‘Fired up!’ to fight back

Early evening last month, a stream of vehicles entered the parking lot at the United Auto Workers hall in East Peoria, and within a half hour more than 100 people had showed up for a meeting of the Fired Up for Democracy committee. As unionists, veterans, Millennials and seniors took seats, the crowded gathering started to develop an air of collective resolve and joy – an inspiring blend of revival meeting, barn-raising and potluck dinner.

In some ways, the dozens of people, shrugging off their coats and visiting, mirrored similar actions from coast to coast, Americans are increasingly fighting the flood of actions from Washington D.C., with boycotts, protests, lawsuits all seeming to be having as impact. Popularity polls show Americans’ opinions of the new administration and its “adviser” Elon Musk dropping.

At the east-side table, Mari Osborne checks a computer, a colleague at her left elbow, and a screen behind her.

She’s ready.

After the November election, many felt deflated as well as defeated. Osborne says she was disappointed, too, but decided to do what she did when she worked some 30 years for Children’s Miracle Network.

Organize.

“We knew we needed to keep meeting,” she says, noting there was a time when she wasn’t very occupied in current events.

“I was happily not involved in politics,” Osborne says. “I started really paying attention when I heard a co-worker’s disgust that Obama was elected. I was really surprised – he wasn’t even sworn in yet, and people were already ‘hating’ on him. I was disappointed.

“I got involved with Tazewell County Democrats in 2019,” she continues. “I volunteered to organize the parades that we participate in. Speaking of parades: We need parade participants. You can walk or ride on the trailer. It’s a good time and good camaraderie with upbeat music and most of the people along the parade route are very friendly and welcoming.”

But now, this fourth meeting of the small-d democratic grassroots group – working with a growing group of activists from Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford Counties – is building on a handful of souls to take action

“It’s getting together and sharing ideas and just supporting each other,” Osborne says. “We have an amazing group of people coming together, opposing the new administration and the Project 2025 that they are slamming us with.

“So many newcomers!” she adds. “People want to do something!”

There’s a lot to do, they say.

Summarizing the first month of the new administration, In These Times magazine writer Luis Feliz Leon said, “Since taking office, Trump and his effective co-president Elon Musk have mounted a frontal assault on workers through executive actions, aimed at rooting out disloyal workers in the federal workforce, illegally firing members of the National Labor Relations Board, dismissing a member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority, and threatening to freeze funding for health care, education, transportation and other services – while also conducting immigration raids that have ensnared U.S. citizens and stoked fears of racial profiling.

“Whatever you call it – a hostile takeover, a blitzkrieg – the effect is the same: Overwhelm workers and befuddle the opposition as billionaires carry out a rolling coup,” he continued. “In terms of union organizing, you could liken the volleys of attacks from the Trump White House to bosses holding the country’s working class in a massive captive-audience meeting, using shock-and-awe tactics to divide us up.”

Here, Fired Up get-togethers continue to concentrate on what can be done locally. An average 8 or 10 candidates or those thinking of running for office usually attend, Osborne says. And tonight, Jim Efaw from Woodford encouraged those considering seeking office to do so, and offered ideas – even for last-minute candidacies weeks before April 1’s local elections.

A key, he said, was to build a network, including labor unions.

“Unions are very supportive,” Efaw says. “You don’t have to be a union member. Just be sane … not anti-union.”

Fired Up is developing a program by focusing on voter engagement, precinct-level education and recruiting. and youth outreach.

“We’re training people to contact Congress to voice our concerns and thank those who stand with us.”

Other presentations range from building a core of volunteers, using social media like BlueSky and Instagram, and coordinating with groups with common interests, from national organizations like the ACLU, Indivisible and the League of Women Voters, to Tri-County independents and Republicans.

“We appreciate all the folks supporting this committee, including our union members and veterans – and Republicans who have had a change of mind and heart are welcome.”

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich recently said, “The battle of our day is no longer about Democrats versus Republicans or Left versus Right. The choice right now is democracy or dictatorship. And we're sliding faster than I ever thought possible into the latter. Everyone must choose which side they’re on. Now.”

Indeed, after Trump’s UN representative voted with Russia, North Korea and other Moscow-friendly countries against a resolution condemning Russian invasion of Ukraine and calling for the occupied territory to be returned, former Republican Congressman Denver Riggleman, an Air Force vet and National Security contractor from Virginia, said, “Make no mistake – the U.S. is now the bad guy. We are aligned with Russia.”

Here, good-guy Americans hold up each other. Collegiality blends with determination, and civility with humor (like Fired Up’s rousing singalong of “Runaround Sue,” with new lyrics about Trump).

“We want to keep pushing, keep getting stronger, and keep getting better,” Osborne says.

Elsewhere, although national GOP leaders told Members of Congress not to have town-hall meetings, some lawmakers are. U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), who’s been in office since 1997, said that for the first time ever he needed an overflow room recently for one of his “coffee with your congressman” events, as about 700 people showed up.

“Something is happening in this country,” McGovern said. “People have had enough of Trump’s cruelty and lies.”

Last month, demonstrators protested at the office of U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-16^th District) in Normal, and like-minded Illinois activists filled a meeting hall in Elizabeth (in Jo Daviess County) to discuss next steps.

In East Peoria on this winter night, emotions run the gamut: enthusiastic and despondent, hopeful and fearful, but Osborne remains ready.

And steady.

“We’re excited, I’d say,” Osborne says, smiling. “And optimistic.”

Osborne invites others eager to be Fired Up for Democracy to email her: Firedupci@gmail.com.