April 19, 2025 Mutual Aid Rally in Des Moines
A guest post by Claudia Cackler and Van Garmon
Notes: Spencer Dirks and I will do our Iowa Revolution/Deep Midwest podcast via Substack live at noon CT today, Wednesday, April 23. We are pleased to note that one podcast list has Iowa Revolution ranked at number 87 for progressive podcasts! Please help spread the word. The Iowa Writers Collaborative will also host our monthly meeting for paid subscribers at noon on Friday. Here is the link. I hope to see you there.
I couldn’t make the Mutual Aid Rally in Des Moines because I was at a retreat in Keosauqua this past weekend with 27 or so other members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Member and friend Jason Walsmith, writer, songwriter, musician, singer, photographer, and member of the Nadas, shares some photographs in his column, The Racontourist. Jason’s work is amazing. Please check out his column.
While I couldn’t make the rally, my friends Van Garmon and Claudia Cackler could, and they shared some videos and photos with me.
As the fascist MAGA movement continues to defy the constitution and strip America for parts, among other atrocities, the opposition continues to grow. I’ve said before, and will say again and again:
Trump and Musk are ending lives and livelihoods, not just here, but around the world, where the death count climbs as Donald Trump and Elon Musk work to make billionaires even richer. There is blood on their hands. Buckets of blood. Swimming pools of blood. Lakes of blood. And it’s on purpose.
Within the horrors of this administration, I find great comfort in old and new friends. I first met Van at a “Veterans Against the Coup” protest in Des Moines. I met Claudia later at a “Hands Off!” protest, also in Des Moines. I’ve been able to share their videos and photos, for which I am grateful.
Van is wearing the “Veterans Fighting Fascists” shirt above, and Claudia is holding the camera stand to his left.
Below is their guest post. All videos and photos are theirs.
Claudia and I wanted to find younger protesters at the Mutual Aid Rally and interview them with the goal of showing there are more than Boomers at these protests.
The two questions we asked:
"How did you find out about the rally?" "Why are you here?"
We both were expecting only a small crowd, especially since it was Easter weekend, but the people just kept showing up! The rally was more organized and focused with excellent direction by 50501 staff. Claudia and I both agreed there were more young people and families at the protest than previous protests. The younger couples were eager to talk on camera. Their statements and comments were measured, intelligent and enlightening. Body gestures and motions showed resolve and commitment. The positive energy was palpable and exhilarating.
Van’s YouTube channel is @vangarmon6371. Protest videos analytics for ages 45 to 65+ was over 73%. (Way too many Boomers)
Credit:
Producer, Claudia Cackler
Video and Editing, Van Garmon
Below are three powerful videos and photographs of patriots in Des Moines fighting fascism:
Like Van and Claudia, I encourage you to engage in the resistance by doing things. Real things. Going to protests if you are able. Talking to people. Writing letters to the editor, postcards, donating to Democratic candidates, etc. as we focus on our values and find joy in the resistance by recognizing where we should best focus our talents to defend our way of life. Together we can make a big difference.
Thanks to Van and Claudia for covering the event and for their friendship. Please consider subscribing to Van’s YouTube channel at @vangarmon6371.
I have the feeling we have many more collaborations ahead of us!
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My content will always be free, as for over 60 years the words of Simon and Garfunkle in their 1964 song, “The Sound of Silence” have influenced me, “the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls,” and I’m not going to paywall them out should they be interested in my writing. My favorite version is by “Disturbed.”
I’m a proud member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Please check out our work here. Subscribe! Become a paid subscriber if you can afford it. Please and thank you. We need you. Thanks for being part of the team! Want to buy me lunch or a cup of coffee? Venmo @Robert-Leonard-238. My friend Spencer Dirks and I have a podcast titled The Iowa Revolution. Check it out! We can get ornery. And have fun! I also publish Cedar Creek Nature Notes, about Violet the Dog and my adventures on our morning walks at Cedar Bluffs Natural Area in Mahaska County, Iowa.
Here is the Zoom link for this month’s Office Lounge for paid subscribers. It’s always held on the last Friday of the month at noon, except for November and December.
The guest post captures the intensity of growing fear and division in the U.S.
It appears to be very real and, at this point, increasingly bipartisan.
“People have the Power”, Patti Smith. “Power to the People”, John Lennon. “We won’t get fooled again”, Pete Townsend. Whenever, authoritarian regimes crawl out from under their blood soaked lairs, it becomes our duty to fight them with every ounce of our collective power. They respect nothing, but fear resistance like every other bully and beast of prey. Never blink, never stop, never ever give up hope.