Spring has arrived, and so has your April Clallam Democrats newsletter! With improving weather, there are more opportunities for attending rallies, sign-waving, protests, and agitation (good trouble?) of all kinds. Resist!
Here’s what you’ll find below in this issue, and linked to our blog:
Chair's Corner – Ellen Menshew gives us the latest on our County Party
Action Reports – Making a difference locally
Volunteers needed for Immigration Action Group projects
County Democrats propose Resolution #2025-03: Constitutional Order
Profiles in Leadership: Hank Warren – still active in his 9th decade!
Resistance Music Break – Las Cafeteras: If I Were President
Learn about the Sunrise Movement – youth empowerment
Why we should worry about Social Security – and take action!
Local impacts of federal cuts – the human toll
Report #1 – Emily Randall Town Hall 3/15/2025 by Paul Pickett
Report #2 – Emily Randall Town Hall 3/15/2025 by Tim Wheeler
Resist 2025 – Last month’s push-backs against attempted dictatorship
We hope you’ll poke around and find something interesting to read. Of course, we think it’s all interesting. Enjoy!
by Ellen Menshew
Be Like a Drop of Water!
The well-known principle that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction holds true in our society today. As Elon Musk continues his assault on essential government departments and functions, citizens across the nation are pushing back. Demonstrations, both organized and spontaneous, have been full of energized crowds demanding action to stop the assaults.
Congresswoman Emily Randall recently held town hall meetings in Port Angeles and Port Townsend, where she encouraged residents to continue advocating against threats to our democracy. Daily sign-waves have taken place in front of the Port Angeles Federal Building, addressing concerns about the future of Social Security and the lives of our seniors, veterans, and disabled individuals who depend upon this vital program.
In times of uncertainty, it is crucial that we remain courageous and proactive. Every individual's voice carries weight. I encourage and invite everyone to participate by speaking up, standing together, writing letters to editors, and engaging in meaningful conversations in places such as your grocery store and doctor's office.
Be like a drop of water; your words and actions can create ripples throughout our community. Together, we can make a difference. I’m proud to represent so many active and passionate Clallam County Democrat members who are willing to resist this administration’s attempt to dismantle our democracy. United with our voices and actions, we will prevail.
In solidarity,
Ellen Menshew, Chair – Clallam County Democrats
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Immigration Action Group projects
Learn how you can help our county’s immigrant population navigate today’s dangerous political climate to keep themselves and their families safe by volunteering for the important projects of the Immigration Action Group.
Resolved: Restore constitutional order and rule of law
A resolution urging elected officials serving Washington state and Clallam County to use “all available rules-based procedural methods” to restore the Constitutional order and the rule of law was created and advanced in March by the CCD Resolutions Committee. Read Resolution #2025-03 Demanding Restoration of the Constitutional Order for yourself. The Committee welcomes member input for future resolutions and pursuits. Complete committee reports are available on the CCD website under Membership / Meetings & Agendas / Agenda Packet.
Profile in Leadership
At age 88, activist and long-time CCD Executive Board member Hank Warren insists now is NOT the time to slow down. Don’t miss this in-depth interview by Editor Paul Pickett.
Send your favorite resistance song to newsletter@clallamdems.org
A brighter future is the promise of this youth movement
Find out why one CCD member thinks youth movements fighting for issues Democrats care most deeply about are the hope for the Party’s future in Laurel Hargis’ story about the Sunrise Movement.
Why save Social Security?
“Why should I be worried about the future of Social Security?” Be prepared to answer that question using a comprehensive and informative handout created by CCD member Laurie Force, a frequent participant in recent demonstrations in support of protecting this vital federal program.
Local impacts on Federal Budget Cuts
Experience Tina Tyler’s searing account of local workers reeling from the shock of federal agency takeovers and the en masse firing of federal workers.
First-person perspectives from Representative Emily Randall’s March 15 Town Hall Meeting in Port Angeles
Be part of the action on the jam-packed floor of Representative Emily Randall’s March 15 Town Hall Meeting in Port Angeles. Editor Paul Pickett and contributing writer Tim Wheeler were part of a raucous crowd demanding to know what Democrats are doing to fight back against the overthrow of democracy.
News of resistance from Clallam County and Washington state. Two news items below include links to the full story. [Note: Seattle Times stories require a subscription.]
How International Women’s Day Is Prompting Activists to ‘Unite’ In Solidarity Under Trump 2.0. (Time, 3/8/2025)
Now, Women’s March is keen to revive its unifying X-factor amid Trump’s second term, attempting to meet the moment with multi-racial, intersectional, and multifaceted activism. This means welcoming back previous activists and participants, but also breathing life into the cause with new voices. Ashley Parys and Kailani Rodriguez are two first-time organizers who spearheaded International Women’s Day 2025 events in their respective cities. Rodriguez, 19, graduated high school in 2023 and organized a debut Women’s March in her small town of Port Angeles in Washington State. When she looked for Women’s Day actions to participate in, the closest one she could find was in Seattle, which is a few hours away. She began organizing a more local action only a few days ahead of the big day, and ended up receiving hundreds of messages from prospective attendees and others hosting similar activism sessions. “I wasn’t expecting this to happen. I wasn’t expecting to be the one in charge of it…it just fell into my lap,” Rodriguez says, noting that she has received a lot of support from older generations.
https://time.com/7266129/international-womens-day-march-events-solidarity-trump-era23 Dem AGs think they’ve cracked the code to fighting Trump (Politico, 3/2/2025)
Among the attorneys general, there was a sense of shock at the speed with which he moved and how reckless some of the orders seemed. But they also knew they had spent the past year ‘trying to map out a list of areas where we might see massive policy changes and things that are illegal,’ said Nick Brown, who in November was elected to succeed Ferguson as head of Washington’s attorney general’s office.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/27/democrats-taking-trump-musk-winning-00206310Trump resistance growing after a period of ‘grieving,’ Jayapal says (Seattle Times, 2/22/2025)
Seattle judge blocks Trump’s executive order suspending refugee admissions (Seattle Times, 2/25/2025)
Judge in Seattle extends block on Trump order that seeks end to gender-affirming care (Seattle Times, 3/1/2025)
WA Tesla protesters call for end of Musk’s role in federal government (Seattle Times, 3/3/2025)
Trump ‘plays with fire’ in cutting Bonneville Power Administration, insiders say (Seattle Times, 3/3/2025)
Patty Murray to skip Trump address to Congress (Seattle Times, 3/4/2025)
Judge in Seattle questions Trump’s response to his refugee ruling (Seattle Times, 3/5/2025)
Trump flouted judge by canceling Seattle Children’s grant, WA AG says (Seattle Times, 3/9/2025)
WA sues Adams County for aiding immigration enforcement (Seattle Times, 03/10/2025)
Democratic-led states sue to block Trump administration layoffs at the Education Department (Seattle Times, 3/13/2025)
WA workers defy Musk’s ‘What did you do last week?’ in their own mass emails (Seattle Times, 3/16/2025)
WA judge blocks Trump’s ban of trans troops in U.S. military (Seattle Times, 3/27/2025)
Submit your contributions to newsletter@clallamdems.org by Sunday, April 27, for the May 2025 issue.
For upcoming events, check the calendar on our website.
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Thank you for reading and being a part of the change and resistance our country needs. Together, we will defend Democracy. Stay active, and see you next month!