We have all been watching the events unfolding in Minneapolis over the last few weeks. We have all been shocked and appalled by ICE’s unconstitutional and immoral actions from raiding elementary schools, to using children as bait to detain their parents and the most horrific of all their actions, the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
We’ve also seen an uptick in the detention of people in the Atlanta metro area as well. The latest local news regarding ICE detention centers planned for Social Circle and Flowery Branch, Georgia are inspiring more people to participate in our activism of peaceful persistent resistance to the unconstitutional, criminal and un-American polices and actions of the current administration.
Atlanta is the birthplace of the civil rights movement. It’s in the DNA of the Atlanta metro area to protect and defend our constitutional rights and the rights of our fellow residents of the United States of America. The time has come for us to demonstrate our support and sympathy by delivering a sympathy card / banner to the people of Minneapolis signed by the citizens of the Atlanta metro area. Two representatives from the Pocketbook Brigade will deliver the card / banner to Minneapolis via what we are calling the “Love Train”. The “Love Train” will travel from Atlanta, GA to Washington, DC on to Chicago, Il and arrive in Minneapolis / St. Paul where the sympathy banner / card will be delivered to the people of Minneapolis, MN.
Two people have volunteered to deliver the sympathy card / banner at their own expense to Minneapolis. Anyone who would like to accompany them on the “Love Train” is welcome if they agree to pay their own travel expenses and can travel on the appointed days and times to and from Minneapolis, MN. We will be coordinating with groups in Washington, DC, Chicago, Il and across the country to join us in demonstrating our support and sympathy for the residents of Minneapolis, MN.
If you are interested in riding on the “Love Train” to Minneapolis, MN please email cconrado@pocketbookbrigade.org to discuss the itinerary for the trip. We will also be contacting our congressional representatives to ask them to join the “Love Train” to show that the entire nation has their backs in Minnesota or if they can’t travel with us to Minneapolis we can meet the members of Congress in Washington DC to afford them the opportunity to sign the sympathy card / banner.
On February 21st from 2 - 4 pm will peacefully assemble to sign the sympathy card, collect food for area food pantries (who are still dealing with an increase in need due to the high prices of groceries) and to march in persistant resistance to the unconstitution, criminal and Un-American policies and actions of the current administration.
The staging point for the march is the Northlake Festival “Tower” Shopping Center. Please, park in the center parking spots of the parking lot and avoid parking in front of the Goodwill store. Parking near Londzell’s or where the Toy R US store once was would be respectful to the tenants of the shopping center. Jason’s Deli has offered us the use of their restrooms.
We will exit the shopping center at the Henderson Mill Rd exit, turn right on to La Vista Rd and march past Chick Fil A and across the I-285 overpass. Then we will cross LaVista Rd, at the Northlake Parkway intersection to return to the Northlake Festival “Tower” shopping center at the intersection of Ranchwood Drive NE and LaVista Rd. We will be crossing intersections with the traffic signals and with the assistance of Pocketbook Brigade, Inc. crossing guards.
This is a peaceful protest. No violent or vulgar behavior will be tolerated. Bring appropriate signs—we will have some supplies for marchers to make signs.
On Saturday, February 21st we're peacefully marching on the sidewalks to support our fellow Americans in Minneapolis and to demand justice for Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Please join us. Please explore our website at www.pocketbookbrigade.org for more details about the Pocketbook Brigade, Inc.
A core principle behind all Pocketbook Brigade, Inc. and Indivisible events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values. As a host organization we insist that all participants in our event uphold this commitment. We recommend all participants review the Indivisible.org safety and security resource before our event at: https://indivisi.org/safety
We suggest you walk away from anyone who may be seeking to create a hostile environment or disrupt our march. If you can’t walk away we suggest you chant USA, USA, USA. Even though we may not agree with other Americans we know most Americans love our country. Chanting USA, USA, USA reminds everyone we are on the same team.
Please call, text or email Christine Staskiewicz if you are interested in volunteering as a crowd control marshal, warming station attendant, volunteer EMT or certified first aide provider. Christine's phone number is 404-984-1270, her email address is cconrado@pocketbookbrigade.org.
Seating for those unable to march can be found at the Truist Bank at 4098 LaVista Rd, Tucker, GA 30084. Please bring your own lawn chair or wheelchair and a blanket to keep warm. This location also will function as a warming station. Hot beverages and snacks will be provided at our headquarters. We want to ensure everyone is well hydrated and not marching on an empty stomach. If it is a rainy day we will have free rain ponchos for the first 300 (three hundred) people to arrive. If it is cold we will have free hand warmers for the first 280 (two hundred and eighty) people to arrive.
If you, any of your friends or family would like to join the Pocketbook Brigade mailing list please emaill : cconrado@pocketbookbrigade.org and I will add them to our mailing list.