Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Election Day Report from Philly #SouthPhillyVotes #CountEveryVote #ProtectEveryVote

 

Scenes from a day in South Philly, #southphillyvotes. One woman even brought a goat.
Photo by Chana Widawski 


 

I didn’t really know what to do on election day.

Phone banking the last few days started hit diminishing returns.

Most everyone had already voted or wasn’t picking up.

I’d written hundreds of cards to Georgia and Pennsylvania voters.

Even more phone calls.

Babs was going to election watch and turn out the vote in Philly.

I signed up to be a safety captain in South Philly.

Elizabeth Fiedler’s campaign suggested I go to Marconi (2800 S BROAD ST), where a Columbus statue was a flashpoint all summer, with Proud Boys showing up to fight.

Ken and I arrived in Philly at 715 AM, where a line wrapped around the block, many Trump supporters.

This was certainly not going to be a site for the Proud Boys to menace voters. They were supporting their cause.

On a bright fall day, a half dozen election observers, representatives from political candidates, a few union members were there to make sure everyone was able to vote. Everyone has a right to vote. But, will all the mail in ballots be counted?

All was quiet, but there were a lot of Trump signs here in South Philly.

 

By 8 AM, a woman showed up, tearing a few of the Trump signs down.

“They can’ t be here,” she says.

A few of us look up the rule, technically, no signs or electioneering to can be within ten feet of the polling place.

There is a sign outside the gate, which is ten feet or so from the door.

So its not clear.

A group starts recovering the signs.

“Get on your bike and mind your business,” says one man to her, a few others moving right up to her face. “Now that’s voter intimidation.”

Ken starts to ask her to calm down and step away.

A few others call the DA’s office for clarity.

“She came out of her mother’s ass, not her vagina,” says another Trump supporter, always warm and eloquent.

Wow.

A woman in a Philly baseball cap and USA sweatshirt starts screaming.

“You ought to read your Bible.  I’m not here to negotiate with heresies,” says she.

I’m wondering what the bible has to do with it.

We’d all rather have it be quiet day at the polls.

Everyone has a right to the franchise.

A few Trump voters drive by honking.

A cop comes to make sure this is not voter intimidation, questioning everyone.

He’s not sure about the ten foot rule.

The Trump supporters are fired up now.

“Why call them?” says one man in a Trump sweatshirt. “But they don’t when they are wrecking our stores.  Fucking animals.”

I’m thinking about the training the night before on de-escalation.  Since Trump signaled to the Proud Boys to “stand by” during the first debate everyone has been concerned about their presence.

We’d seen them at the Supreme Court and the streets of Brooklyn menacing voters.

We know we get more with sugar than salt.

Fighting with them only plays into their game.

“I’m for more singing and dancing,” says a man at the safety captain training the night before.

Me too.

Everyone wants a fair and safe election.

The fighting over the last four years has taken a toll on everyone, the erosion of Trust, of goodwill, the losses from COVID, police violence, kids in cages on the border.

“We’re now a week since the loss of Walter Wallace,” says one of the men at the training, referring to the death of a Black man at the hands of the police the week prior.  “Sometimes its like groundhog day, with us having to march after loss after loss after loss of Black men at the hands of the police.”

Our role as safety captains is to fight voter suppression in Black and brown communities, to minimize feelings of risk.

Word on the streets is Trump is targeting Philly for voter suppression.

Everyone knows Pennsylvania is a must win for the president.

If he can’t win the votes, he can suppress them.

We want to be a warm and friendly presence.

We all have a right to be here.

Can we make voting fun and joyous?

That’s our job.

Voters can still drop off votes on election day.

They can vote provisionally.

But it is easier to drop off ballot than to relinquish absentee ballots and vote right there.

Call the DA if there is violence.

Love conquers hate, says one of the trainers.

Joy is how we will win.

Radical Joy.

And dancing.

Have fun.

Ground yourself  in it say the trainers.

 

Our morning poll watching crew is tight, friendly and chatty.

One woman brings a goat with her to vote.

Across Philly, people are canvasing, playing music; bands are in the streets.

At Marconi, they finally bring a few more signs for Biden Harris to counterbalance the Trump signs.

We have to pull another Trump sign from the inside of the polling station.

The state rep for the district is solid blue.

All morning we chat about the Trump years, the threats, the challenges.

“It was the Trump supporters who said we were going to tear down the statue,” says one of the poll watchers.  “That was never our intention. But they came here all summer to fight.”

Its hard for anyone to feel optimistic after the 2016 debacle.

But the voting feels fair. 
And the lines are short.

The vegan Philly Cheese Steak is delicious.

Despite a few Trumpers carrying firearms, it still feels calm here.

Voting numbers are way up, but we know Trump lawyers want to throw out absentee ballots, like Florida.   All day, I am having flashbacks to dangling chads from 2000 and the Florida recount that the Supreme Court ended, siding with the previous president’s son. The specter of 2000 when the supreme court rules lingers in the air.

By 2004 incumbency saved the president and he added supreme court judges to the conservative majority.

No one wants this to get to the courts.

Let’s count every vote.

But perhaps, things might change.

But the fight is going to be real.

And everyone knows it.

But even if Biden gets elected, he has to clean up another mess, just like Obama did in 2008, if.

The Trump years have been hard on many of us.

But we have to keep going.

“Fuck it, we’re in the struggle” says Ken.

“Fuck it.”

 

By the end of election night, the president is already absurdly declaring victory.

Don’t mourn, organize.

#counteveryvote

And then Protect the Results.

 

 

Andrea Vásquez

 

 

Dear Members,

 

Tomorrow is election day.

 

The PSC urges each of you to vote and, of course, we respect each member’s individual right to decide whom to vote for. As a union, we believe this is the most important election in generations. The PSC leadership has joined unions and progressive groups across the state in urging members to vote for the Biden/Harris ticket on the Working Families Party ballot line. We believe a vote for Biden/Harris on the WFP line is the best choice in this election for working people, unions and our students.

 

Over the past year, this country has seen increased voter suppression and obstruction and attempts to undermine the legitimacy of mail-in ballots and the election itself. These attacks on our democracy will continue through election day and may include acts of violence and intimidation in addition to the expected legal maneuverings. Incredibly, we may also see a refusal to count millions of legitimate votes that have already been cast across the country.

 

In response to this existential threat to our rights as citizens, labor unions and others have made plans to come out onto the streets in the days after the election, in cities and towns everywhere. From small community organizations to the AFL-CIO, millions are united around the common goal of counting every vote, defending the democratic election and ensuring a peaceful transition of power. The effort starts with election day voting but—unless Biden has a clear and decisive victory by Wednesday— it may continue for days, weeks, or even into next year: fighting to count every vote, defending against subversion of election results, and defending an orderly transition until the January 20th inauguration. The future is on the line. We need millions on the streets across the country in repeated demonstrations until there is electoral justice.

 

Here are the groups the PSC is a part of and here is how you can participate. Our national union, the American Federation of Teachers, is working intensely with a broad coalition of groups and interests on a plan to protect the election. You will be receiving updates from the AFT about mass mobilizations in the days immediately after the vote. The PSC is also working with Protect the Results (PTR) and Labor Action to Defend Democracy (LADD), groups that are organizing nationally alongside the big national unions. As in any fast-developing coalition effort, there is overlap between actions.  PTR is planning demonstrations in New York City, and AFT and LADD are focused on Saturday, the 7th. The key goal for all is getting masses of people ON THE STREETS in the days following the election. Lawyers and politicians will play key roles, but nothing will speak louder than masses of people demonstrating for justice.

 

Protect the Results

Wednesday, Nov. 4th  4:00 New York Public Library, march downtown

PSC will meet at 3:45 on Fifth Ave. and 41st St.

 

March to “Count Every Damn Vote”

Saturday, Nov. 7th   1:00 Columbus Circle, march downtown

PSC will meet at 12:30 at Lincoln Center, Columbus Ave. between 64th and 65th St.

 

I understand that not everyone is able to attend an outdoor demonstration but, for those who can, I hope you will make every effort to join with other PSC members at this historic moment. Our presence in every town and city in the U.S. is at least as important as our vote.

 

In solidarity,

 

Andrea Vásquez

PSC First Vice President










































































As usual, Ken Schles took the best photos of the day. 

























5 comments:

  1. I want to thank Dr Emu a very powerful spell caster who help me to bring my husband back to me, few month ago i have a serious problem with my husband, to the extend that he left the house, and he started dating another woman and he stayed with the woman, i tried all i can to bring him back, but all my effort was useless until the day my friend came to my house and i told her every thing that had happened between me and my husband, then she told me of a powerful spell caster who help her when she was in the same problem I then contact Dr Emu and told him every thing and he told me not to worry my self again that my husband will come back to me after he has cast a spell on him, i thought it was a joke, after he had finish casting the spell, he told me that he had just finish casting the spell, to my greatest surprise within 48 hours, my husband really came back begging me to forgive him, if you need his help you can contact him with via email: Emutemple@gmail.com or add him up on his whatsapp +2347012841542 is willing to help any body that need his help. 

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello everyone, my name is Alfreed siang  i am here to say a big thank you to my doctor DR OLU who helped me enlarge my penis.i have never had a happy relationship in my life because of my inability to perform well due to my small penis, due to frustration,i went online in search of solution to ending my predicament and than i came across testimony on how DR OLU has helped them, so i contacted him and he promised to help me with penis enlargement,i doubted at first but i gave him a trial and he sent me the product which i used according to his prescription and in less than a week,i saw changes in my penis and it grow to the size i wanted and since then,i am now a happy man and no lady complains again about my penis.if you also need the services of my doctor,you can also contact him on his email..  drolusolutionhome@gmail.com   or his whataspp is +2348140654426






















      Hello everyone, my name is Alfreed siang  i am here to say a big thank you to my doctor DR OLU who helped me enlarge my penis.i have never had a happy relationship in my life because of my inability to perform well due to my small penis, due to frustration,i went online in search of solution to ending my predicament and than i came across testimony on how DR OLU has helped them, so i contacted him and he promised to help me with penis enlargement,i doubted at first but i gave him a trial and he sent me the product which i used according to his prescription and in less than a week,i saw changes in my penis and it grow to the size i wanted and since then,i am now a happy man and no lady complains again about my penis.if you also need the services of my doctor,you can also contact him on his email..  drolusolutionhome@gmail.com   or his whataspp is +2348140654426

























      Delete
    2. Hello viewers around the Globe, I was despondent because i had a very small penis, about 2.5 inches soft and 4 inches hard not nice enough to satisfy a woman, i have been in so many relationship, but cut off because of my situation, i have used so many product which doctors for me, but none could offer me the help i searched for. i saw some few comments on the INTERNET about this specialist called Dr,OLU and decided to contact him on his email: Drolusolutinthome@gmail.com) so I decided to give his herbal product a try. i emailed him and he got back to me, he gave me some comforting words with his herbal pills for Penis Enlargement, Within 3 week of it, i began to feel the enlargement was surprised when she said that she is satisfied with my sex and i have got a large penis. Am so happy, thanks to Dr OLU I also learn that Dr OLU also help with Breast Enlargement Hips and Bums Enlargement etc.. If you are in any situation with a little Penis, weak ejaculation, small breast_hips_bums do get to Dr OLU now for help on his email ( Drolusolutionhome@gmail.com ) or add him on whatsapp line +2348140654426 

      Delete
  2. HAVE YOU LOST YOUR HARD EARNED FUNDS TO THE WRONG HANDS?
    MEET THE PROFESSIONAL HACKERS FOR HIRE TODAY. (leroysteckler@gmail.com)
    ⏱️ 2min Read.
    Hiring a professional hacker has been one of the world's most technical valued navigating information regarding;
    •RECOVERY OF LOST FUNDS,
    •MOBILE PHONE HACKS.(Catching A Cheating Spouse).
    •CREDIT SCORE UPGRADE,
    •PENETRATION OF WEBSITES AND DATABASE,
    •UNLOCKING FROZEN CRYPTO WALLET.
    High prolific information and Privileges comes rare as it has been understood that what people do not see, they will never know. Welcome to the Global KOS hacking agency where every request on hacking related issues are fixed within a short period of time.
    When you wonder “which hacking company should I hire, the first aspect that should concern you is Sincerity. Secondly, Rapid response. Clearly, you want to embark for services that provide swift responses. With our astonishing Hackers, our services Implies precision and action.
    This post is definitely for those who are willing to turn their lives around for better, either financial-wise, relationship-wise or businesses.
    However, If your shoe fits in any of the services below, you will be assigned to a designated professional hacker who is systematically known for operating on a dark web V-link protocol. The manual Operation of this hackers is to potentially deploy a distinguished hacking technique to penetrate computers to meet your request. Providing value added services to clients as a hacker has been our sustaining goal.Are you faced with cyber challenges like
    RECOVERY OF LOST FUNDS:
    ✅(BITCOIN INVESTMENTS, BINARY OPTIONS, LOAN AND TRADING FOREX WITH FORGERY BROKERS.)
    ️I would try my possible best to shortly explain this in particular. This shocking study points to one harsh reality we all face today. It saddens our mind when a client expresses annoyance or dissatisfaction of unethical behaviors of scammers. We have striven to make tenacious efforts to help those who are victims of this flees get off their traumatic feeling of loss. The cyber security technique used to retrieve back the victims stolen funds is the application of a diverse intercall XX breacher software enables you track the data location of a scammer. Extracting every information on the con database. Every information required by the Global KOS would be used to tracking every transaction, time and location of the scammer. This is achieved using the systematic courier tracking base method.
    And also, there are secret cyber infiltrators called brokers and doom. The particular system used by this scammers permeates them to manipulate targeted digital trading system or monetary fund based accounts. Strictly using a dark web rob to diverting successful trades into a negative outcome. This process bends to their advantage while investors results to losing massive amount of money. An act of gaining access to an organization or database system to cause damages. We have worked so hard to ensure our services gives you a 100% trading success to recover from all your losses.
    HACKING A MOBILE PHONE:.
    ✅ Do you think you are being cheated on? Curious to know what your lover is up to online? This company will helps you track every movement of your cheater. As we are bent on helping you gain full remote access into the cheater's mobile phone using a Trojan breach cracking system to penetrate their social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, snapchat, and clone every incoming messages.
    The company is large enough to provide comprehensive range of services such as.
    • EMAIL HACKS
    • HACKING A FRAUDULENT WEBSITE.
    • UBER FREE PAYMENT LICENCE.
    Our strength is based on the ability to help fix cyber problems by bringing together active cyber hacking professionals in the GlobalkOS to work with.Contact:
    ✉️Email: theglobalkos@gmail.com
    leroysteckler@gmail.com
    ®Global KOS™
    2020.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My ex-husband and I had always managed to stay friendly after our divorce in February 2017. But I always wanted to get back together with him, All it took was a visit to this spell casters website last December, because my dream was to start a new year with my husband, and live happily with him.. This spell caster requested a specific love spell for me and my husband, and I accepted it. And this powerful spell caster began to work his magic. And 48 hours after this spell caster worked for me, my husband called me back for us to be together again, and he was remorseful for all his wrong deeds. My spell is working because guess what: My “husband” is back and we are making preparations on how to go to court and withdraw our divorce papers ASAP. This is nothing short of a miracle. Thank you Dr Emu for your powerful spells. Words are not enough. here is his Email: emutemple@gmail.com or call/text him on his WhatsApp +2347012841542    

    ReplyDelete