{"id":44790,"date":"2020-03-18T23:56:13","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T03:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/?p=44790"},"modified":"2020-03-19T23:36:40","modified_gmt":"2020-03-20T03:36:40","slug":"the-rotunda10-membership-has-its-prisoners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/the-rotunda10-membership-has-its-prisoners\/","title":{"rendered":"The #Rotunda10: Membership Has Its Prisoners!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Six weeks ago today &#8212; on Wednesday, February 5, in the hours before the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/02\/05\/us\/politics\/impeachment-vote.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GOP-led Senate acquitted the impeached president without holding a proper trial<\/a> &#8212; I sat down on the floor of the Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., with nine other women for a final act of protest ahead of the vote. Meet the #Rotunda10!<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B8Mh6XvJu_8\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"12\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B8Mh6XvJu_8\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\"> View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B8Mh6XvJu_8\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Angie (@the_flyingsquirrel)<\/a> on <time style=\" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;\" datetime=\"2020-02-05T18:56:12+00:00\">Feb 5, 2020 at 10:56am PST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/center><\/p>\n<p>I know you can&#8217;t see me in that video, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.urbandictionary.com\/define.php?term=pics%20or%20it%20didn%27t%20happen\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">I&#8217;ve got pics and it did happen<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p><center><div id=\"attachment_44793\" style=\"width: 508px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44793\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/rotunda10-gresize.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"332\" class=\"size-full wp-image-44793\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/rotunda10-gresize.jpg 498w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/rotunda10-gresize-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-44793\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by George De Castro Day.<\/p><\/div><\/center><\/p>\n<p>This <a href=\"https:\/\/kinginstitute.stanford.edu\/sites\/mlk\/files\/lesson-activities\/six_steps_for_nonviolent_direct_action_2.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">nonviolent direct action <\/a> led to my second rendezvous with the Capitol Police in a week. On January 29, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/you-dont-have-to-get-arrested-you-do-have-to-act\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">I was one of 40 protestors arrested on the steps of the Capitol<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><center><div id=\"attachment_44794\" style=\"width: 508px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B77Wkcmh5Gg\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44794\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/capitolstepswatermarkblog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"330\" class=\"size-full wp-image-44794\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/capitolstepswatermarkblog.jpg 498w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/capitolstepswatermarkblog-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-44794\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by IG user philliefan99<\/p><\/div><\/center><\/p>\n<p>We were among the thousands of activists who gathered to demand that the Senate hear from witnesses and review evidence that would show Trump had solicited foreign interference in the 2016 election and then obstructed Congress&#8217;s investigation.  <\/p>\n<p><center><div id=\"attachment_44795\" style=\"width: 508px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/peep-me-in-the-swarm-the-senate-video\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44795\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/swarmthesenateresize.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"374\" class=\"size-full wp-image-44795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/swarmthesenateresize.jpg 498w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/swarmthesenateresize-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-44795\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">My view from the steps of the protestors supporting us from behind the police line.<\/p><\/div><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Both the January 29 and February 5 protests were organized by a coalition of activist groups operating under the name <a href=\"https:\/\/www.remove45.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Remove Trump<\/a>. You know how people always asked (pre-coronavirus and social distancing), &#8220;Why aren&#8217;t people out in the streets protesting?&#8221; The Remove Trump activists were in the D.C. streets protesting the cover-up of Trump&#8217;s criminal activities every day since January 6, when Congress reconvened after the winter break. Longtime activist organizers, including <a href=\"https:\/\/lakauffman.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">L.A. Kauffman<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/wewillnotbesilent.net\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Laurie Arbeiter<\/a> (just to name two whom I met), stepped away from their regular lives for months to plan and facilitate nonviolent direct action on the ground in D.C. Mainstream media mostly ignored this prolonged protest, unless people got arrested. <\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B788Y5_FePI\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"12\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B788Y5_FePI\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\"> View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<p style=\" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B788Y5_FePI\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;\" target=\"_blank\">More pix from #swarmthesenate #swarmthecapitol in #washingtondc yesterday. You are not helpless. You CAN take action. Use @resistbot to call and email your senators whether they are Dems or GOP. Join a local @indivisibleteam chapter to get support from like-minded people. Follow @remove_trumpnow @refusefascism @poorpeoplescampaign @popdemoc @bytheppl @risenresistnyc @never_again_action @cosecha_harvest @maketheroadny @conmijente @newsanctuarycoalition @swingleft @sister_district @flipthesenate #impeachandremove #fightforyourrights #removetrump #moscowmitch #wedemandwitnesses #nomorecoverups<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">A post shared by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wendybrandes\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;\" target=\"_blank\"> Wendy Brandes<\/a> (@wendybrandes) on <time style=\" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;\" datetime=\"2020-01-30T17:30:37+00:00\">Jan 30, 2020 at 9:30am PST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/center><\/p>\n<p>I was impressed by the organization, persistence, and intelligence on display at January 29 event, which was a large one scheduled ahead of the Senate&#8217;s vote on whether or not to hold a real trial. There was a training for new protestors that morning; followed by a silent, walking protest in the Hart building; and then the march to the Capitol steps. Those of us volunteering for arrest filled out forms so the group could track us in the system. Not much tracking was required; most of us paid $50 and were released the same day.<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B78trCcl0y8\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"12\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B78trCcl0y8\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\"> View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<p style=\" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B78trCcl0y8\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;\" target=\"_blank\">This is the silent walking protest from the #hartsenatebuilding before we moved on to the Capitol yesterday &#8230; it was really amazing for so many people to be so quiet. #swarmthesenate #swarmthecapitol #removetrump #impeachandremove #wewantwitnesses #nomorecoverup #arrestthemall #impeachbarr #impeachkavanaugh @remove_trumpnow @refusefascism @poorpeoplescampaign @popdemoc @bytheppl @indivisibleteam @womensmarch<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">A post shared by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wendybrandes\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;\" target=\"_blank\"> Wendy Brandes<\/a> (@wendybrandes) on <time style=\" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;\" datetime=\"2020-01-30T15:24:52+00:00\">Jan 30, 2020 at 7:24am PST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2020\/01\/31\/senate-votes-against-calling-witnesses-in-trump-impeachment-trial.html\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Two days later<\/a>, as expected, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2019\/12\/20\/us\/mitch-mcconnell-impeachment-strategy.html\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mitch McConnell&#8217;s Senate<\/a> decided that ignorance was bliss, and that Trump was above the law: They weren&#8217;t going to look at any evidence. That decision made it inevitable that the Senate&#8217;s next vote would allow Trump to stay in office, because there wouldn&#8217;t be any evidence to support his removal. (If you haven&#8217;t read the absurdist novel <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/catch-22-joseph-heller\/1100216099\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Catch-22<\/a><\/em> by Joseph Heller, now&#8217;s the time.)<\/p>\n<p>Even though the fix was in after the January 31 vote to reject evidence, the #SwarmTheSenate actions continued. I saw there was going to be one last action on the day of the acquittal vote, and I felt compelled to get on a 5 a.m. bus and go back to D.C. There was no training this time, so I went directly to the Hart building, where I expected to do another meandering protest (the cops wouldn&#8217;t let us stand still the building atrium) followed by some sign-holding outside (the cops wouldn&#8217;t allow signs inside atrium). Instead, someone asked me, &#8220;Are you here to volunteer for arrest?&#8221; I said, &#8220;I guess I am!&#8221; The organizers had bought tickets for a group tour of the Capitol building &#8212; under the name &#8220;Remove Trump&#8221;; they weren&#8217;t trying to hide who we were &#8212; and the idea was to break away in the ceremonial space of the rotunda and conduct a sit-in. Between our reservation name and our many fashion statements &#8230;<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B8Q-cucFYRo\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"12\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B8Q-cucFYRo\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\"> View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<p style=\" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B8Q-cucFYRo\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;\" target=\"_blank\">Thanks to new friend @the_flyingsquirrel for the straight-on shot of my @never_again_action jacket and #swipe for her own excellent sign. Btw I saw someone tweet that the #rotunda10 (who were arrested in the Capitol for a sit-down protesting the GOP cover-up of Trump\u2019s crimes) \u201csnuck\u201d into a Capitol tour group, but I walked right in wearing this jacket as part of a large tour group that booked tickets under the name \u201cRemove Trump\u201d! Everyone in the group was wearing protest stickers\/t-shirts\/sweatshirts. There was no sneaking. There was no skipping or sashaying either, FWIW \ud83d\ude09@remove_trumpnow @l.a.kauffman #swarmthesenate #swarmthecapitol @never_again_action #neveragainisnow @refusefascism #refusefascism @bytheppl @wewillnotbesilent &#8230; #repost from @the_flyingsquirrel<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">A post shared by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wendybrandes\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;\" target=\"_blank\"> Wendy Brandes<\/a> (@wendybrandes) on <time style=\" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;\" datetime=\"2020-02-07T12:13:26+00:00\">Feb 7, 2020 at 4:13am PST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/center><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; our red-jacketed tour guide Nora probably suspected something was going on. <\/p>\n<p><center><div id=\"attachment_44834\" style=\"width: 507px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44834\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/nora-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"497\" height=\"255\" class=\"size-full wp-image-44834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/nora-1.jpg 497w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/nora-1-300x154.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-44834\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nora answered our group&#8217;s questions about the rotunda art while we were casing the joing.<\/p><\/div><\/center><\/p>\n<p>She later tweeted the &#8220;This is fine&#8221; meme.<\/p>\n<p><center><div id=\"attachment_44835\" style=\"width: 505px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44835\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/nora-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"495\" height=\"249\" class=\"size-full wp-image-44835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/nora-2.jpg 495w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/nora-2-300x151.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-44835\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Totally fine here!<\/p><\/div><\/center><\/p>\n<p>A reporter from the Washington Post saw it go down.<\/p>\n<p><center><div id=\"attachment_44810\" style=\"width: 508px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/local\/10-women-chanting-trump-is-guilty-arrested-in-capitol-rotunda-amid-protest-over-impeachment-vote\/2020\/02\/05\/def761ca-4837-11ea-bc78-8a18f7afcee7_story.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/rotunda10textwashpost.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"334\" class=\"size-full wp-image-44810\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/rotunda10textwashpost.jpg 498w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/rotunda10textwashpost-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-44810\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Click for the full story.<\/p><\/div><\/center><\/p>\n<p>It was good to read about the action afterwards, because all the adrenaline gave me tunnel vision at the moment. I hadn&#8217;t gotten on the bus with arrest in mind! During the walk from the Hart building to the Capitol, the entrance into the Capitol, the informational video about the Capitol, the first part of the tour of the Capitol, and the arrival in the Capitol rotunda &#8212; all I did was stare at the three women who would initiate the action. Tricia, Lisa, and Myra. Tricia, Lisa, and Myra. Tricia, Lisa, and Myra. I&#8217;m bad at remembering faces, so I spent the morning staring at Tricia, Lisa, and Myra and memorizing things about their hair and winter coats and matching those things to their names, which I kept repeating to myself. Once we sat down, I became aware of my six other new friends &#8212; Donna, Jennifer, Barbara, Linda, Karen, and Carla &#8212; but other than that I was in my own headspace until the moment <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B8OqAfVlql_\/?igshid=x1vkargw060s\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">I was in handcuffs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><center><div id=\"attachment_44815\" style=\"width: 508px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/rotundablog1a.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44815\" class=\"wp-image-44815\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/rotundablog1a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/rotundablog1a.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/rotundablog1a-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/rotundablog1a-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-44815\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by George De Castro Day. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div><\/center><\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s why I especially appreciate photographer George De Castro Day for writing such detailed descriptions of the protest in addition to taking the pictures. Here&#8217;s what he had to say about the last shots he was able to get as the cops cleared the rotunda.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>&#8220;Set your flash to stun.&#8221; With no apologies to Capitol Police, these are the next-to-last and last shots of the #Rotunda10, before getting shoved out of the rotunda. It is surprisingly dim in there. I was using speed light that&#8217;s really more of a small strobe, set to maximum output, because the subject was the space and the group, not the nearby cops. Oh, well.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/the-rotunda10-membership-has-its-prisoners\/georgepic1\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-44817\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/georgepic1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"330\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-44817\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/georgepic1.jpg 498w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/georgepic1-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>At this point, it was beyond obvious that the group was going to be arrested. There had been three warnings. The cops cleared the rotunda and began closing the doors. two of the last &#8216;coverup&#8217; tee shirt wearers, from the indivisible group, are being marshaled out, on the left. An Abraham Lincoln impersonator, complete with stove pipe hat, is on the way out, on the right. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/the-rotunda10-membership-has-its-prisoners\/georgepic2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-44818\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/georgepic2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"332\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-44818\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/georgepic2.jpg 498w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/georgepic2-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>And yet, the captain is standing ten feet or so away from the group, bellowing into through a bullhorn. It&#8217;s like an absurdist tableau. The cap in the foreground belongs to an officer who is pushing me backwards. There might have been an exchange of expletives. #RemoveTrump In the second frame, the doors are closing. The yellow duffle bag, on the right, contains the plastic handcuffs. Everyone but the protestors is out, at this point, and he is still yelling through a bullhorn, up close. The third shot is the door closing.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/the-rotunda10-membership-has-its-prisoners\/georgepic3\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-44819\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/georgepic3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"335\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-44819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/georgepic3.jpg 498w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/georgepic3-300x202.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Believe it or not, I never noticed that there was an Abraham Lincoln impersonator in the rotunda &#8212; that&#8217;s how focused I was! I wasn&#8217;t aware of time. (George wrote, &#8220;What felt like \u2014 and was \u2014 a long time for this kind of protest, from the moment it begin until everyone was cleared out of the room, was all of 8 minutes, plus or minus a few seconds.&#8221;) I didn&#8217;t see the room being cleared of everyone except the #Rotunda10, and I still have to find out who deserves credit for coming up with &#8220;#Rotunda10.&#8221; I didn&#8217;t register the cops&#8217; bullhorns. I just sat, arms linked with my comrades, chanting, &#8220;Acquittal is a cover-up!&#8221; until the cops arrested us one by one. Then I came back to myself.<\/p>\n<p>What happened next was that the plastic handcuffs got all tangled up, so Donna and I had the serious metal ones on for a while. &#8212; I thought they were more comfortable than the plastic I eventually got. My six layers of clothing and motorcycle jacket had so many pockets all together that even I didn&#8217;t know about some of them, so searching my person went on forever, as Donna languished in the last police van waiting for me. <\/p>\n<p><center><div id=\"attachment_44830\" style=\"width: 508px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/the-rotunda10-membership-has-its-prisoners\/policevanresize\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-44830\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/policevanresize.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"395\" class=\"size-full wp-image-44830\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/policevanresize.jpg 498w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/policevanresize-300x238.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-44830\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">My ride.<\/p><\/div><\/center><\/p>\n<p>My safety-pin earring was removed so I couldn&#8217;t poke anyone with it. Unlike the previous week when police took us to a big warehouse for processing, we went to a couple of regular cells in central booking, which we shared. (We immediately developed a protocol for preserving the privacy of anyone who needed to use the right-out-in-the-open toilet.) My Miranda rights were reviewed by a young female cop whose perfect makeup and glowing skin I admired. She was delighted, having felt self-conscious about a pimple that she attributed to overindulging in peanut butter. Papers were processed; $50 fines were paid; and we were sent out the door one at a time &#8230;<\/p>\n<p><center><div id=\"attachment_44831\" style=\"width: 508px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/the-rotunda10-membership-has-its-prisoners\/prisondoorblog\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-44831\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44831\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/prisondoorblog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"498\" class=\"size-full wp-image-44831\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/prisondoorblog.jpg 498w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/prisondoorblog-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/prisondoorblog-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/prisondoorblog-320x320.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-44831\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Prisoners only!<\/p><\/div><\/center><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; to be greeted with cheers (and snacks) by the Remove Trump jail-support team.<\/p>\n<p><center><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B8RzJo9lQ6B\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"12\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B8RzJo9lQ6B\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\">\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\"> View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a> <\/p>\n<p style=\" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B8RzJo9lQ6B\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;\" target=\"_blank\">Sound up! The moment when the last of the #rotunda10 was released from jail in #washingtondc on Wednesday. Thanks to @remove_trumpnow @l.a.kauffman for being great organizers. #refusefascism #standupfightback #or #sitdownfightback #capitolrotundaprotest #flashbackfriday#defenddemocracy @wewillnotbesilent @bytheppl @refusefascism @never_again_action<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">A post shared by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wendybrandes\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;\" target=\"_blank\"> Wendy Brandes<\/a> (@wendybrandes) on <time style=\" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;\" datetime=\"2020-02-07T19:56:13+00:00\">Feb 7, 2020 at 11:56am PST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/center><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/you-dont-have-to-get-arrested-you-do-have-to-act\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">As I said in my post about the arrest on the Capitol steps<\/a>, not everyone has the time\/money\/physical ability to participate in this type of activism, or even to do much activism at all. In addition, being arrested with a group of mostly white people at a big-city protest &#8212; especially in D.C. where protests are routine &#8212; is a relatively safe experience. I got out, received hugs, stuffed myself with cheddar-flavored popcorn, and happily posed for pictures.<\/p>\n<p><center><div id=\"attachment_44837\" style=\"width: 508px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-44837\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/dcreleaseblog.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"616\" class=\"size-full wp-image-44837\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/dcreleaseblog.jpg 498w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/dcreleaseblog-243x300.jpg 243w, https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/dcreleaseblog-300x371.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-44837\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">I demanded photos be taken of my special jacket.<\/p><\/div><\/center><\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s not how it is for people who are arrested on their own, or for protesting with other black people or people of color. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2016\/nov\/29\/standing-rock-protest-north-dakota-shutdown-evacuation\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The police used brutal violence against the Standing Rock protestors in North Dakota in 2016, causing serious injuries<\/a>. And that&#8217;s exactly why I&#8217;ve been saying that if you are among the few who, like me, can risk arrest safely in order to draw attention to abuses of power, it&#8217;s not just that you should do it &#8212; you <em>must<\/em> do it. It&#8217;s a moral imperative to represent those who can&#8217;t take those chances because they could lose their life, health, job, home, or family. Or, at least, it <em>was<\/em> a moral imperative before the coronavirus exploded while the Senate dithered over Trump&#8217;s impeachment trial. Now we can&#8217;t gather in groups &#8212; something I feared would happen to activists because of the overturning of our Constitutional rights, not because of a pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Even so, we can and must still advocate for ourselves and others. If you&#8217;re in New York City, you can subscribe to my free weekly action newsletter. <a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/5936bab6d48c\/need-info-related-to-covid-19-weve-got-links\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">This week&#8217;s went out a little late, and in a bit of a different format than usual<\/a>, but I figured it out and I will keep figuring it out. Throughout the rest of the country, you can speak your mind to your elected officials by messaging them about any topic &#8212; including our need for COVID-19 testing &#8212; by using <a href=\"https:\/\/resist.bot\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Resistbot<\/a>. Text the word RESIST to 50409 and the &#8216;bot will walk you through the rest. Once you get it set up, you can blast out emails in under two minutes, 24\/7. Start a group text with your friends and share Resistbot messages to inspire each other. Also:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Contribute to efforts to flip the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.howweflipthesenate.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Senate<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Keep an eye on state\/city\/local elections; people think the presidential race is everything but in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kentucky.com\/news\/politics-government\/article241066901.html\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the Kentucky House of Representatives passed anti-abortion legislation<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/votefwd.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up with Vote Forward to send letters to voters<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/my2020census.gov\/?utm_medium=E3Search&#038;utm_source=Google&#038;utm_campaign=NYCCensus2020\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Take the census! The federal resources and representation you get depend on an accurate count<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition, don&#8217;t forget to be a sanitary citizen by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/take-off-your-rings-and-wash-your-hands\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">taking off your rings when you wash your hands<\/a>. Finally, when public life resumes, always send cupcakes to your Capitol tour guide after protesting on her watch. I do hope tour-guide Nora enjoyed hers!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Six weeks ago today &#8212; on Wednesday, February 5, in the hours before the GOP-led Senate acquitted the impeached president without holding a proper trial &#8212; I sat down on the floor of the Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., with nine other women for a final act of protest ahead of the vote. Meet the&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/the-rotunda10-membership-has-its-prisoners\/\">Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":44793,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[669,2092,49,143],"tags":[2283],"class_list":{"0":"post-44790","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-about-wendy","8":"category-activism","9":"category-in-the-news","10":"category-politics","11":"tag-rotunda10","12":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44790"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44790\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44839,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44790\/revisions\/44839"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wendybrandes.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}