Newsletter – May 30, 2025

KCfD Members,

This week’s big news is that Kentucky Citizens for Democracy is officially transitioning to becoming a Kentucky branch of Indivisible. The good news is that nothing will change other than our ability to raise money, receive matching funds and reimbursements. Their mission already aligns with ours and with our core beliefs.

Within the next week, you should be seeing a link on our website where you can contribute money to our group. This will enable us to up our event game with banners, cards, shirts, and so much more! Through our partnership with Indivisible, we will have access to their online resources for voter and media outreach. We are incredibly excited about the possibilities!

Another topic at the top of my mind is our Hispanic community in Oldham County and how we can help them. For those who are undocumented, I cannot imagine the day-to-day stress they live under, having to worry about going out in public with the ever-present fear that someone might be watching. There can be no greater fear than the possibility of being separated from one’s family.

With this in mind, a group member reached out to Derek Robinette, the Pasteur at Crestwood United Methodist Church, who has a ministry for our Hispanic residents.

If you know a Hispanic family in Oldham County, or even in the surrounding counties, who could use this type of connection, please share the information with them below. Derek has sent it to us in both English and Spanish:

ENGLISH:

Cristianos en Crestwood is Crestwood United Methodist Church’s ministry to Hispanic people in Oldham County. Worship services in Spanish are on Sunday at 11:00 am in the chapel. Bible Study is on Wednesday nights, and prayer meetings are on Thursday evenings.

Children’s ministry is on Sunday mornings, and youth ministry is on Sunday nights. We also offer free English as a Second Language classes through KCTC every evening.

For more information, contact Ismara Mackenzie at ismara@crestwoodmethodist.com.

SPANISH:

Cristianos en Crestwood es el ministerio de la Iglesia Metodista Unida de Crestwood para la comunidad hispana en el condado de Oldham. Los servicios de adoración en español se realizan los domingos a las 11:00 a. m. en la capilla. El estudio bíblico se realiza los miércoles por la noche y las reuniones de oración los jueves por la noche.

El ministerio de niños se realiza los domingos por la mañana y el ministerio de jóvenes los domingos por la noche. También ofrecemos clases gratuitas de inglés como segundo idioma a través de KCTC todas las noches.

Para más información, contacte a Ismara Mackenzie en ismara@crestwoodmethodist.com.

As many of you know, I have a blog on Medium.com where I write as regularly as time permits with my busy life. Since I am an educator, summer enables me to write a little more regularly. Here is my latest article titled, Will Free Market Capitalism Save Us or Finish Us Off For Good?

On June 14th, President Trump’s birthday, he will be celebrating with a huge military parade that could cost American taxpayers anywhere between $25 and $45 million by most estimates. This is just another red flag for a President who has been attempting to solidify power under the Executive Branch. It seems he would love nothing more than to rule as some kind of pseudo-king or dictator. Military parades have always been a hallmark of authoritarian regimes.

In response to this decadent display of power, groups in every major city and small towns across the country are holding protest rallies. Our group has chosen to participate in the one in downtown Shelbyville, KY, at the Stargazer Pavilion. We do not have a time yet, but as soon as we do, we will let everyone know. KCfD plans on being there in force, so we would love for you to join us!

Do you enjoy this type of political and community engagement and want to become part of our leadership team? Do you know how to navigate social media? We are currently searching for a social media director. If interested, contact me at the email below to discuss what this position entails.

Finally, please check out the rest of our newsletter, where you will find plenty of ideas on how to turn your frustrations into meaningful action.

We look forward to you joining us in the fight to preserve our Republic!

Hello KCfD!

Thank you all for an incredible General Meeting last week! The energy and feedback definitely refilled my tank, as I am sure it did for others on the Leadership team and our committees. Nothing validates that we are on the right track in the same way as seeing like-minded people come together, eager to share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences.

This week we continue our “Keeping it Constitutional” series with another excellent article provided by Eric Ruppel on Article I of the Constitution. His hard work in putting these together is greatly appreciated. A big thank you to Mike Toibin for providing the insightful and timely resources you will find in “Clickbait” this week. Last but not least, I am excited to introduce Rhett Hill, our new Co-chair (Nikki is still with us in spirit despite Tarah stealing her away to the Elevate committee). He is already making his mark on multiple projects coming out of the Educate committee. Thanks for joining us, Rhett!

Also, please don’t forget to join us for our first social event hosted by the Educate committee, Spill the Tea with KCfD! We want to have fun, build stronger ties across members of our group, and talk about our Constitutional principles all at the same time. No worries if you can’t commit to the full 2 hours; feel free to drop in for as long as you can and bring a guest, along with your ideas and perspectives. Appetizers and a chance to win 2 Heine Bros gift cards will be provided! Details are shared below, and you can find the Event posted to our Facebook page.

Spill the Tea with KCfD!

Date: Saturday, June 7th
Time: 2-4 PM – or until they kick us out if things are going well
Venue: The Blind Squirrel – on the patio if the weather cooperates
Topic: What is government for anyways?

Did You Know?

Did you know that the Constitution didn’t set the size of the House of Representatives? The original First Amendment proposed in the Bill of Rights would have established a formula for expanding the House as the population grew. It failed by just one state’s ratification. Today, the House has been capped at 435 members since 1929—even though the U.S. population has tripled. Does one representative per 750,000 people still feel democratic? Who gains or loses from a stagnant House size?

Clickbait

https://www.americanprogress.org/ – “The Center for American Progress is an independent, nonpartisan policy institute that is dedicated to improving the lives of all Americans through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action. Our aim is not just to change the conversation, but to change the country”

https://theconversation.com/us – The “Conversation” is a non-profit, independent news organization, dedicated to unlocking the knowledge of experts for the public good. A website that covers many categories that are important to us all, such as the economy, education, the environment, ethics and religion, science and tech as examples.

https://appropriations.house.gov/ & https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/ – This is a really interesting government website that focuses on the working of the House Appropriations Committee. They are responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities to keep the US safe, strong and moving forward. You will notice two links, as the majority party (currently Republicans) is responsible for maintaining the main page of the committee, the minority party (currently Democrats) also has its own page, which is linked at the bottom of the main committee page.

Keeping it Constitutional

Once we understand why we have a government and what it is meant to do, the next question is how it accomplishes those goals. The Preamble lays out the broad goals of union, justice, peace, security, well-being, and liberty, but Article I is where the federal government begins to exercise its power – through Congress, the representative body of the People.

You have likely heard the phrase, “co-equal branches of government,” in the last decade as Presidents, Congress, and the courts clash over various issues. But is the balance truly equal?

Article I, the foundation of legislative power, is the most dense and detailed read in the Constitution. We’ll break it down for you here… (read the full article here)

Thank you for continuing to be the light in the darkness. If you want to get more involved in what we are doing or have helpful feedback on what you would like to see, please reach out and let us know!

If you are interested in joining our work on the Activate Committee, please contact Executive Director, Michael Slider (contact@kycitizens.org).

The following are some thoughts and research from our Associate Director, Anita Davis, on why it is crucial to participate in protests:

Protests and Boycotts: Are They Effective???

Not sure about attending protests like the upcoming June 14 No Kings one? Are those protests and boycotts really worth the time and effort?

Here’s what the research says about nonviolent protests and boycotts:

• They have a higher success rate than violent ones. They are twice as likely to achieve their goals.
• Countries where nonviolent resistance is utilized are 10 times as likely to transition to democracy within a five-year period as compared to countries where violence is used.
• They pull in a broader and more diverse group of supporters. This makes it harder for the regime to maintain control. Research suggests that when a substantial percentage of the population (as small as 3.5%) is actively part of nonviolent resistance, the movement is “almost uniformly successful”.
• They often create “dilemma actions”, which cause the regime to repress protestors in some fashion (creating sympathy for the cause and negative media attention) or conceding to the protesters’ demands.

Need some examples of modern-day nonviolent resistance that proved successful?

• The Indian Independence Movement (led by Gandhi)
• The American Civil Rights Movement (led by Martin Luther King, Jr.)
• The Anti-Apartheid Movement (Nelson Mandela)
• The “People Power” Revolution in the Philippines (overthrow of Marcos)
• The “Singing Revolution” that led to Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia gaining their independence from the Soviet Union
• The Montgomery Bus Boycott

Groups like Indivisible, 50501, and Ruckus (among others) understand the research and are leading the charge to engage Americans in nonviolent resistance to the MAGA movement/control of our government. Consistent pressure, nonviolent resistance measures, and participation by a number of Americans are the keys to helping save our democracy.

So…your attendance at protests like No Kings Day (June 14) and participation in boycotts are urgently needed. Along with your calls and communications with elected officials (check out our previous two newsletters on how to do this), we know how to resist and succeed.

Two final thoughts about nonviolent resistance and change:

• First, it isn’t a spectator sport. Success requires active participation, a show-up kind of participation.
• Second, it takes time. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. So lace up your shoes, get in the race, and pace yourself.

Stay tuned for more information on protests and protesting training. Meanwhile, mark your calendar for June 14.

Sources 🔎

• Nonviolent resistance proves potent weapon
• The Enduring Power of Nonviolent Protest
• The ‘3.5% rule’: How a small minority can change the world
• Erica Chenoweth illuminates the value of nonviolent resistance in societal conflicts

We want to keep the spotlight on the relationship between Oldham County’s Detention Center and ICE. If you are like us and do not approve of Oldham County using our resources to pick up ICE detainees from all over the Midwest so our county can make money off this unholy relationship, here are some things you can do. Be sure you ask for the termination of our 287(g) agreement with ICE and ask that we stop bringing in prisoners from immigration just so Oldham County can make money:

Sign our petition to end the 287(g) agreement.

Email Jailer: jtindall@oldhamcountyky.gov

Postcard to Jailer: 3405 KY-146, LaGrange, KY 40031

Speak at Fiscal Court during public comment – June 3, June 17, July 1, July 15

Speak at the Public Safety and Jail meeting on the first Tuesday of every month at 10:00 am. 2nd floor of the courthouse.

Hello all!

Thank you to all who came to our meeting last week. I loved getting to know a little bit about each of you through our introduction section, where we each shared a little bit about what we are passionate about. I truly think that in this divisive world, the community we can build together is SO important and a way that we can fight back against this divisive administration. Hearing a bit about why you each took time out of your evening to spend it with us and what change you want to see in our community was so special. I want to thank each and every one of you and also encourage those of you who have not been able to make it to one of our meetings to get to one!

Thank you to all of you who donated to the food/personal care drive last week, and for anyone who was not able to donate yet but would like to, we are taking Venmo donations to @CFMommee through this weekend. Erica Kelley is collecting and will be shopping for needed items this weekend.

Also at this last meeting, we added two new members to the Elevate Committee, and we are thrilled to have them! If you are interested in being a part of this committee, our next meeting is June 3rd and we would love to have you. Every one of us provides a unique perspective and all are welcome!

Events!

If you have not saved the date already, please do so for our KY Citizens for Democracy night out on Friday, June 6, 6:00 PM at 3rd Turn Oldham Gardens! This is a family and pet-friendly establishment owned by like-minded folks! Please come spend a Friday night and meet other folks in our area! We are planning to do this monthly, so if you can’t make it this month look for a July date!

We also plan to host an event this summer, details forthcoming!

Ways to Participate Now:

Donate to our food drive collection effort!

Save the date (6/20) to build community this summer!

We will be brainstorming more ideas on how to support our community in the face of repercussions from legislation, so if you have an idea, please let us know!

We would love more volunteers who want to help our community, or even ideas on how you think we could help, even if you can’t commit to being on the committee! If you are interested, please let us know!

May 31: Had Enough! Town Hall in Shelbyville, KY, 3-5pm – Shelby County Fairgrounds

June 1: Louisville Indivisible Meeting at The Arterburn (formerly St. Matthews Community Center) 2-3:00 pm. Guest speaker, former congressman John Yarmouth, talk and Q/A.

June 7: Spill the Tea with KCfD – 2-4 PM at the Blind Squirrel in Middletown

June 3-9: National Target boycott

June 14: No Kings National Protest Day

June 19: Next KCfD general meeting – Thursday, June 19th, 6:30-8pm, St. James Episcopal Church, Pewee Valley, KY

June 20: Kentucky Citizens for Democracy Night Out 6:00 PM at 3rd Turn Oldham Gardens! 

Check our calendar on the KCfD website for more information about these events.