genXy - The Podcast | Episode 5: Protests & Power! (With Special Guest Appearance from Frederic Poag)

Anyone go to one of the thousands of April 5th “Hands Off” protests yesterday?

Lawrence attended in Fort Wayne, Indiana—and of course, we had to talk about it.

We discuss Lawrence’s inspiring experiences at the protest, our disappointment in the lackluster pre- and post-event mainstream news coverage, and the overall impact. Early reports indicate thousands of protests around the US and the world, with millions of participants, all peaceful.

Lawrence described the sense of hope, optimism, and unity he felt gathering with like-minded citizens and fighting back.

We know many of you had similar rousing experiences.

But the big question is: now what?

Here’s what we think comes next:

Step 1: Take the Oath

Lawrence believes the answer is foundational. He wants everyone to take an oath to the very document that founded us: the Constitution.

Military members need to take the oath. So do government employees, and naturalized citizens.

But citizens who were born here are never asked to take an oath to the Constitution. Heck, most of us haven’t read it since high school civics class. But the Constitution demands that we citizens hold our elected officials accountable, and that we all rise up to defend the Constitution, “against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

Emphasis ours—and we mean it.

Lawrence takes the oath during the podcast—and he thinks we should all do the same.

Since the average US citizen doesn’t take an oath, we decided to tweak the oath naturalized citizens take. Here it is:

“I hereby declare, on oath,
that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion;
so help me God.”

Step 2: Organize locally

You know it’s a good podcast when

Frederic Poag

joins. It’s an even better one when he pops in for a spontaneous conversation.

Frederic dove into his experience as a community organizer, and the impact his work has had over the years, starting with his college days and spanning communities red and blue alike.

Together we discuss how democracy is not for spectators. You don’t get to sit down at a political restaurant and expect democracy to show up at your table. Democracy demands active participation. And now is the time to get into the kitchen and start cooking, so to speak.

Truly, this man is going to be a major voice in shaping the future of liberal politics in the US, and we’re all going to get to say we heard him here on Substack first.

Have a listen.

Keep the faith, defend Democracy.

Love you mean it!

Thanks

Robert Sawers

,

Sam Liebl

,

DamnFineHaggis

,

Simone Ona- musha

, and many others for tuning into this genXy live video with

Dana DuBois

and

Frederic Poag

!

Lawrence’s 83yo mom at the Ft Wayne, IN protest is exactly the energy we need right now.