Ulysses and Democracy, No Cover Up Demo, The GOP Destroys Democracy - Take It Back! #TrumpIsGuilty #YouKnowThisIsACoverUp #RiseAndResist #TruthMatters #TheGOPDestroysDemocracy #StopTheGOPCoverUp #FlipTheSenate #RejectTheCoverUp #MarchForTruth #StandUpAmerica

Kate Barnhart by Jackie Ruden,

Caption by Jackie Ruden: 

"After the disgraceful verdict, I ran out of the house so quickly (and nauseous) I forgot my camera! So this is me still trying to figure out the iPhone camera.The only place to be tonight was in the street with Rise and Resist. Several of us got arrested while shutting down Columbus Circle while hundreds continued to Raise our RAGE in a March! Great to see so many warriors. This will be our home from now on cause as Alexis says "Fascism isn’t going to end itself."Thank you to those who took an arrest. Can't think of a better reason. And to those who went with them for jail support. We are nothing without you."

Photo: Karin Schall, Caption by Jackie Ruden:

"After arrest drinks! Cause this is how we do it! — with Karin Schall, Alexis Danzig, Jenny Heinz, Jamie R Bauer and Maryellen Novak"

Ken Schles is at Columbus Circle and Central Park West NYC.Yesterday at 10:01 AM · New York · 

"The abuse of power by the President and his obstruction of Congress were given a green light yesterday by a cowed and cowardly Senate. They have shown their venal allegiance to a criminal, a cheat and a liar, an abuser who abuses his office and preys upon the weak and powerless for financial gain and his own power and vanity.

On January 10, 49BC Caesar crossed the river Rubicon with his army and marched into Northern Italy in direct violation of rules of the Roman Republic specifying that generals must disband their forces before entering Rome. It was a transgression that marked the start of Roman Civil War and lead to an era of Imperial Rome. There was no turning back. As he crossed the Rubicon, Caesar said, “alea iacta est,” the die is cast.

The Republicans, our Republicans, have crossed a proverbial Rubicon. The die has been cast. They have shown themselves to be imperial and imperious, guided by powerful interests, unaccountable to the people. The question remains: Has this country reached a point of no return?

The night turns to day. Children go to school. People go to work. As if nothing’s changed. But everything is changing and everything’s changed.

Last night after the Senate vote, protests arose across this country calling out the vile deeds of Republicans holding a sham and servile trial against a President who offered no defense for rigging the upcoming Presidential election and extorting the President of Ukraine.

Here in NYC eight people were arrested before a large crowd of protesters marched south to the steps of the NY Public Library. Last night I didn’t join the marchers after the arrests. I’ve been marching for three years.

@remove_trumpnow @risenresistnyc @public_citizen @bytheppl @indivisiblebrooklyn @cpdaction @womensmarch @ourcommoncause @needtoimpeach @standup_america @nextgenamerica @greenpeaceusa #removetrump #rejectthecoverup @ Columbus Circle and Central Park West NYC"

Inside Eric Sawyer was celebrating with his many groupies including me. — with Eric Sawyer.

Look who I ran into at Julius, Tim Murphy novelist in action.

Wednesday, the little  one and I read Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Thinking about where we are, where the Senate has  moved, where the democracy has gone,  as the three week impeachment trial  wound down to a final vote, we read:

Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'

We are not now that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;

One equal temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

You don’t want to be too philosophical in these moments,  but something is wrong.

Much is take, but much does abide.

History matters, I said to myself on the way to the action:

The GOP Destroys Democracy - Take It Back!

Rise and Resist and 1000s of New Yorkers will take to the streets on Wednesday, February 5th at 5:30pm, 90 minutes after the Senate is scheduled to vote on Trump’s articles of impeachment. The verdict will most likely be an acquittal, but that doesn’t mean the resistance is over. We are tired, we are angry, but we will continue to fight Trump (and the GOP) until we drive them out of office. This is not just about Ukraine, or election interference, but about corruption and authoritarian rule.

Join us to tell the world that we know that Trump is guilty. That the GOP is destroying democracy. That we need to flip the Senate. That we need to take back our democracy.

Please share, and RSVP here for updates. This action will coincide with many national protests, but If the trial or the voting schedule changes drastically, we may move the time and date.

"On Wednesday night, the people will be heard in protests across the nation," said Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause. "Seventy five percent of Americans wanted to hear from witnesses in the impeachment trial, but Mitch McConnell refused to call even a single witness. We the people do not accept this disgraceful attempt to cover up Donald Trump's abuse of the powers of the presidency and we will make our voices heard in protests Wednesday and on Election Day."

"Senate Republicans have thrown all democratic norms and decades of precedent out of the window by preventing witnesses from testifying before the Senate. Any 'acquittal' made after blocking key evidence is not an exoneration, it's a cover-up," said Sean Eldridge, Stand Up America founder and president. "We're mobilizing thousands of protestors across the country to make it clear that voters are watching, and we'll remember the lawmakers who chose cowardice over patriotism."

Somehow it felt like my whole like was taking  place as I made it through the day, saying goodbye to the kids, walking  to the bus stop,  picking up groceries,  8 AM yoga, meeting Caroline at the baths on 10^th street,  running into a former student, lunch with Caroline, talking with Zach on  the way to the action, meeting Babs there, holding the banner with Zack and Mark, running into the street with the Trump is Guilty sign,  chanting:

Trump is Guilty, Democracy Matters. 

The police rushed us as  we stood on Columbus Circle. 

Arrest Trump,  Not Activists,  we screamed 

The trial was a scam, the Senate be damned!

Marching through the city.

Gotta get too Eric’s birthday.

Seeing Tim and Eric and Sean at Julius,

Then Andrew and  friends at the salon at the Magician.

The city changing around us, 

New ownership at the bar,  in the city.

Everyone I’ve been out in the street with for the last three years was there.

We’re still here.

Still battling.

A majority voted for Hillary,

Millions more wanted impeachment.

But a gerrymandered majority voted otherwise.

GOP destroys democracy,

Its up to us to take it back.

Riding back to Brooklyn.

Back  home with Rachel M.

Watching Mitt explain his vote.

A first.

Democracy matters,

History  matters.

Even as its shifting under our feet.

Its up to  us to take  it back.