Letter from the Chair - May 9, 2022
Kudos to all the women, and a few men, who showed up on Tuesday in Key West and Key Largo to protest the news about the leaked document. There was another protest in Marathon on Friday as well. There will be more! WE WILL NOT GO BACK!
In my reading this week I found this gem from Fabiola Santiago in the Miami Herald. “Nearly one in four US Servicewomen report being sexually assaulted in the Military” (the Times reports). “Why has it been so difficult to change the culture?” The answer to the question dwells in the same territory as the abortion debate: because the needs of women take a backseat to the agenda of males who run the country.
Wake up America!
Maureen Dowd in the NY Times had a few choice words for “Justice” Alito. (That sounds like an oxymoron.)
“The founding fathers would be less surprised that there’s a popular musical about Alexander Hamilton than they would be that, in an age of space travel, the internet, Netflix and in vitro fertilization, the majority of the court is relying on a literal interpretation of a document conceived in the agrarian 1780s.
They would be devastated that the court is just another hack institution with partisan leaks. Alito helped open the door to dark money and helped gut the Voting Rights Act, but he wants to ban abortion largely because, he says, the Constitution doesn’t expressly allow it. That’s so fatuous. The Constitution doesn’t mention an awful lot of things that the court involves itself with. But while it expressly prohibits state-sanctioned religion, this court seems ready to let some rebel public school football coach convene a prayer session after games. These rogue justices are always ready to twist the Constitution to their purposes.
They are strict constructionists all right, strictly interested in constructing a society that comports with their rigid, religiously driven worldview. It is outrageous that five unelected, unaccountable, and relatively unknown political operatives masquerading as impartial jurists can so profoundly alter our lives.
Chief Justice Roberts has been trying to protect the court’s reputation by working to split the difference on some of these explosive decisions. He may be doing that in this case. But he has lost control of a lost-its-marbles majority. To borrow an image from the great Mary McGrory, “Roberts seems like a small man trying to walk a large dog. At this point, he can’t even see the end of the leash.”
She was way kinder than I would have been!
The Keys Dems voting members passed a resolution this week asking the senate and the President to throw out the filibuster and get some important legislation passed – codify Roe vs. Wade in its original form. Then we could pass national voting laws – simple rules that govern every election and get rid of the electoral college. This is being sent via certified mail. However, I did email the President and Chuck Schumer. You can do that too! Take a few moments out of your day and make a call, send an email, write a letter.
Government Meetings This Week
Tuesday, May 10 – The Monroe County School Board will meet at 4:30pm in the Media Center At Coral Shores High School, 89901 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, FL. For details & agenda, click here.
Tuesday, May 10 – Marathon City Council will meet at 5:30pm in Council Chambers at 9805 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL. For details, click here.
Wednesday, May 11 – The Utility Board of the City of Key West (Keys Energy Services) will meet in the Board room at 1001 James St, Key West, FL at 5pm. For details click here.
Thursday, May 12 – The Islamorada Village Council will meet at 3pm in the Founders Park Community Center, 87000 Overseas Hwy, Plantation Key. For details, agenda and zoom link, click here.
Thursday, May 12 – The City of Key Colony Beach City Commission will meet at 9:30am in the City Hall Auditorium & via Zoom. For more detail and agenda, click here.
Coming Events
Wednesday, May 11 – The Lower Keys Dems will meet at the Coral City Elks Club, 1107 Whitehead St, Key West, FL at 5:30pm. This meeting will be an in-person/hybrid zoom for those not ready for face-to-face. Our guest speaker will be Ray Warren, a retired attorney, and Circuit Court Judge. He will speak about the leaked Alito opinion and its ramifications.
Thursday, May 12 – The Keys Immigrant Coalition will meet at 5:30pm in the Klaus Murphy Center (between St. Mary’s Cathedral and Mary Immaculate School) on Truman Ave. Zoom or call in available.
Thursday, May 12 – The Stock Island Association will hold it’s monthly meeting at 7pm in the Bernstein Park Building. For more info, call Diane at 305-896-8678.
Saturday, May 14 – Bans off our Bodies Rally at Bayview Park, corner of Truman Ave and Eisenhower Dr. in Key West from 10am to noon or longer. There will be speakers, voter registration, music, and sign-making or bring your own. Sign letter to our elected officials in DC. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and a chair if you cannot stand. This event is being put on by members of NOW, ACLU, Women’s March, Ruth’s List, and the Keys Dems.
Saturday, May 14 – Pro-Choice Rally/Protest will be held from 10am - noon in Marathon on US1 in front of the old K-Mart store. Bring your own signs or use some of ours. Local activists and the Keys Dems are participating. Time to step up!
Wednesday, May 18 – The Upper Keys Dems will meet at 5:30pm in the Community Room at the Key Largo Library.
Thursday, May 19 – the Middle Keys Dems will meet at 5:30pm in the Community Room of the Marathon Public Library.
WAKE UP AMERICA!
Now is the time to get involved. Sign up to volunteer!
I hope to see you soon!
Bert Sise/Chair
KeysDems
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept!” - Angela Davis