegals are voting.

There is literally no evidence of.

And so clinging to that and cling to this
metric of like, or this idea, like we need

to somehow restrict the vote or ban it
is if you dig deep enough, I think we're

going to see it's just another attempt
to maintain status quo to suppress the

voices of those that are not in power.

And to just continue to marginalize
people as much as possible.

So, yes, I think accessibility
is probably a very great place to

start, vote by mail, I think it
was a genius move of the previous

administration to absolutely destroy
our confidence in the U S P S system.

But us postal service is a fantastic
resource for us plug for some positions

that are in progress right now.

So pass additional funding for the USPS
because they are critical to this piece.

If we are going to be doing
mail ballots moving forward.

I agree.

I think the emphasis
should be, uh, states.

I think everybody should reach out to
their secretary of states and election

officials at the local level to just
again, make sure that it's accessible

as possible for people who either
can't make it to the polling station.

It's accessible for early voting.

I think early voting has been a game
changer and a lot of districts around the

country too, which is another reason that
they're trying to sort of shut that down.

But yeah, I think anything we can do to
simplify the process while continuing to

protect the integrity and it's important
as they continuing to protect that.

Because again, this is
a solid system in place.

I think will be important.

Melanie: thank you Athena So I like to
talk a bit about who's answering the call.

Who's coming up with solutions
because we know that the world is

on fire and everything is terrible.

there are issues that are
very serious, that are huge.

That won't be rectified immediately,
but there are things in place.

And we can talk right now about, just
simply checking for but I think we have a.

Athena: Yes.

One of our.

Scott is asking if any of these laws
being proposed are happening in a state.

That's not strategic
for Republican victory.

It's a great question.

The answer is no.

I mean, walk like a doc.

It's a duck.

So that's a very good point.

Thanks Scott.

This idea that.

Again, you got a question
that people behind it.

Why are you trying to shut down the vote?

What exactly are trying to protect here?

And then that follow that trail,
and I think you'll be pleasantly

disappointed or verified and.

Melanie: One of the things.

Well, two things, when we, when you talk
about the mysterious illegal motor.

It's every week, every time we
have one of these conversations,

there'll be a conversation.

There'll be a point where we realize
that this is the only function for this

part of the argument is to shut down,
actually discussing it and addressing it.

if you say, oh, all these illegal
voters are voting, then you don't

get to discuss all the fundamental
issues for these restrictive voting

practices, because they're trying
to, they're selling the book.

Where, and, and it keeps the
motive hidden in plain sight.

AKA, every one of these states would
be strategic to a Republican victory.

Every single one of them.

None of it.

This is not New York.

This is not California.

We're talking Wisconsin.

We're talking Georgia.

We're talking Texas.

We're talking.

I believe Florida, every single
one of them, every single state.

So now who's answering the call, who is
doing the work of just, let's just say

helping to check voter registration.

I think I know one of the answers,
but Athena, could you come in and

talk to us a little bit about.

What that's looking like.

Who's actually on the side
of people who want to vote.

Athena: Sure I'm happy to do that.

I think we can start sort of at the
macro level, the usa.gov website

has a confirmed voter registration
option that is widely available.

I would not to diss, the people
who've created that, but you know,

it could be a little bit cumbersome
to do that, but at least you're

functioning through the federal
government and those various channels.

If that's important to you, another
group that's doing that is vote.org.

Our dear friends@vote.org.

Have a am I registered to vote website
and we can drop the links into the

chat as well in a little bit, but.

I did a plug earlier for the rock
the vote team rock the vote in

many ways has been at the forefront
of a lot of these discussions.

So having them really targeting the
younger voters and college age students

to make sure that they're registered to
vote regardless of where they might be.

I think it's critical to continue
success with voter turnout for that

demographic and last but not least
what I'd like to speak most about.

Is the resist bot.

So it's this idea we're coming
up on our anniversary on March

8th, international women's day.

So yay.

Resist bot.

And it's this idea that yes, it's
important for us to maintain these lines

of communication open with our elected
officials and that's, that's our DNA.

That's what we do.

That's why we created, and that's
what we want to do accomplish,

but understanding that how mission
critical it is to continue to support.

Opportunities for people to stay
engaged with civic engagement.

This idea that voting is
going to be key to that.

And we have some reports and some
excellent analysis on how resist

bot by allowing people to check
their voter registration status

by allowing people to people, to.

Directly connect with their board
of elections and their different

local districts has really helped
increase voter turnout from the

population of people participating in.

The resist bot larger family.

So check us out for sure.

I hear already on this podcast, chances
are, you know, us very well, but it's just

a good time to plug our overall usage.

For all things that the bot does.

So at the very least go ahead
and text check to 5 0 4 0 9.

And that'll give you an update
in terms of your voter status.

And if you're continuing, if you're
staying on the roles and if you do

that, there's actually a cute little
social media shareable that indicates

that you've you're registered to vote.

And that your voter status
is current in your state.

Check that out at least so that you
can get the conversations going.

You don't want to over to check to
find out that your voter registration

has expired or some have been purged.

So I would encourage
all of you to do that.

Now, if you can end by setting,
check into the resist bot we'll

check the polls, excuse me.

We'll check the roles monthly to make
sure that you're staying up-to-date

and current on that, on your behalf.

So definitely.

Text check to us, but I'll also do a
plug for our general keyword guide,

because we've really evolved in the last
few years in terms of what we're doing.

Yes.

You can message Congress.

You can message the democratic national
committee, federal government, the

president, the house, your local governor.

But one of the first things that we also
list on that site is the keyword CEO.

By texting CEO to the bot,
you'll actually be able to

contact your election official.

that would be a good opportunity to check
in and let them know that you are closely

watching the work that they're doing to
ensure that voting rights are maintained

and at people and citizens in your state.

Other things I would refer you to is in
addition to check as early, if you must.

Us with the word early, you can find
out where, and when you can vote

early for your elections, for those
of our younger voters, if you're under

the age of 18, Texas, the word 18.

And we'll get your reminder
to register to vote.

Once you're eligible, there's
been so much back and forth.

I know there's a lot of confusion.

What are your voter ID requirements?

Do you need to bring an ID with you?

what would be acceptable
forms of all of that?

Just.

ID to us at resists bot at 5 0 409.

And we can help get glean that
information for you from your

specific election official.

Mail.

If you'd like to vote by
mail from instructions.

If by texting us mail, M a I L you'll be
able to get vote by mail instructions.

If that's going to be an option for you in
the upcoming election, both this was very

popular around voting season, P O L L S.

We'll find out where you can drop off
your ballots as well as local polling

places for you and your districts.

If anything should happen while you're
trying to access any of this information,

or if you'd like to report an election
problem, you can go ahead and text

protect to the bot and we can capture
that complaint send it to an election

protection coalition of partners who are,
who are trying to, again, ensure that

vote remains intact that's all I got.

Melanie: Thanks Athena.

It was one of the, I remember
on Tuesday Jason, our executive

director here at resist bot.

when he started seeing the
issues, it was like, yeah, we have

this, we have this here for you.

And it's, an amazing tool.

Whenever I talk about
resist bot, when I'm.

Talking to people that more often than
not is the first thing that comes up.

yeah, I used it to check
my voter registration.

That comes up as much as the petition.

To me, I think we have a comment

Athena: Ellen in Florida is mentioning
how it's just getting crazier and

crazier in terms of redistricting
and restrictions to voters.

So they're kind of attacking
rights in Florida on both fronts.

So we hear you Ellen.

You know, all those resources.

I hope that we drop check out the
resist bot guide and tell your

friends, get everybody registered
to vote, get everybody making sure

that they're on the rules properly.

And again, share your thoughts
with your elected officials

to say how this is ridiculous.

What exactly are they
trying to suppress here?

Melanie: It's galling.

I want to make sure that we
talk about our petition, that

we're highlighting this week.

The petition is pass the freedom to vote.

John R.

Lewis act.

Now we're still.

It's still in limbo.

Voting rights is still in limbo.

It right now has 380 signers.

Our goal right now is 500
and it was started on January

17th by women for change.

It's very brief.

It says, I call on you to work with
Senate majority leader Schumer and voting

rights advocates to modify the filibuster
in order to pass the freedom to vote.

John R.

Lewis.

The filibuster has been modified more
than 160 times before we need this

legislation passed to protect our
democracy and the fundamental right

to vote for every eligible voter.

Should we allow our democracy to fail
simply to preserve the filibuster?

No, just the opposite.

We must modify the filibuster
to preserve our democracy.

One of the things that galls me
about this is how politicians elected

officials are dragging their feet.

Elections.

I just cannot be none of us, I don't
think can be openly this openly ambivalent

about something so crucial to our jobs.

Like we would not have jobs.

So there's, this is a good time
to remind your elected officials.

If you were a voter, you should
be reminding your elected

officials who actually work for.

And this petition is very succinct
in, in, in a great way to, to do that.

One of the other things in addition
to all the great things that I've

mentioned that have been in place and
are active and available to you right

now is we talked a lot about resist bot.

I don't think we talk about.

And why we're here.

I mean, we say it and it seems, rather
obvious, but our focus is looking at

these things, looking at partitions,
like the one we have, sorry, let me

make sure I give you information on
that petition because I read it and

I didn't give you anything on it.

the call sign for that.

You can text P as in Paul, H as in
Harry, and as in Nancy, R as in Ryan.

Oh, it's an olive X as in xylophone.

It's a five zero four zero nine.

So that you can sign that open letter
and have it sent to your representative.

In addition to what we're doing here.

We're in amplification work when we
have these petitions, it's not just,

it's when we have so many things
going on in the news, we could look at

like last week there was, the attack
on Ukraine anti-trans directive.

Something that I'm forgetting right
now, when we have so many news stories

going on, that doesn't mean those are
the only things happening, not just

in the world, but in this country.

And there are other things that
need attention in and probably

an aid to deeper understanding.

And so one of the things that
we do here, we have we usually

have guests every week who are.

In those causes organizers, activists
who know what they're talking about,

know what the work looks like, who have
rolled their sleeves up and are making

sure that we get the things we need.

I will be the first person to
tell you I'm not an activist.

I'm just somebody who
has a very big mouth.

And I use that mouth to say,
shut up and listen to them.

And so that's that.

And to a certain extent, that is
the function of why we are here.

Talk about those things that we don't
know, but that are still important.

That affects us, that affect our
neighbors so that we can have a greater

understanding, not even just in the
country that we live in, but sometimes

just in our neighborhood, because
we're, we're addressing things that,

that are happening in affecting people.

Right.

Next door.

Like when we talked about our first
episode was demolished disabled poverty.

You're not going to find
a black in America where

there's not someone who needs.

Reform and how disability is handled,
you know, so this is what we're

doing, and this is just the start.

One of the things that there's also
an option to do on on resists bot,

just like we had our, the petition
that I just read women for change.

That means they also have a profile.

So if there are other petitions
that women for change have.

You can look at those as well.

You can also follow them in the event
that their interests align with yours.

And when they create other open
letters that you may want to

sign, you'll get a notification.

So this is so that not
only, you know, about.

One issue, but it leads to other issues
because all of these things, when we

start, the more we talk about these
varying issues, the more we re we see

that they're all connected because
the undercurrent is fighting against

oppression, moving toward equality.

And so this is the tool that
we have to move forward in.

One of the other things that we're
going to be doing at resist bot, because

I'm just one person at the is just one
person, you know, Christine and we have

our best intentions and we have our
ideas of, where we want to point the

focus, The work is bigger than that.

And so we want to make sure
that we're hearing from you.

So we'll be hosting Twitter spaces to
not only keep you up to date with new

functions, but we also want to hear
from you about what isn't working.

If there's something that maybe
presents an accessibility issue.

We want to know that if there's something
that is Not accessible, maybe not, maybe

not a disability accessibility issue,
but a financial accessibility issue.

We want to know what we can
do to meet you where you are.

So a couple of the things that we're going
to be doing, of course, you can follow us

on Twitter and our DMS are open, but you
can also, we're also creating a telegram

channel, not only for organized who wants
to interact, but also for other people

who want to learn more about organizing,
because we want to build a community that.

Collaborative and intersectional
the final thing that we're

going to be building that time.

I am actually building with my little
hands and the helps of my friends

is resource hubs that I don't afford
focus on specific communities because

sometimes we know the needs that we have,
but we don't know how to access them.

And there's usually.

Because it's usually
buried under a mountain of.

Stuff help is not always easy to find.

So one of the things that we're
going to be doing is making sure

that you know where to get the help.

So these are things that you can be
looking forward to coming down the line.

Over the next few months, some of them
will be implemented really quickly.

Some of them will be a little
more slow to roll out, but these

are things that are coming from.

This is a community.

We, the Bach function is very important,
but we have not lost sight of the

fact that this is driven by people
and we want to know what people need.

I want to, I will, if anybody else
had any comments before I wrap up.

Christine: Yeah, I do.

You know, as, as you're talking,
I am also looking forward to.

Learning about best practices for someone
such as myself, who is privileged to

sit in a state that is blue California,
and as well as a district that will, you

know, the, the most challenging thing we
face is which Democrat we want to elect.

You know what I mean?

I, I do feel that more can be done for
those of us who want to be an actual.

And be helpful to states and
districts that do need the extra help.

And sometimes it's always not, it's
not always clear how so, you know, when

you're feeling this motivation, how
do those of us in these comfortable

quote unquote blue states, right.

how do we actually make an impact?

Where do our donor dollars go?

Does phone banking actually work?

When I feel inspired to write
postcards and mail it into different

states, is that working out?

I actually would love to know what you
know to, to learn what tactics actually.

are being effective and maybe Athena,
maybe this is a great way to pass to you

as someone who is actually an election
official to, to inform those of us who

have this energy to be engaged and want
to make sure that we're not preaching

to the choir in our own district,
that our energy and our time and our

resources and efforts can be amplified
where it really is going to count.

So I would

love to, I look forward
to learning more about.

Along those lines with everyone

Athena: Yes.

I think in many ways, you've just kind
of encapsulated with the struggle with

not the struggle with the bodies, but one
of our challenges is this idea that we

have fantastic users across the country.

Some of them might tend to be on
coasts because of how the demographics

of everything is broken down in
terms of access to everything.

and politics leaning, et cetera.

But that said, I think the state of
the union this past week has given

us evidence that, even with these
really blue states, we still have

administrations that seem to not be
listening to calls for defunding the

police and for investing in communities.

So I think Debra actually Cleaver
might've mentioned it early on

the best thing that folks in.

States that are going to stay blue in
districts that we know are going to

continue to support progressive ideas.

One keep pushing further progressive as
possible, and that, tide might need to

be what lifts the proverbial, other boats
in the country, but support those, doing

the work in the states that do need that.

So whether that's on an individual
level, finding out what you can, which

monetarily you can support or to.

Promote and share those resources
with your communities and networks,

because that goes a long way.

Just again, amplifying right
to what Mel was saying.

We're here to amplify messages.

We're here to amplify the people
doing the work we're facilitators.

We're, we're conveners.

That's what re this bot can do.

It can bring a lot of great ideas and
folks doing this work together, but

by amplifying it that's the best role.

I think that we can serve
in these larger communities.

I have a lot to say about what
people can do individually, as he

mentioned, I'm officially an election
voter, uh, an election official

for the district of Columbia.

If you are remotely interested in doing
that, they need people at the polls.

I guess.

Learned earlier, how there are some states
that are, not hiring poll workers while

they're desperately needed, but reach
out to your state election officials and

just say, I'm interested in doing it.

You get paid to do this work.

It's not volunteer.

it's a very interesting look at the
process of voting and you can see how

how the process works and understand
it a little bit better to help again,

educate and inform other people, just
how thorough that process actually is.

And that could also go a long way.

And it's protest season,
protest season is on the rise.

It's about that time again.

So plug into the people, doing activities
like, and share their actions, support

them when you can, in terms of letting
them know that you're behind them.

That will go a long way to keep
the wind in the sails of people who

are out in the streets, actively
trying to do what they're doing.

Christine: I love that you just mentioned
protests Athena because as we're talking,

I'm doom scrolling on a daily basis.

And really, I mean, E especially
what's happening in the Ukraine,

really cognizant to the fact that
protesting in Russia right now, which

a lot of great people are doing.

Can land you in jail
for 15 years or worse.

And so for those of us who need not
be reminded of again, regardless of

where you stand in, whatever issues,
the fact that we have the privilege

to be able to voice and protest
without fear of retaliation by our own

government is something that is really
sitting with me the last couple weeks.

So thank you for bringing that up.

Athena: And even that isn't
necessarily guaranteed depending

on where you are in the country,

like what's going down
in Portland is awful.

again, these ladies laws that are
in the books to be okay to run down

protesters, like that's a whole
other episode, but yes, I think in

principle we do protect the right to
free speech and protest is in our DNA.

Christine: So use it.

That was my point.

Let's use

Athena: use it.

get out there

Melanie: And

again, that's one of the functions,
because we think about how often

we don't hear about the injustices.

We can look at somewhere like
Russia or somewhere else.

It's like, oh, what are they doing?

These protestors, but even in America,
unless you're really tapped in you're at

best going to get a very one-sided view.

Of what protest is like in America.

And it doesn't cover things such as
the countless activists in Ferguson

who have, you know, over the years,
since 2014 mysteriously died or,

people who are still either in jail
or fighting charters from protesting.

So we don't, unless you're really
tapped in, you don't realize.

That stuff is not, is at the door here
and you need to be serious, or we need

to be serious about what that means
for, the future of our own safety.

Like we can just get down if, for people
who don't necessarily even look at adding

on a on a macro level, just the micro
level of your own personal safety, where

you are just where we are all vulnerable.

I just think that's something that we
have to, and it's our function to make

sure that those things are seen and heard.

And so that people know
this is what our country is.

And I don't, I'm hesitant to
say what it has become because.

for minorities for people of color
that are undercurrent has always

been there for queer people.

That undercurrent has always been there.

so we have to take seriously
what that means for us.

So before we go, do you
guys have any parting words?

And we can start with Christine.

Christine: No, I, you know, I'm just
thankful that we get to get together on

a weekly basis and share and discuss.

And I learn as I listen to both of you.

And so I guess my parting
thoughts is that, and Mel,

that was a really great point.

I feel the privilege of being an American
w with my international lens, right.

Of being able to technically have the
right to protest or to voice my opinions.

But I am not naive to the fact that in
practice is treated differently with.

different groups.

But if there is optimism, which.

Which there is, that there's enough of us.

And then there is a system in
place for us to constantly test

and challenge and call out.

And we, and so long as we have the
freedom to be able to do that, I think

it's still something that is worth

exercising.

And I'm just grateful to be part of

this conversation today.

Thanks.

Melanie: Thanks so much, Christine.

Athena: Oh, I don't not a follow it.

Christine says, thanks exactly right.

I think we have, we are
coming from a place.

Of access and, and a platform
of, of privilege So I would

just tell everybody to use it.

I don't like to use the word apathy
because I feel that . This, that this

credit's some literal, like literal
systems in place that continue to

marginalize and oppress others.

So I wouldn't call it an apathy, but
I think it is a struggle needs to be.

Voting in particular engagement in this
democracy continues to be a struggle

and needs to be a struggle until we are
at a place where all voices are equally

heard and respected and appreciated.

I think tools like resist bot as I
know, I might be biased, but there are

great people doing this work and we
need to leverage all of these resources

and opportunities to the greater.

About possible to ensure that
again, we're moving or bending that

arc if you so to speak, but we're
moving towards the right direction.

So, plug, go ahead and throw us a few
coins if you like, what you're hearing

and want to continue to make sure that
those channels to your elected officials

remain open and that we can continue
to, get your voices heard and get

people registered to vote and staying
on the rules in this coming cycle.

Melanie: Thanks so much Athena,

That's our show this week.

I want to thank everybody for
joining us before we leave.

We have one very important
comment that I want to make

sure that we get in from Ellen.

In terms of when we are trying to
contact officials Ellen said, if you

send postcards, please let the receiving
county DEC no duplication of effort.

It's frustrating.

And those are things that, those
are things that we need to know.

This is a learning process.

It's a dynamic process.

It's not static.

So we are going to make sure that you have
everything that you need to participate in

this democracy and exercising your rights.

So again, that's our show.

If you would like to volunteer
or donate, you can go to resist.

Dot bot to donate, you can go to resist
that box slash donate, and we've got

all kinds of goodies for monthly donors.

So I highly recommend that you do that.

And for our monthly donors, we
have some new ones this week.

We have Lindsay from
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Andrew from Campbell, California
whose, left Baton it, judge Hitachi

Jackson, brown to the Supreme
court or, and a free Marvin guy.

We also have Monica from Castro valley,
California whose focus is abortion rights.

Brianna from Verona, Wisconsin.

And re Richard from Wilton manors,
Florida, whose focus is the, don't

say gay, the hateful don't say
gay though in Florida, Maria, from

Sunnyvale, California, whose interests
like a lot of us is on the Ukraine

and Julie from Seattle, Washington.

Thank you.

All of you for, for being monthly
donors and keeping this work going,

this does not happen without.

And I cannot stress that enough.

So I want to thank you for
joining us, for supporting and

for helping us amplify this work.

The podcast will be up tomorrow.

So if you'd like to listen to a
rebroadcast, you can go again to resist

bot dot live and subscribe to us.

And until then we'll see
you next Sunday at 1:00 PM.

Eastern.

Thanks.

Take care.

Outro: Resist bot live originally airs
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If you haven't used resist bot
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Open your text messaging app
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Visit our website at resist.bot.

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And we're here to support your
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resist bot is a nonprofit social

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You can donate on our website or
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you want to join our team resist bot
live is moderated by Melanie Dione.

Our regular panel includes Athena Fulay.

Christine Lu Susan Stutz and Dr.

Joseph Coohill.

Thank you for listening.