Ok y’all. I know last week we teased a huge new project. Everything is still in the very early stages, but I just got an email that things are progressing and I am so excited I can barely contain myself! Let’s just say the goal of this project is to bring attention to and hopefully bring us closer to righting a wrong that has bothered me since childhood. Keep watching for more details and ways you can be involved.

In the meantime, make plans to join us tomorrow, October 14 for a flash yard sale. You can save some money on your holiday shopping and help the POWER House at the same time! We decided we are tired of moving boxes around. Plus, this will open up more space for the patients of the clinic next door or for meetings.

This week we’re going to do something a little different. Think of it as a call to inaction. The Alabama Legislative session starts on January 9, 2018.

This is not where I encourage you to get involved. This is where I ask you to sit – yes I said sit – with me.

This past legislative session, I decided I would no longer stand for the prayer or the pledge. I am not a Christian. Standing for the prayer would make me a hypocrite and I was beyond tired of the charade. This is a personal decision and I’m not asking you to join me for that – but it’s cool if you want to.

The pledge protest was my own way of not conforming and showing my silent solidarity with those who are wronged (and continue to be wronged) every day. I didn’t talk about it, I didn’t announce it, I just did it. And I kept it to myself. Because if you’re me (the “abortion lady”), you don’t need additional heat.

But it’s time to take that additional heat.

Kneeling in the galleries of the House or Senate is not an option. It’s too crowded, and there are rules of decorum (and they don’t sing the anthem, so I don’t think kneeling would be the right response, IMO). The security folks in both galleries are always nice to me, and I don’t want to make their jobs harder. They’re just doing what they’re paid to do.

But sitting? Absolutely acceptable. So that’s what I’m asking you to do if you find yourself at the State House. When everyone else stands for the pledge, keep your seat. Keep it for whatever social justice (or other) reason you want. I know for a fact that those on the floor of both the House & Senate DO pay attention to folks in the gallery.

Take up the front row, right in front of the glass. Let them see you sitting. There’s nothing in the rules of decorum for either galleries that says you have to stand for anything. You will probably get dirty looks and furious whispers your way. Take those with a grain of salt. You pay taxes and have a right to be there just like they do. (If they’re wearing a blue tag, fuck ’em. Lobbyists.)

It’s time for us (I’m especially talking to you, fellow white folks) to take a seat. And you can sit by me any time.