I’m on strike. 

It is not against my boss (me) but against my government.  I can not keep pretending this behavior is normal and just go to work expecting the next elections will wipe away this authoritarian stain.  Dictators do not give up power willingly and I am sure there are extensive plans to undermine the next election, much like the democratically elected dictators in Hungary, Turkey, Russia, and yes, 1930s Germany.  I have been inspired by the many veterans I have met at the many protests I’ve been to this year that keep telling me that this is exactly what they and their parents fought and died to prevent.

It is with radical love and courage that I am withholding my labor.  I know this will be disruptive to my clients, but I think drastic action is called for. These are the RED LINES that our president has crossed that disqualify him from office and convince me that he is an autocrat amassing power that must be stopped as soon as possible:

1. President Trump has demonstrated that he does not intend to admit losing a fair election (Jan 6), violating the CORE principle of a peaceful transfer of power.

2. He demonstrated a disregard for the judiciary when he flew multiple flights of immigrants to a torturous prison in El Salvador AFTER a judge had ordered the planes grounded. First they came for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and I did not speak out - because I was not Kilmar Abrego Garcia…

3. He has killed about 80 people about a thousand miles away from America with no evidence, no due process to present evidence, no follow up investigation, and for alleged crimes that do not even have the death penalty.  This makes him judge, jury, and executioner.

4. Just a few days ago he crossed another red line when he implied some members of congress should face the death penalty for saying “You must not follow illegal orders.”  

It is these unprecedented and inexcusable attacks on the balance of power that have urged me to action.

There is a path out of this.  I have set a very simple demand to be met that will bring me back to work:  Impeachment and removal from office of Donald John Trump.  I don’t know how long this will take. The answer depends on if the average reader of this message is inspired by my action to take action of their own, or if they skim it and forget about it.

How can you help the strike succeed?

The smallest action you can take is to tell your friends.  You know somebody who is on strike: me.  Talk about the seriousness of the issue with friends and family who voted for Trump.  You don’t have to rehash the global warming fight!  All of our silly little policy differences (about healthcare, climate change, housing unaffordability) can only be addressed in a Democracy where we can openly debate different ideas.  First we have to make sure we don’t fall into decades of fascism.  

Staying informed as a citizen gives you the tools for your own liberation.  Here are some FREE daily emails I have signed up for that I believe are a healthy part of a varied and diverse news diet:

• Heather Cox Richardson - Straight shooting historian providing context to the most important news of the day, with an extensive list of cited sources.

• Paul Krugman - Nobel prize winning economist and journalist who focuses more on the economy.

Another way you can help is to vote with your dollars.  There are 2 overlapping boycotts starting this week.  One specifically asks to not buy from Amazon, Target, or Home Depot from November 27 - December 1, organized by We Ain't Buying It .  The other is a little broader, called The Mass Blackout and says only buy from small businesses starting yesterday, the 25, through next Tuesday December 2.  Since most of you live around me, I’ll share my secret spot: the Sandy Spring Museum has a Crafts Holiday Gift Show November 28 - December 23 and every member of my family has a gift from one of the local artists there.

Since we are fighting a regime that seeks to sow division, distrust, and hate, I am going to try to counter it with connection, trust, and love. I have found these groups helpful and giving them your email address will plug you in to local actions you can take:

• https://indivisible.org/ - Informs me of small protests close to my zip code

• https://www.fiftyfifty.one/ - Helps organize protests and the We Ain't Buying It boycott.

• https://front.moveon.org/#join - Helps progressive (instead of regressive) candidates win elections.

• https://refusefascism.org/ - Organizes protests like Surround the White House on December 13 at 2pm and has a permanent presence on the National Mall as of November 5.

• https://generalstrikeus.com/strikecard - A movement to start a general strike with a long list of demands.  They have good explanations of why striking is important.  

The most impactful way you can help is to JOIN THE STRIKE NOW! Strikes demonstrate the power of the people. While I am just one person, every major movement starts with individual moral decisions. I am not starting a movement, I am joining one: the movement to remove this autocrat and secure a safe and free future for my nieces and nephews. For those currently employed, talk to your coworkers about collective action. Your bosses may be sympathetic, as the business can fully resume once the autocratic threat is removed. The strike is not just about opting out of work to grind the economy to a halt; it is about opting in to the movement. Retired people can join, too! Opting in means helping protest in any way you can—whether by bringing sandwiches to the National Mall protests, calling your representatives with this newfound free time, or using your unique skill (I'll certainly be making protest art). Don’t do this quietly. Copy this email into a document, rework it to fit your circumstances, and email it to every contact you have. The bigger and the sooner, the better.  Waiting is not an option.  Once our grievance is addressed, we can all get back to work.  

The time is NOW.  Before more hate and division are sown, before we start an oil war with our neighbors, before we are sent to foreign prisons without due process, before we let Russia win, before Christmas … if you join me. Everybody demand impeachment!  Trump must go NOW!

Thank you so much for reading this.  In a very real way, my strike will only truly succeed if I inspire somebody else to action.  Happy Thanksgiving.  I love you. 

Colin Vale

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