Holding the powerful accountable

A large number of Georgians, with voting histories across the political spectrum, aren’t pleased with how President Donald Trump’s handling his new job. These post-election sentiments aren’t anything new — not everyone has liked every president — but what is novel is the way people show their disdain.

They’re gathering in front of Congressional offices. They’re sending truckloads of mail. They’re getting “woke” to the idea that maybe, just maybe, if they get out from behind the bubble of social media rants and hold conversations with elected officials and neighbors, they can make a difference. And they’re doing so in droves.

“We’re really dismayed by many things that are happening right now. Rather than sitting home expressing our concerns on Facebook, we’re getting out,” said citizen activist Caroline Stover.

Even Atlanta’s bakers organized a grassroots “Cookie Grab,” with all proceeds from 500 boxes of treats going toward Planned Parenthood, said Sarah O’Brien, owner of Little Tart Bakeshop. For individuals who want to become politically active, but don’t know where to start, there are groups such as Galvanize Georgia that help point folks in the right direction.

“Figuring out where your time is best spent is the hardest part,” said Rich Levy, one of several cofounders of Galvanize Georgia. “Find trusted sources, whether it is groups like ours or following political beat reporters at the [Atlanta Journal-Constitution], whether it’s joining an Indivisible group or doing the diametric opposite of that. There are people who don’t want to be confrontational, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a role.” “The one thing that Donald Trump has done for this country is to get people involved in a democracy again,” said Linda Meredith, one of the five organizers behind the Isakson Accountability Coalition and former founder of ACT UP.

“Our whole idea is that what Johnny Isakson … is legislating in Washington, DC, is in no way in the best interests of Georgians,” Meredith said. “We spent a lot of time researching some of his votes since the December Congress began and we paired that with information and data on how Georgians will be impacted by that.”

Meredith chose to focus on Isakson because he’s the senior senator from Georgia with “real impact” in what the Republicans do in Congress. Some of the issues the group plans to address are Isakson’s “avid adulation for Tom Price,” his “cheerleading for Jeff Sessions” and his position on healthcare. Even though Meredith is a lesbian, she said her group isn’t bringing up LGBT rights or “religious freedom” legislation in their messaging just yet because he hasn’t spoken out about them.

“He needs to meet with his constituents inside the metro Atlanta area because the actions that he is currently taking are bad for Georgia,” she said. “He’s never held a meeting with constituents inside the Perimeter.”

Stover, on the other hand, is the organizer of the weekly rallies in front of Sen. David Perdue’s Atlanta office.

By DALLAS ANNE DUNCAN

Above: Alli Royce Soble organized a ‘postcard party’ that led to over 500 postcards being sent to lawmakers calling on them not to defund Planned Parenthood, repeal the Affordable Care Act and more. The next postcard party is March 12. (Photo by Rob Boeger). Left: Nearly 40 Atlantans gathered at Noni’s on Super Bowl Sunday to write about 500 postcards to elected officials, expressing concern about the Trump administration’s actions. (Photo courtesy Alli Royce Soble)

Nearly 150 people showed up to the first rally at Perdue’s office, touted as part of the “Resist Trump Tuesdays” movement. Originally Georgians gathered to raise concern about the president’s cabinet picks, but as the weekly event evolved, it’s become more of a call to action for Perdue to take time and meet with his constituents.

“He says that our rallies are manufactured or that we’re being paid to be there. We really feel that is an incredibly insulting position for our elected official to take, when really we’re a large group of constituents asking for some time with him,” Stover said.

Because Perdue is supportive of the Trump administration, she said it’s important he know not all of his constituents agree with measures they are taking, including the oft-mentioned Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the recently rescinded transgender bathroom guidance documents for schools.

“We know that we don’t have a lot of ability right now to affect a lot of what’s happening in Washington DC because we’re in the minority. That is not going to stop us from holding our elected officials accountable for everything and anything,” Stover said.

And in north Georgia, Athens 4 Everyone is hard at work putting pressure on Rep. Jody Hice, the Congressman who represents the Classic City, to hold a town hall as well.

“We have scheduled our own town hall