February 2026

28 Feb 2026

Terrible start this morning … the first thing Dave said to me this morning was, “I turned off the news, I can’t stand it. He bombed Iran.” I replied, “**!!@&$!”

Two days ago, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led his country's delegation in the high-stakes nuclear talks in Geneva said "good progress" had been made and while there had been agreement on some issues, differences remained on others. He said more negotiations would happen in less than a week. There had been no official reaction from the US. 

Obviously the” official US reaction” was to bomb Iran. Why didn’t #47 work with his Board of Peace? 

Lie #1: "It's time for peace."- Trump 

The Board of Peace was launched in Washington on February 19, 2026. #47 convened the inaugural meeting of his newly formed Board of Peace at the U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters, a building that now bears his name. Its stated aims are to stabilize the Middle East region, with ambitions to address global conflicts as an alternative to the U.N.. #47 also said it would investigate "hotspots" around the world. I guess #47 was bored and needed a “hotspot.” He created a “hotspot” even though talks with Iran were ongoing – it was his choice to commit an act of war.  

Meanwhile, at least 80 people including school children have been KILLED … so far. 

Lie #2: Trump has pledged to deport “the worst of the worst.”

During his 2024 campaign and second term, Donald Trump frequently promised that his administration's deportation efforts would focus on removing the "worst of the worst"- criminals, gang members, and murderers. 

However, investigations and data analyses from 2025–2026, including reports from the Cato Institute and Transactional Records Clearinghouse (TRAC), suggested that in some periods, over 40% to 92% of those detained had no criminal record at all. Over 50 people have DIED in ICE or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody during the current administration. Two people were also shot and KILLED by agents.

If it wasn’t for my fellow “Beach” people joining together every Saturday for “sign waving” and good conversation, I would sink into a deep depression fueled by frustration. Instead, we register voters, sign candidate petitions, and collect food and personal hygiene items for community members in need. We will not be silent.

Vigilance. Resistance. PERSISTANCE! 

21 Feb 2026

Another great Sign Waving Saturday! I don’t know if Stephen Colbert’s interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, who confronted Christian Nationalism, had anything to do with the three Christians who I met today but there were new faces and more free speech. One man talked with me about Trump and the Book of Revelations, and he gave me some reading material.  Another man (I didn’t get a picture of his sign) wanted to call people to “Jesus” and to love one another. The third, a woman, wanted to proclaim that “Diversity is God’s Idea.” We welcome them, and their messages. Every “sign waving” participant expresses their thoughts, ideas, and opinions as protected by the First Amendment.

Sidebar: I was heartened to see there was a March for Peace and Dignity in the Quad Cities, from Illinois across the bridge to Iowa in winter weather! “Love thy Neighbor” “Welcome the Stranger” – a peaceful, moving meditation – I salute you!

The positive news continues - More “young” people are joining us! I conversed with a young man and learned about his manga pirate flag - One Piece.  The One Piece pirate flag, featuring a skull and straw hat, emerged in 2025 as a global Gen Z symbol of anti-corruption and anti-authoritarian protest. Representing themes of freedom, rebellion against oppressive systems, and "Straw Hat" solidarity, it has appeared in demonstrations in Indonesia, Nepal, Madagascar, France, Peru, the USA and right here in Neptune Beach, Florida. Welcome!

My signs were inspired by the continuing efforts of #47 to put partisan pressure on our military. Last week at Fort Bragg, North Carolina he told troops, “You have to vote for us.” (More instances of his partisanship pressure are listed in the comments.) It is evident Trump is not familiar with the Army Field manual: “The Army as an institution must be nonpartisan and appear so too. Nonpartisanship assures the public that our Army will always serve the Constitution and our people with loyalty and responsibility.”

“There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.” John Adams, Diary entry, Spring 1772.

Vigilance. Resistance. Persistence.  

 14 Feb 2026

Happy Valentine’s Day! My signs this week were inspired by Valentine’s Day, my favorite Patti Smith song, “People have the Power”, and the U. S. Constitution (of course!).

It was as a “Choose-Your-Own-Path” kind of week. We experienced two distinctive and diverse paths in life that converged in Washington D. C. One was the Walk for Peace in support of lovingkindness and peace throughout the world. The other path led to a Congressional hearing. There the Attorney General answered each question by referring to a binder full of prepared insults - the “Bondi Binder.” She was clearly on another path, a path of incompetence and insult. I can’t think of any other example that demonstrates the essence of the divide in our country today. 

During the Walk for Peace, the Buddhist monks experienced many encounters with “Christians” who used insulting language and held signs that read “you’re gonna burn in hell.” The monks could’ve continued walking and ignored the “Christians,” but they stopped. The monks were not silent. Neither did they refer to a “Bondi Binder” of insults. Instead, they calmly explained they were assembled, walking together, as a moving petition for peace and lovingkindness. Then they moved on - they persisted, step-by-step.

After 2300 miles, the monks were greeted in D. C. with large crowds, flowers, and friendly voices - "Thank you!” - “We love you!” - “Peace be with you!” 

Today, and every day, we can walk in peace. We don’t need to take the “Bondi Binder” path of hate, nor do we need to ignore injustice in silence. We can speak, assemble, and petition for a government that upholds the Constitutional and Human Rights of ALL people. We can take the path of nonviolent resistance. 

Vigilance. Resistance. Persistence.

 

Postscript: 

Counter "Protester" - Actually the arrow looks like it is pointing to him!

Obviously, this counter protester is following the “Bondi Binder” path - while lounging! Nothing on the sign about the Constitution or current events, just an insult. We are taking another path ... keep-on-keeping on! 

7 Feb 2026

Today 100+ people stood together for community “sign waving” - BONUS many young people are participating! A Registrar was on hand to handle Voter Registration and answer questions. 

Also joining us was Rachel Grage. She was collecting signatures for her Candidate Petition to run against Republication Representative Rutherford (he who refuses to hold public meetings!!!). I foresee a Grage for Congress sign in my future. 

I stood with my first-ever sign and my favorite sign.  They define my major “gripe” with 47 and his supporters. (Basic decency and humane treatment of ALL people - are my paramount issues). Not only does 47 think the Declaration of Independence is a "love letter" (!!?) but, when asked if he needed to uphold the Constitution as president, Trump answered, - “I don’t know.” But WE the People know. It’s your job! Read Article 2, Section 1, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution.

I also updated my sign about gerrymandering. 47 sued California over their voter approved redistricting and lost. Now he wants to “nationalize” elections in “15 states” (guess which states?!) But WE the People know better! Check out Article 1, Section 4, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution.

Still getting flipped off but also receiving many more supportive gestures compared to when I started with Neptune Beach Coalition 8 months ago. Plus, Firepit, Tim’s Bluetooth speaker, and the “Bongo Man” made for an excellent, musical morning. 

Vigilance. Resistance. Persistence.

January 2026

31 Jan 2026

This week we had about 100 people together for some old-fashioned sign waving. I didn’t take many photos because I was too “busy” talking to people! Today was also the first time, Police (the Good Guys) had to be called. A man (obviously a Trump supporter) was ranting and walking through our crowd, chest-bumping other men, pushing women, and swatting people’s signs while filming with his phone. When a member of our Safety team stepped in to deescalate, he even put his hands on her.

We are photographed and videoed every week by strangers, get flipped off, and have obscenities yelled at us, big whoop. Physical contact, NOPE, step too far. The Police were called; ranting man had a conversation with the police officers and left on his own accord. 

That man may have been attempting to display his “masculinity,” Contrast his behavior with Alex Pretti who was killed while helping a woman who had been violently shoved to the ground by a federal agent. Alex’s last words were, “Are you okay?” Who displayed the most masculinity, – the federal agent - Alex - the ranting man?

 “There’s no such thing as ‘toxic masculinity…there’s cruelty, criminality, bullying, predation, and abuse of power. If you’re guilty of any of these things, or conflate being a man with coarseness and savagery, you’re not masculine; you’re anti-masculine.” – Scott Galloway

Amen. Masculinity is not the megalomaniacal narcissism of Donald Trump, the violence of ICE agents, or the abuse of others. Men standing up nonviolently to support, defend, and protect your and your neighbors' Constitutional rights – now that’s masculinity. 

 

Men, be yourself, be kind to others and yourself. Get out there and experience life with genuine masculinity, integrating strength with emotional control, self-awareness, responsibility, and compassion. Don’t rely on external displays like aggression or wealth to define your worth. Our nation needs your courage – your genuine masculinity.

Women, “Look for the helpers.” – Mr. Rogers 

Vigilance. Resistance. Persistence.

24 Jan 2026

Today in Minneapolis, another American killed by ICE. I am sick to my stomach. I wrote my post before our sign waving and before I learned about the killing of Alex Pretti. I contemplated not posting. But no, that’s exactly what an authoritarian government wants - silence from the people. I will not be silent. I spent the morning with 75 other resisters, and I want our efforts to be documented. So here goes …

Yesterday in Minneapolis: “Status Coup News interviewed a protester walking down the street holding a sign that said: “CLASSIC NAZI BLUNDER: INVADING IN WINTER.” 

The protester said this: “There is a minority who is trying to create a post-law, order less, lawless society, where their might makes right. And because, you know, they have guns and are willing to use them, they think they can suspend the Constitution … they’ve gassed people, they've shot people, you know, hit people with beanbag guns and batons for exercising their First Amendment rights.”

 

Seven years after World War II, Milton Mayer, American journalist and educator, moved to Germany to conduct extensive interviews of Germans. Of particular interest to Mayer was how most Germans were able to be silent about the targeting of groups of people for persecution, beatings, and murder. “That they, or some of their countrymen and their country’s government, violated the precepts of Christian, civilized, lawful life was bad enough; that they won’t see it, or say it, is what really rowels … They did not care enough.”

Mayer went on to say, " I came back home a little afraid for my country, afraid of what it might want, and get.”

History reminds us that seemingly reasonable people choose to ignore a regime that commits increasingly criminal acts, even genocide. They are silent. Indeed, as one German astutely observed, all that was (and is!) required of people in an authoritarian regime – “is that we do nothing.” 

Many of us engaged in resistance actions like sign waving, have been told to “shut up” or have been ghosted by family and friends because we are “too political.” However, we take to heart the laments of many Germans who survived World War II – “If only I had resisted in 1935 the horrors of the war and the Holocaust might never have happened.” Their resistance then could have, in one German’s words, “heartened millions” of other Germans to speak out against rising fascism.

 

Now is the right time to be “too political!” We won’t stop being a visible sign of resistance, speaking out against this Administration. - “The indictment of the ordinary German is powerful for its refusal to let the rest of us pretend that our moment, our society, our country are fundamentally immune” to authoritarianism.

Vigilance. Resistance. Persistence.

20 Jan 2026

After volunteering today, I went to the library to return some books and pick up my hold.

And what did my wondering eyes see? But a pop-up protest! I joined the group and met several new, enthusiastic people. 

  

  

Bonus: Lots of honks, waves, and thumbs up. Plus, a man saw us, turned into the parking lot, parked, got out of his car and proceeded to shake each person’s hand with a sincere, “Thank you.”

 

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

17 Jan 2026

This morning community members once again joined together in non-violent protest expressing their First Amendment right of free speech. We also participated in a Day of Service to Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , by donating personal care items for Mission House. 

Especially meaningful for me today are the life-lessons of Dr.King. He discovered non-violence practices during his studies in India in 1959.  Dr. King recognized Gandhi's work as a modern application of ancient spiritual wisdom, rooted in texts like the Bhagavad Gita. 

Dr. King learned about non-violent resistance, a philosophy he adopted and adapted. He understood selfless service embodying the principles of duty, self-discipline, and acting without attachment to results. Dr. King then applied these ideals to the American Civil Rights Movement. 

“We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal" … It was "illegal" to aid and comfort a Jew in Hitler's Germany. Even so, I am sure that, had I lived in Germany at the time, I would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers… Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Thank you, Dr. King. 

Vigilance. Resistance. Persistence. 

10 Jan 2026: ICE Out for Good

  

Approximately 200 people attended our “ICE out for good” event today - a great turn out! Firepit led us in song while “The Bubble Guy” lifted spirits. 

Plus, we collected personal hygiene items for Mission House which serves homeless people in our community as part of our two-week service project in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King.

About my signs: I am reminded of the book The Stranger by Albert Camus, where a man shot a stranger on a beach because he feels “threatened.” - “His inability to feel any emotion is dramatically revealed when he shoots a stranger after an altercation on the beach. Five shots: first one and then four more. The “four more” is what eventually gets him convicted.”

The killing of Renee Nicole Good, with the “two more” point-blank shots (after the first shot through the windshield) followed by the shooter calling Renee a “f**kin’ b**tch” is what convicted the ICE agent in the eyes of world.

The “two more” through the side window is evidence that ICE agents are not professional law enforcement. They do not enhance public safety, preserve life, or attempt to deescalate tensions. Instead ICE acts like an unprofessional, paramilitary gang beating, kidnapping, and killing people to meet Stephen Miller’s deportation quota. 

We are not safe.

3 Jan 2026

Protest is not an endeavor that delivers immediate results; it requires considerable time, along with patience, perseverance, and courage from all involved. Brookings Institute research indicates that effective protests have demonstrated that long-term success involves many steps, from consistent protests - large and small - to community engagement to candidate support and get-out-the-vote efforts. We are resolved to sustain vigilance and resistance to this authoritarian regime.

And some good news (especially for Floridians!): “We do think we’re seeing a shift in the willingness of people in pro-Trump areas in the country to participate in a broader mass movement emerging in opposition to many of his administration’s policies." - Erica Chenoweth 

Keep on keepin’ on!