---This week, we had the tragedy of the Stoneman Douglas shooting. With it came the seemingly never-ending discussions on guns and school safety. We heard the same old rhetoric from the gun lobby and its prepaid Congress people. Tom Reed included. We heard the Republican’s attempts at misdirection when they blamed incidents like this on mental health and tried to make the health care system a target. Tom Reed included.
And, as always, we heard the torrent of “thoughts and prayers” coming from the mouths of politicians who hope to wait out the anger of the public and resume business as usual. I go to church and I know how the act of prayer can help us feel more connected to the community at large and the suffering in particular. I also know that praying for something doesn’t absolve me of the responsibility to take action. It doesn’t absolve me, it doesn’t absolve you, and certainly does NOT absolve our elected officials of their sworn oath to the constituents they represent. Tom. Reed. Among. Them.
We are here to participate. We are here to contribute. We are here to build something we never before thought possible. The 2016 election showed us that grass roots organizing can truly make a change in Washington. We are discovering more and more ways in which we can affect change in this country and we are taking these tools and putting them to work. When you donate to the Reed-Free23 fund you are putting the tools of money to work. When you come to events or town halls you are putting the tool of your time to work. When you write op-ed pieces or do research on policy you are putting the tools of your mind to work. Any tool you can offer is a tool this movement can use. Any money, any time, any special skill or passion. All can contribute. All can affect change. And all are so very needed. If we continue the work we began immediately following the inauguration last January, our movement can create a sea change for our district, our communities, and our nation.
*(Reed-Free23 is a people-powered fundraising project using ActBlue’s FEC-approved Nominee Fund to build a war chest for the winner of the Democrat primary to use in November’s general election.) For more information on the Reed-Free23 fund: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/reedfree23.
Information submitted by:
Amie Acton
592 State Route 244
Alfred Station, NY
