Pathways to Power (Part 2)
On March 28th, America will re-emerge from a bleak winter of discontent. Assaulted by social media and a president while his administration crumbles around him, the nation feels lost— making our enemies into friends and our friends into enemies through hubris, waste, and corruption. Now that we have shaken off the forced slumber of snow, we enter the start of a new Season of resistance. Featuring many leaders in our state, a free concert by Dropkick Murphys and a sea of humanity united in common cause in the cradle of liberty, along the freedom trail and before the seat of power in this state. We anticipate No Kings III to be the largest protest in American History.
We talk a lot in Mass 50501 about ‘why’ we do this. How exactly does a rally with large crowds and some admittedly awesome people really change anything? These gatherings are so valuable because they demonstrate the strength, scale, and capacity of the movement. Millions of people gathered around a simple, loud, emphatic no. They also provide rare opportunities to wire into organizations doing the work on the ground. If you want to attend a protest, and that is all you are able to contribute, then that is fine.
But we in 50501 are in the business of mobilization. We want to get people into the streets and we want them volunteering to support their neighbors. Things like mutual aid, advocacy, education, litigation, and direct influence on our leaders to fight harder. A Rally that lets us take full account of our power, to measure and announce to the world the scale of this resistance is important. It will also reinforce our morale, to exercise muscles left fallow over the holiday season set the stage for the coming struggle with autocratic forces.
We invite you to show your power in the Pathways to Powervisibility walk. It’s a simple concept. Look at the map in this article and find a station that is not directly next to the Common. Bring your friends and your signs and get visible! Test your own organizing capacity on a small scale. Big things start when you can do little things well. Maybe the leader you are looking for is actually you! Chant as you walk toward the Common, wave your flags and banners—be loud, be proud, be fearless. Let the people know that you will not take tyranny in America lying down. This small demonstration of your will can go a long way in telling the story to others of how you choose to get involved. A small demonstration of commitment is itself commitment. People are attracted to the public assertion of a deeply held ideal and this small act can help the movement grow.
Now imagine a drone in the sky taking account of the crowd as it musters over the hour. You will see something wonderful: thousands of people, from all walks of life and without instruction, blazing a multitude of trails of this old city convinced of liberty. The paths are arteries and we are the nation’s antibodies with intent to heal the divisions of the nation and protect our collective inheritance. Each of us is a vessel of spirit, of courage, of wit, and of patriotism, from all walks of life, walking many paths to the same place at the same time. The demonstration of power is itself power.
When the lights go dim and the city goes dark, go to https://nokings.boston/pledge and take the We the Powerful Pledge. There you will find many of the organizations you will meet on the common on the 28th. Each has a part to play in writing American History, and each has a need for your skills and effort. Commit to a single pro-democracy action per week, suiting your temperament and interests. There is a place for everyone in this movement and we will find a place for you.
These pledges can also be signed—in person—at No Kings III on a massive mural that our Creative Resistance team put together specifically for this event. We have room to collect tens of thousands. It’s an opportunity to be a small part of the history we are making. Mass 50501 will be signing it, and we hope you join us.
If taking the pledge isn’t possible for you due to other obligations, there are other ways to support events such as No Kings III, such as through direct donations, which you can do here. Events of this type and scale are extremely expensive. Any help you can offer in helping defray the costs is greatly appreciated and we salute your faith and confidence in our work.
We are already one of the largest movements in the history of America. By coming to this event, you have chosen to be a part of it. But there is more to do, and more that can be done. It’s on all of us and none of us can do it alone.
Thank you.
In solidarity,
Mass 50501
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