Tools Against Tyranny: Practicing In-Person Politics
Human to human politics in a machine-driven age — from Fort Worth
I’ve been slow in posting in an attempt to live out locally the “Practice Corporeal Politics” chapter of Timothy Snyder’s 2017 book On Tyranny. The chapter’s intro applies even more now than when it was written:
“Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in familiar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them.”
To the extent this was true in 2017, it’s even more true now. The power that grips us now is fueled and protected by giving our attention and emotions to the algorithmic engines. Those engines keep us distracted. Worse, they keep Americans divided through culture wars and endless fights over benefits and taxation — battles waged entirely within the gig and wage economies — while the capital-class elite remain untouched.
No Free Speech Zone — Tarrant County Commissioners Court
After months of hearing horror stories of the lack of free speech at our local county board meetings, I finally made it to one myself. I had also watched social media clips about the issue, but if I’m going to say or do something about an issue I want to see it for myself. It didn’t take long to see what we’re dealing with because a local Bishop and Marine veteran was silenced and escorted from the meeting within one sentence of his allotted public period.
His 1st offense: He mentioned the prohibition on clapping after the previous speaker. His 2nd offense: Politely objecting when told to “sit down.”
That’s it. No calls to violence or other things that fall outside of free speech, and he was speaking in turn during the allotted time for public comment. Not even any profanity or personal insults — even though both are protected by the 1st Amendment. He was silenced and ejected for the most core protected free speech exercise imaginable — criticizing the lack of free speech.
I also was able to match the depictions by local activists and media of the event to what I observed in person to provide me a baseline for evaluating future events of the same nature — needless to say, some were more fair and accurate than others.
In Person Context - Atmospherics & Baselines
Besides being able to personally experience the behavior, attending in person gave me context that I would have missed from the reports — the general atmosphere and baseline with other speakers. First, while the Bishop was being escorted multiple people held up signs reading “SHAME” which I took as evidence of both pattern and organized opposition in an environment where people had been conditioned to relinquish their right to speak either verbally or expressively.
Second, the very next speaker explicitly criticized the Court’s behavior in a way that exceeded the Bishop, but was allowed to use his full time to talk on the subject before the court without interruption. The difference was jarring, so I asked a local activist about the disparate treatment and learned that the second speaker had been kicked out in a similar manner, but then sued and won over it so he’s allowed to speak freely about it. My gut response as a plaintiff’s lawyer was that we needed to just keep suing them over and over until the budget itself demands constitutional compliance and started asking others about it. Fortunately, Bishop Kirkland quickly filed suit against Judge Tim O’Hare and Tarrant County over the matter. I wish I was the lawyer retained, but given the pattern I imagine there will be other opportunities.
“The Librarians”
That night and for the following two days I attended and/or helped with local resistance efforts. On Tuesday night, I attended the League of Women Voters sponsored screening of “The Librarians” documentary about the efforts of “Moms for Liberty” to ban books at school libraries around the country — especially here in Tarrant County. The auditorium was both full of people and many people that I know from other contexts that I didn’t know were involved in resistance. That in itself was worth attending — both to be encouraged and to link up with people I know who are on the same or similar wavelengths.
People’s Commissioners Court
On the following night, I finally attended the People’s Commissioners Court at the invitations of two local activists, and that room was full too! The level of organization was impressive and better than I’ve seen or expected elsewhere. Besides local citizens, the lawyer representing Bishop Kirkland was there to speak about free speech and the boundaries of the law in public meeting activism. As a personal note, it was good to see a fellow libertarian-minded individual at what is primarily a progressive-attended meeting.
After the main meeting, small groups met to work on action items, and I joined the one about the conditions and deaths at the Tarrant County Jail led by local activist Sabrina Ball. I had previously agreed to make stenciled signs for a related bridge protest so it made sense. As a note about in-person politics, Sabrina and I had previously hashed out a message for the signs, but the group came up with a much better one.
Making Signs
After the enjoyment of the in-person meetings came the “fun” part on Thursday - actually making, or trying to make, the signs in time for a Thursday afternoon bridge protest. I had tried to calculate the time it would take and underestimated it — by a lot. I didn’t get the signs made in time for Thursday afternoon, so now our plan is Monday. Even with an additional order, we need more signs to make a full library for both sides of the I-30 bridge, so there’s a wishlist on Amazon if you’d like to help.
Feeling Hopeless or Angry?
If you’re feeling hopeless, helpless or just downright angry, I’d encourage you to get off your phone or computer and out to local events related to the defense of freedom. There’s so much more going on than the two-times-a-year mass protests, and you don’t even have to hold a sign or otherwise even advertise involvement. You can even just do some arts and crafts at home and that would be a huge help to someone in your community. Besides making a difference, you might also make some amazing friends.