Spoiler alert: Swearing ahead.

I haven’t posted much at all since schools closed and I took over homeschooling/ entertaining my mini-me during my normal working hours. The work I have done has been in short bursts, then set aside to focus on the crisis of the day.

And then came last week. Protesters rightfully gathering to speak out against police brutality inspired our country’s “president” to declare war on the nation. I’m honestly surprised he made it to his last year before unleashing the military on citizens. He wasted no time detaining babies and children and tearing apart immigrant families.

I guess all those weekends playing golf saved the rest of the country this long.

But here we are. Tear gas and pepper spray and rubber bullets are being used on peaceful protesters in a country whose constitution states right to assemble as fucking rule number one. Journalists are being targeted and arrested on camera, just like in other authoritarian regimes. In Seattle, attendees at the peaceful gatherings were detained from Sunday evening through Tuesday afternoon because the courts closed on Monday and police officers are choosing to violate their duties to protect and serve the people.

My city, Tacoma, imposed a curfew yesterday. Tonight there’s a vigil in honor of Manuel Ellis, who died at the hands of Tacoma police. [Click the link to help his family with legal fees.]

This happened despite our community and state voting for deescalation legislation. Manuel’s death was EXACTLY what this legislation was designed to prevent. And yet…

I digress. I promised a new dinosaur animation. I made this last night while trying to take a break from thinking about what’s going on right now.

If you liked this video, please donate to a local protesters’ bail fund or your local ACLU. [If you hated it, donate double.]

Keep fighting however you can. You don’t have to be on the frontlines to make a difference.

Suzanne