Sarasota's 50501 Protest Carries On
A Vignette with Photos
Addendum: March 8 is International Women’s Day. In Sarasota, there will be a rally at the Bayfront Park between 11 - 1pm. Information is here. This is part of the Rise Together / Resist Together event put on by the Democratic Women’s Club of Sarasota and El Pueblo Unido - Tampa Bay. More events below. . .
As a second 50501 Protest took to the streets on March 4 in Sarasota, Florida, we asked Sarasota resident Judy Eckberg-Robertson what compels her to attend protests. The artist created this visual with her words:
I grew up in the 60s and protesting the Vietnam War was common. We put flowers in our hair and made signs and marched. And somehow, as the years went by, life had deadened that fervor. I don’t know where it went! Jobs, family and just kinda being tired. The couch was more comfortable and yelling at the television and the craziness of it all was a daily occurrence.
I was tired of yelling “what an idiot”. I got my art supplies out, made a sign, and headed to Five Points Park.
I had many emotions standing there with hundreds of fellow Americans. I cried. I couldn’t help it. The emotions just poured out. I am scared for my kids, and for all of us. But sitting on my couch, yelling was not doing anything.
I’m just one voice. One woman. One sign. But I stand for all Americans. ALL. All immigrants. ALL. I stand for Ukraine. I will not sit. I will STAND.
I had to ask Judy if there was a significance in the lines behind and attaching the words in her sign. Her answer: “Wet paint.” She had to get it in the car quickly. Judy added:
I thought and thought of what I wanted to put on a sign - from the extreme to the soupy. I wanted to say something true to who I am. I have friends from the far right, far left and those in between. I love my gay/trans/ and all the colors of the rainbow. I accept them all as they are. We are Americans.
Billy Cox, who writes the Life in Jonestown Substack, stated: “It was good to see so many people, a few hundred anyway, getting so many honks from motorists.” He provided this vantage point.
For more information on a 50501 Rally in your area, go to 50501 — 50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement Dear Bubbie will also keep up with as many movements going on as possible and post them.
On Saturday, 11 - 1, there will be a protest outside the Tesla dealership at 135 University Town Center Drive in Manatee County. (hee! hee!)
The Rise Together, Resist Together event sponsored by the Democratic Women’s Club of Sarasota also takes place on Saturday between 2 - 4pm. Sign up is here.
More upcoming events can be found here.
Breaking: Hard to believe that a bill would be created (even in Florida) lowering the age of gun ownership from 21 to 18. This bill was written by Republican and Trump puppet Randy Fine, who is running for a vacant seat in Congress against Democrat Joel Weil. All the more reason to go to work for Weil, an educator / non-politician.
(Dear Bubbie is organizing a post card campaign, for those that are too timid to phone bank. Stay tuned.)
If you have an event or personal story you’d like to share, please email: jslferguson@gmail.com
No, protesting during the 60s was not as “common” as people think. The vast majority of protests occurred during the presidential election years of 1964 and 1968. It has been a democrat political tactic for more than 60 years.