Several progressive speakers, from a variety of groups, spoke passionately for kindness, equality and justice at a “Stand Up for Each Other” peaceful rally on Sunday, May 31, at MLK Park, 501 Brady St., Davenport.
The event was sponsored by One Human Family of the QCA, Indivisible QC, the Iowa Citizens Action Network, Metrocom NAACP, Metropolitan Community Church, Move On, Pax Christi, Progressive Action for the Common Good, the Quad Cities Immigration Coalition, the QC chapter of the National Organization for Women and the Visibility Brigade.
Rabbi Henry Karp, co-founder of One Human Family, wore a T-shirt that said: “The power of the people is greater than the people in power.”
“Precisely why we're here today,” he told the Sunday gathering of dozens of people. “For five and a half of the last nine and a half years, we have come together for such matters to express our deep concern, indeed our outrage, at all the unthinkable and American injustices inflicted on our neighbors during the two Trump presidencies. We have protested his administration's treatment of immigrants, the LGBTQIA community, especially its transgender members, the Blacks, the Muslims, the right of women to control their own bodies.”
“We have protested his administration's attacks on basic, constitutionally guaranteed rights like freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, due process under the law, and free and fair elections,” Karp said. “We have protested their dismantling of principles such as the system of checks and balances, separation of powers, separation of church and state, and that one is considered innocent until proven guilty.”
“We believe in an America that lifts people, all sorts of people, rather than puts them down,” he said. “We believe in an America that embraces diversity to such an extent that inscribed on our national seal is the phrase ‘E Pluribus Unum’ -- Out of many, one. One nation, America. We believe in an America that prides itself in being the land of liberty and justice for all.”
Karp noted last fall, President Trump signed an executive order officially designating “Antifa” as a domestic terrorist organization. “At the time, he knew that there was no such organization, and the members of his administration knew that as well,” he said. “It was a lie, plain and simple. It was a lie. As we all know, Antifa is just a slang word for anti-fascism, the belief that fascism is an oppressive force form of governance that runs totally contrary to the principles of democracy.
“It is a system in which the powerful few rule the multitude with a narrow mind and an iron fist,” Karp said. “Those in power determine which people are worthy and which are not, who shall have a voice and a direction of our government, and who shall not, who shall be welcomed within our borders and who shall not which residents shall enjoy rights and privileges and which shall not. Fascism is not the American way. That is why we gather to express our commitment to democracy over fascism.”
“We value all of our neighbors, regardless of the race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or whatever their personal diversity happens to be,” he said.
“To classify anti-fascists as terrorists should be a cause for public uproar,” said the Rev. Rich Hendricks, co-founder of One Human Family, who serves as pastor of Metro Community Church Quad Cities, Davenport. “And to label transpersons and their supporters as terrorists is absolutely ridiculous. We are tired of these antics and call on the public to come stand up for each other while we still can.”
He urged attendees to come out and vote on primary day this Tuesday, June 2, and also led the crowd in a number of chants – including “Trans rights are human rights,” and “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here.”
Ensuring voting rights
Michael Guster, president of the NAACP Metrocom branch (in Davenport) spoke in favor of the John R. Lewis Voting Advancement Act, which is named after civil rights activist John Lewis. The bill would restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, most notably its requirement for states and jurisdictions with a history of voting rights violations to seek federal approval before enacting certain changes to their voting laws.
During the Democratic administration and control of Congress in 2021 and 2022, the bill failed to get the 60 Senate votes required to pass, Guster noted.
“It’s like I'm living back in 1965 in Alabama because that's where I was born and I lived through the civil rights movement and all of this ugliness,” he said Sunday. “When the other arm of the Republican body, the Supreme Court, decided to gut what remains of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, it is just a disgrace. And it gives a license for corrupt politicians who wants to rid the system by silencing entire communities. We can't let that happen. We won't let it happen.”
“Let me just tell you what NAACP would not stand by and do. We are not going to stand by idle while the courts attempt to render us sacrifice citizens,” Guster added. “We will not turn around. I'm not going to turn around. We will continue to fight and ensure that our voices are heard in state houses, streets and ballot boxes across these United States of America. Congress must pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act now. We must elect politicians that will get it done.”
The law aims to prevent racial discrimination in voting, he noted. “They must do it this time around. We’ve come too far to turn around. We shall overcome.”
Restoring trans rights
Scott Fieker, a transgender man who works as a professional therapist and volunteers for Clock Inc., spoke out for trans rights and against trans and gay discrimination. He was assigned female at birth, had gender reassignment surgery at 50 and is married to a gay man.
“Transgender, they want to, by law, take our driver's license away, tell us that me as a trans man, that I should be going into the women's restroom. I don't know about you, but that's kind of freaky to me,” Fieker told the crowd. “It is cleaner. But I don't want to be there, and women don't want me there.”
“Our kids don't have problems with this. I've had kids come up to me and say, are you a boy? Are you a girl? And I told them I'm a boy. Oh, okay,” he said. “This is an invisible, just made-up thing. Same as the Haitians are eating your cats and dogs. You know, I did not have my gender surgery, affirmation surgery during recess at school, mainly because I was 50 years old and I wasn't in recess at school.”
“What they're trying to do is divide everybody, make us fearful, just like when the ICE raids happened,” Fieker said. “My standing here today is a risk that I'm taking. I don't know if you are all supporting me.”
“I stand with you,” he added, and all the speakers on the MLK Park stage and in the crowd stood up for him.
Clock Inc. is a Rock Island-based community center for the LGBTQ+ community, offering vital resources, mental health programs, empowerment and advocacy for people to thrive without fear of discrimination, Fieker said. “In fulfilling its mission, Clock offers various life-saving programs including free peer-led community support groups, individual and group counseling, community events, workshops, transgender and LGBT training,” as well as a clothing closet, food pantry and free hydrating products.
Clock Inc. only has two full-time employees and everything else it does is through volunteers, he added.
Protecting immigrants
Allison Ambrose, co-facilitator for the Quad Cities Immigration Coalition, said it was appropriate that the rally was held the last day of May, since June is both National Pride Month and National Immigrant Heritage Month.
“National Immigration Heritage Month is observed every June to celebrate the contributions, resilience, and diverse cultures of immigrants in the United States,” she said. “Both immigrants and allies are encouraged to discover common experiences in order to unite as human beings. Use this month to explore your own heritage story and share it so that we can powerfully demonstrate the unique history of the U.S. as a melting pot.”
“America is always, has been, and always will be a nation of immigrants,” Ambrose said, and she read an Immigration Coalition proclamation she’s presenting to city councils in the area to be approved soon, including Monday, June 1 in East Moline.
After each statement in a Davenport resolution, she asked attendees to shout out, “We stand up for immigrants.”
“Whereas immigrants and refugees reflect the very basis upon which the United States of America was founded…Whereas the city of Davenport has a long and rich history of welcoming and embracing people from all backgrounds, fostering a community where diversity is celebrated and unity thrives,” Ambrose read.
“Whereas the city of Davenport recognizes that immigrants and refugees contribute essential skills as employees and entrepreneurs, strengthening both our local economy and cultural literacy, enriching our community financially and culturally…Whereas the city of Davenport is committed to fostering an inclusive and harmonious community where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their origin, race, or faith…
“Whereas the city of Davenport supports immigrants and refugees, recognizing their invaluable contributions and affirming our commitment to a welcoming and inclusive future for all,” Ambrose said, noting it proclaims June as National Immigrant Heritage Month in Davenport and “encourage all residents to honor the contributions of immigrants and refugees, foster inclusivity, and uphold the values of diversity, unity and mutual respect that define our community.”
Working for changes in government
Caryn Unsicker, board member of Progressive Action for the Common Good, said before the speeches that it’s essential to work for the rights of immigrants and minorities.
“It’s just so disheartening that we have to do this,” she said. “I'm old. I was protesting the Vietnam War in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and we're at a spot now I never thought we'd see. It's worse. We've gone backwards for women's rights, racial equality, everything. We've gone backwards and it's very frightening.
“I think we're at the point now where I'm really worried that our democracy will survive,” Unsicker said, noting the Democratic Party isn’t always right and hasn’t stood up for these rights as they should. “I'm afraid my biggest fear is that in November, I think we're going to blow them out. Democrats will prevail, but I'm most afraid that Trump will prevent it from happening. He's always accusing, saying the elections are rigged when he loses.
“I'm afraid now that he'll lose and take the ballot boxes or God knows they're already gerrymandering,” she added.
Tuesday’s primary is important to pick strong Democrats that may be able to take back the Iowa governor’s and U.S. Senate offices from Republicans, Unsicker said. Gov. Kim Reynolds and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst are not running again, leaving those races open.
Natasha Hoenig of Grand Mound, Iowa attended the rally, wearing many buttons and pins – including a Pride flag, and others that said “LOVE,” “Stand With Black Women,” “We Shall Overcome” and “Free Mom Hugs.”
She’s the leader of Free Mom Hugs Iowa, a member of Moms Demand Action, vice president of QC Pride and also a member of the NAACP Metrocom. The annual QC Pride Festival is next weekend at Schwiebert Park in Rock Island.
Hoenig said she hopes people came away from Sunday’s rally with “just love, be kind, be open minded, love one another,” and felt the current federal administration constantly demonstrates the opposite.
She also held up a sign with a photo of an Urbandale boy who died last November by suicide, and the sign said: “His Name is Miles. Be Kind. If you need help, Be Brave. Call 988,” which is the national 24/7 suicide lifeline.
“He was a 15-year-old boy from Urbandale. So about three hours from here, he ended up killing himself from bullying,” Hoenig said. “He was bullied so badly as a trans child.”
“So we at Free Mom Hugs, we advocate for him to spread his message,” of love, she said. “His mom is just doing incredible things. I'm here to support all, oh my gosh, all of the orgs that I represent.”
Lucia Dryanski of Davenport, a leader in Quad City Community Sing and Singing Resistance, also led group sing-alongs to “Standing Stone,” and “We Got the Power,” the latter of which includes the line, “We take care of each other.”
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