Fellow citizens, pardon me ...
Freedom Writers - Western Mass - 7/5/25
Hello, Freedom Writers of Western Mass!
In Today’s Post:
Fellow citizens, pardon me ...
Western Mass Standouts and Protests! Sign up for one near you!
INFO SHEETS - For Your Information
Fellow citizens, pardon me ...
We are all products of our culture, for better or for worse. I, myself, have had to recognize this every day. There’s no shame in it, except the shame in not even trying to transcend your culture when you find an aspect of it that is unjust. And as a member of the White Immigrant American culture, I’ve discovered several said aspects.
Here’s one that I learned about a few years ago. It stuck with me.
On July 5th, 1852, Fredrick Douglass gave a speech entitled, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”
It was a stirring speech that many African Americans are familiar with today, but regrettably, most members of the White Immigrant American culture are not familiar with.
Noteably, Douglass delivered this speech 9 years prior to the Civil War, which began in 1861, but only 4 months after the publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in March of 1852. (More on that in a later post.)
It was a speech that eloquently and diplomatically reminded the White Immigrant American abolitionists in his audience that while their COUNTRY stood for freedom in word and constitution, it did NOT stand for freedom in practice. Instead, in fact, the United States enslaved captive Africans in the worst kind of slavery on the planet: chattle slavery. So, what, truely, was there for a chattle slave to celebrate?
Fast forward to today: July 5th of 2025, here in our United States of America, we are seeing private prisons designed to replicate slave plantations, and detention centers designed to replicate concentration camps.
So, if you’re a member of the White Immigrant American culture as I am, today’s action is this: simply watch this beautifully done 7 minute video about Fredrick Douglass’s speech, and share this post with all the White Immigrant Americans you know.
The more that see it the better.
Thank you for helping us save our democracy,
EBFreed and BillyJ
Western Mass Standouts and Protests! Sign up for one near you!
Fri 7/11/25 4:00 - 6:00 pm Town: Longmeadow Stand Up Against Violence Stephan Platzer FOR MORE INFO: North corner of Longmeadow Street and Western Drive. Please check with Stephan if your sign is appropriate at: stephanplatzer844@gmail.com
Fri 7/11/25 4:00 - 5:30 pm Town: Westfield Weekly (Fri) Mass Pike Overpass Standout in Westfield - Southampton Rd (Routes 10/202) Indivisible Northampton-Swing Left Western MA FOR MORE INFO: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/797032/
Thu 7/17/25 12:00 - 2:00 pm Town: Enfield, CT GOOD TROUBLE LIVES ON: Volunteer organized for John Lewis Actions FOR MORE INFO: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/807236/
Thu 7/17/25 4:00 - 5:00 pm Town: Westfield GOOD TROUBLE LIVES ON: Volunteer organized for John Lewis Actions FOR MORE INFO: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/807736/
Fri 7/18/25 4:00 - 6:00 pm Town: Longmeadow Stand Up Against Violence Stephan Platzer FOR MORE INFO: North corner of Longmeadow Street and Western Drive. Please check with Stephan if your sign is appropriate at: stephanplatzer844@gmail.com
Fri 7/18/25 4:00 - 5:30 pm Town: Westfield Weekly (Fri) Mass Pike Overpass Standout in Westfield - Southampton Rd (Routes 10/202) Indivisible Northampton-Swing Left Western MA FOR MORE INFO: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/797032/
Thu 7/24/25 4:00 - 5:30 pm Town: Longmeadow LARC-LDTC Standouts LARK-LDTC FOR MORE INFO: Corners of Longmeadow Street and Western Drive.
Held every 3rd and 5th Thursdays. For more info: 413-567-3451Fri 7/25/25 4:00 - 5:30 pm Town: Westfield Weekly (Fri) Mass Pike Overpass Standout in Westfield - Southampton Rd (Routes 10/202) Indivisible Northampton-Swing Left Western MA FOR MORE INFO: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/797032/
Fri 7/25/25 4:00 - 5:30 pm Town: Longmeadow Overpasses for Democracy: I91-Longmeadow, Bark Haul Road Volunteer organized for Indivisible FOR MORE INFO: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/776018/
Fri 7/25/25 4:00 - 5:30 pm Town: West Springfield Overpasses for Democracy, Brush Hill Avenue, West Springfield, MA Indivisible Northampton-Swing Left Western MA FOR MORE INFO: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/806812/
INFO SHEETS - For Your Information
If you’re new to the Freedom Writers, WELCOME! Check out these INFO SHEETS with lots of great background information:
INFO SHEET: Get Started - Taking Action with Indivisible - Get the most up-to-date information about what is happening in your area through a local Indivisible group!
INFO SHEET: Keeping Your Cool Under the Trump Regime - Access reliable, free news when it counts the most!
INFO SHEET: How to Contact Your Elected Officials - Find out why we act the way we act.
Three AOC Videos About the Importance of Phone Calls Now - Don’t let the MAGAts win the calling our elected officials game.
5 Calls App - Set Up Instructions - This beautiful instruction sheet was written by 3 people who are all over 70 years old. If they can do it, you can do it.