betsyalley.bsky.social
I finally moved over!
My DMs are currently open - if you'd like to send me info about an April 5 protest in a small town, or something along those lines, feel free.
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That sounds well thought through.
For education, most of the signs I've seen about that, in various photos (and I've seen a lot), have been very simple, like "hands off [the department] of education." SS has been similar, 'hands off SS - ['we've earned it]'
So I'm not much help there!
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There have been so many amazing sign examples! As for suggestions ….what ‘s your area like/who’s your audience? Do you think clever/sarcastic would be effective or is there an issue or policy that you/neighbors care about ? Or a federal service they’d need/want that’s being cut?
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Wow, great turnout! Thanks for letting me know and best wishes for the follow-up activity!
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Have you seen this page? It seems to show some others in AZ(& at the same time, prob doesn't include all those you've been keeping track of)
www.datawrapper.de/_/0eNuE/
I became interested in small-town 4/5 protests & have been trying to collect stats of them--many weren't on the official event page
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This is very cool. Who created this data map, do you know?
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Ooooh! Please check out my feed & see many protests in really small towns...they're fabulous to see & I'd love it if you'd give all those cool folks some further visibility!
I started a thread
bsky.app/profile/bets...
& after a few dozen posts, I've just been retweeting individual ones here & there.
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Darn, i couldn't find any trace online of the Stillwater or Norman protests, though I could see that for the Norman one, there was a deleted link on the KOKH FB page. I listed them without #s though.
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How many would you say attended, if I may ask? I'm doing a tally of people who came out from small towns. (I guessed 150 from your photos)
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Thanks for sharing this! I'm sorry you had some people harass you. Know that you have many supporters out there!
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Thanks!
I agree that these are significant even if the numbers seem relatively small. That extra context is helpful, too.
I added those to a tally that another user set up (if you/others would like the link, feel free to DM me).
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Great to see!
I'm trying to also share examples of small-town protests. Any smaller protests that you've heard about in OK outside of OKC?
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Marfa, TX, pop 1,674
An arts mecca in the desert...famous but small town!
Looks like ~40 ppl (a strong showing of 2.4%)
Well done, @0-adrian-0.bsky.social & neighbors!
#handsoff #handsoff2025 #smalltown
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Worth mentioning: Small & large cities in TN made a strong showing, esp considering that many areas are "ruby red"
👏👏 to news channel WJHHL for covering the activity in several small cities in the Tri-cities region
#handsoff #handsoff2025
bsky.app/profile/rken...
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Maryville, TN, pop. 32,580
Larger town but note that like many protests in TN this turnout was in a v. conservative area.
About 250 ppl stood by the street in front of the Blount Cty Courthouse
& got lots of support from people driving by
#handsoff #handsoff2025
later photo:
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Seward, Alaska. ~70 people here out of 2,735 (2.6%).
❤️Their turnout,
Their signs,
The hint of the beautiful mountains behind them.
Let's give @spunkydutchie.bsky.social and the others a shout-out!!
#handsoff #handsoff2025
bsky.app/profile/spun...
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And to keep track of the protest activity in Alaska, @shanahstone.bsky.social has a good handle on it!!
The numbers indicate more than 2,400 ppl in the small towns in Alaska, and more than 5,050 in the 3 largest cities (which have relatively smaller populations compared to cities in the lower 48).
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Just found a pic of
Seldovia, AK!
9 pp. out of a population of 250 (3.6%)
LOOK AT THESE AWESOME FOLKS!
#handsoff #handsoff2025
bsky.app/profile/bloo...
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Correcting my numbers (thank you @michellefem.bsky.social !) :
60 people came out on Saturday. The equivalent of 8.3 % of the town's population. WOW!
(I had only done a rough count earlier from photos)
#handsoff #handsoff2025
bsky.app/profile/mich...
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Hi! I've been doing a thread of small-town protests and added the numbers I got for other Alaska towns. I haven't gotten to add the other towns' #s yet. Are you still updating this spreadsheet?
My thread is here...
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[just to the west; tennessee]
Winchester, TN. Pop. 9,980
At least 40 people came out from Franklin County (pop. 42k) on a day when there were tornado warnings in the area!!
That's dedication--thank you, Winchester!
#handsoff #handsoff2025
bsky.app/profile/lbwe...
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Bolivia, NC (pop 149) on the E coast
County seat of Brunswick County (pop 160k)
Even though there was also a protest not too far away in Wilmington, NC, ~1000 ppl still showed up at each.
bsky.app/profile/bobg...
👏WECT for the coverage
www.wect.com/2025/04/06/g...
#handsoff #handsoff2025
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Franklin, NC, down in the Nantahala National Forest.
I've seen one attendee estimate 300 people there. That's more than 7% of the town's population!
Note the clergyman and his sign. Looks like a very uplifting atmosphere. Thank you, Franklin!
#handsoff #handsoff2025
bsky.app/profile/mele...
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We need to be law-abiding, though, so if a permit is required, we shouldn't disregard that.
But permits aren't required in many cases.
ACLU: "You don’t need a permit to march in the streets or on sidewalks, as long as marchers don’t obstruct car or pedestrian traffic."
www.aclu.org/know-your-ri...
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It looks fantastic, not just the breathtaking scenery, but the community spirit!
Please feel free to share thoughts on what ppl in other states can do to support your efforts. Since we're not constitutents of your reps., our calls to them wouldn't convince them. How else can we advocate for you?
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Sylva NC, pop 2700.
400 ppl... Nearly 15%!!
This shows the strength of the sentiment in the communities in the mountains in NC
(And as @louloubooth.bsky.social posted, "only 4 flip-offs! check out her pic too)
#handsoff #handsoff2025
bsky.app/profile/indi...
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Burnsville, NC, pop 1,623.
@mountainindivisible.org (love the name!) tells us that ~200 ppl showed up for democracy on Sat. That's 12%, y'all! AND many other people honking & waving means that a lot more of their community supports their movement.
#handsoff #handsoff2025
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Also in NC (more to the west..)
Waynesville, NC pop 10,667
One source estimated that 1000 people (9%!!) showed up.
We see & appreciate that, Waynesville!
bsky.app/profile/darl...
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Thanks for sharing! I'm going to include that stat (and repost their pics) on my small-town protests thread. I wanted to acknowledge you as the source, but OTOH didn't want to name you bec. some ppl want to keep a low profile. If I've guessed incorrectly & you want me to give u a shout out, I will.
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Heading across the country to some warmer places in the southeastern US.
Carthage, NC, pop 2951, ~200 protestors. 6.8%--HUGE, since it's been "ruby red"
They outlasted the 3-car counterprotest.
The local paper showed it on FB & on their web site. 👏👏
#handsoff #handsoff2025
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& Anchorage (thousands) +Fairbanks (1000+)
If you haven't fallen in love w/ Alaska communities after seeing these posts, well, how can't you?
Let's keep Alaskans in our minds!
Their calls are echoed in other small towns...
#handsoff #handsoff2025
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Before wrapping up the Alaska posts, 2 other points:
1. Glennallen & Seldovia held protests too (I couldn't find pics)
2. Protests were held in 3 cities too.
...incl. Juneau (1500 ppl, 4.8% of population). Good article by @corinne-smith.bsky.social ⬇️
#handsoff #handsoff2025
bsky.app/profile/alas...
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Petersburg, Alaska. An island community with three beautiful harbors.
Impressive: Nearly 3% of the people came out Saturday...to defend democracy, support federal workers, and promote community. Thank you, Petersburg!
#handsoff #handsoff2025
bsky.app/profile/mitk...
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Seward, Alaska. ~70 people here out of 2,735 (2.6%).
❤️Their turnout,
Their signs,
The hint of the beautiful mountains behind them.
Let's give @spunkydutchie.bsky.social and the others a shout-out!!
#handsoff #handsoff2025
bsky.app/profile/spun...
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Nome, pop. 3,600. At least 23 people here. You can tell by their signs how much effort they're putting into this.
And they're all the way northwest ...on the Bering Sea!! Thank you, Nome!!!
#handsoff #handsoff2025
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Back to share more examples from small towns across America turning out on Saturday to send a message. Let's help make their protests heard. (Pls repost!)
➡️Cordova, AK, pop. ~2,500 (nearly 2.5%)
This video makes me want to go meet these great folks!
#handsoff #handsoff2025
bsky.app/profile/aksw...
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Yeah, that stinks. So I made a thread of small-town examples I was seeing--they're truly inspiring! So I'm hoping people will at least spread the word. They really impress me!
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I made a thread of small-town protests I've learned about. They're truly INSPIRING. #handsoff #handsoff2025
I hope you'll take a look & repost some of them. It'd be great to give these folks some visibility & appreciation! (Stick with it thru Alaska examples ❤️ if you can)
bsky.app/profile/bets...
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No worries, I think people could tell that it was the population #. Was my estimate of 60-100 people at the Saturday protest correct, do you think?
It is also helpful to get this additional background that you provided. Thank you!
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I 💯% agree! And also real dedication. Were you able to see the ones I posted from several places in Alaska? It's so important to give them recognition--please repost them if you can!!
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Thank you for this information ! I am happy to be corrected and appreciate your letting me know.
I was using Wikipedia for the population data in these posts so was expecting that I might be interpreting things incorrectly.
Anyways it’s very impressive turnout!