“#TheResistance” – a Twitter hashtag started in response to the policies of President Donald Trump – is undoubtedly real, and more than just a hashtag.
Since Trump became Commander-in-Chief, his actions against so many segments of the population has caused the nation to become extremely polarized, partisan, divided, & chaotic.
During the 2016 election campaign season, I was usually politically quiet, since this movement against stand your ground laws is a non-partisan grassroots organization. But policies and actions of the Trump administration have intruded on that principle.
As a result, an assortment of movements against various federal policies have emerged, leading to a plethora of hashtags on Twitter. Very few hashtags are as universal as #Resist, which morphs into #TheResistance, and expands to include #FollowBackResistance (#FBR).
What started as a grassroots attack on Twitter against Trump’s tactics has morphed and is now used by many progressive movements which incorporate some form of #Resistance with their own hashtags.
Most twitter accounts in the Resistance regularly host what’s called a “follow back resistance party” (#FBRParty), which is simply a social media call-out for twitter follows, likes, retweets, & replies.
Using the words “I #Resist and I CARE…DO YOU? Are you with me?” our very first “#FBRparty”, hosted a couple of months ago, brought about 250 new followers to the @endyourstand account overnight, over 500 since it was first posted, and has gained much-needed exposure for the Movement to Change or Repeal Stand Your Ground laws.
So far this tweet’s been viewed over 13,000 times and received hundreds of likes & retweets, placing it among the Top Tweets for this movement. Become a part of this #Resistance advocating against stand your ground laws and Donald Trump. We’ll follow back. Because #TheResistance is real.
Today, almost every state that had Jim Crow laws from 1876 to 1965 now has some form of “shoot first” or stand your ground law. In the history of the United States of America, no practice of law has caused more controversy, grief, injustice, and shame than Jim Crow laws, which were state and local laws enforcing racial segregation in the South.
The practice existed for 75 years, until 1965, after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. Jim Crow laws followed the 1800–1866 Black Codes, which had previously restricted the civil rights and liberties of African-Americans.
During it’s time, Jim Crow law encouraged prejudice, enabled discrimination, and deprived Black Americans of even the most basic qualities of life.
Segregation by race affected everything from the U.S. military and federal facilities to all public places, including schools, restrooms, restaurants, housing, and public transportation. Even drinking fountains were segregated.
The goal of this tweet posted on twitter was to show the irony of having stand your ground laws in today’s racially charged society, and many tweeps noticed it. I didn’t do the graphic. Props to the creator.
Time for another treat with a top tweet about stand your ground laws. It’s summertime and Florida recently began a “#SummerStartsNow Visit Florida” tourism campaign.
Unfortunately, the murder of singer Christina Grimmie and massacre at the Pulse nightclub have occurred two weeks after this tweet was posted. We all truly grieve with Orlando. Yet incidents like these may only serve to help the state promote it’s NRA-led gun agenda.
So, why not celebrate the season in a place where guns are not so prevalent and promiscuous? What better time to give California oranges and juice a try, or skip the Southeast corner of the U.S. to visit Hawaii, which has one of the lowest rates of gun ownership (7%) and gun deaths (7 in 2010).
In case you missed it, or don’t use twitter, here’s a tweet by the Movement to Change or repeal Stand Your Ground Laws that got the most attention over the past few weeks to earn a spot on the top tweet list.
Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, also tweeted about the Gunshine state’s tourism campaign. Shout out and thanks to whoever created the graphic:
This GIF image, used in Roy Clymer’s post entitled “A Manifesto of Second Amendment Responsibilities“, powerfully portrays a simple message so effectively that it gained lots of attention on twitter within the last month and became our Top Tweet.
With ownership of a car comes the responsibility to drive it safely and properly. Why is it easier in some places to get a license to own a gun than a license to drive a car? For a gun owner, there should also be a responsibility to use a gun safely and effectively. Do you think everyone should own a gun?
It’s about time to highlight a top-performing tweet from @endyourstand on twitter. This segment will no longer be called a “tweet of the month” but an engaging, deserving tweet from the movement will continue to be regularly featured.
An environment of stand your ground laws creates a community of (legal & illegal) empowered, emboldened gun owners, who sometimes may push the limits of what stand your ground law is intended to do, contributing to gun violence.
Although it’s been a while since it was posted on twitter, this tweet was quickly retweeted and is worthy of being featured here because it concisely speaks volumes about the impact stand your ground laws have on America’s consciousness. If you agree, help keep it going and retweet it, then tell us what you think in the comments below:
The year was 1967. The Vietnam War was raging. The Doors released their debut album. Elvis Presley & Priscilla got married. America was near the tail end of the civil rights movement with Lyndon B. Johnson as president, and future U.S. President Ronald Reagan had just become Governor of California.
On May 2, as the California State Assembly convened for a hearing on the Mulford Act – which made open carry of loaded weapons illegal in the state – 26 members of the Black Panther Party, a revolutionary group of African-Americans, armed with handguns and shotguns, strolled into the chambers to protest the proposed law, which was introduced as a result of the Panthers penchant for open carry. In the end, the law was passed and six Black Panthers pleaded guilty to disrupting a legislative session.
With open carry gaining popularity in a few states today, would this type of protest succeed? Check out one of the most popular tweets ever posted on @endyourstand
This site is non-partisan but occasionally I’m compelled to throw a little virtual paper hat into the ring. Especially when no one else is shouting for an end to “stand your ground” laws.
While watching the Republican presidential debates on ABC in December, many of us may have had a feeling something was missing. Moms Demand Action made me realize what it was, and a tweet done in haste made quite an impression that night, earning it the spot as the final “tweet of the month” for 2015:
Maybe I missed it but did either #GOPDebate candidate say much about gun violence or was it thrown under a Bush? https://t.co/ik19QmiHUu
There are quite a few more opportunities to catch the candidates from both parties expound on their platforms, and we must remind them that domestic gun violence among Americans is just as much a threat as domestic or international terrorism. Here’s a schedule of debates coming up in 2016:
Republican debates
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Fox Business Republican Debate Aired On: Fox Business Network Location:North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, S.C. Sponsors:Fox Business Network Moderators: To be announced
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Fox News Republican Debate Aired On: Fox News Channel Location:Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, IA. Sponsors: Fox News Moderators: Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly, Chris Wallace
Saturday, February 6, 2016
ABC News/IJReview Republican Debate Aired On: ABC Location:Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. Sponsors: ABC News, IJReview.com, WMUR Moderators: David Muir, Martha Raddatz
Saturday, February 13, 2016
CBS News Republican Debate Aired On: CBS Location:The Peace Center in Greenville, S.C. Sponsors:CBS News Moderator: John Dickerson
Friday, February 26, 2016
Republican Debate Aired On: undetermined Location:University of Houston in Houston, TX. Sponsors: National Review
March, 2016
Republican Primary Debate Aired On: Fox News Channel Location: To be determined Sponsors: Fox News
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Republican Primary Debate Aired On: CNN Location: Florida Sponsors: CNN, Salem Media Group
Democratic debates
Sunday, January 17, 2016
NBC News Democratic Primary Debate Aired On: NBC Location: Charleston, S.C. Sponsors: NBC, Congressional Black Caucus Institute Moderator: Lester Holt
Luis Sosa had a question. And then another. And before long, the 20-year-old pharmacy student in Puerto Rico had several different questions in his head, which made their way on to his twitter profile, each as an “open question to all U.S. Christians”. One night two weeks before Christmas, Sosa blasted a tirade of ten taunting tweets on twitter in twenty minutes, each one posing a distinct one-sentence question to ALL United States Christians.
The thought-provoking questions, which even challenged the U.S. Constitution, touched on a range of topics: racism, gun control, immigration, religion, politics, and climate change. In an exclusive interview with the movement to End Stand Your Ground, Sosa said he wanted to address his questions “mostly to young, maybe college-aged Christians like me, so they could really analyze if their current world view aligns with Jesus’.” Sosa described the response he received from the twitterverse as tepid.
Sosa said he has traveled to the mainland and has a desire to come here, but he said, “I found these sorts of things disturbing in the U.S. Christian community:
being overzealous with guns, carrying guns in church, talking about killing trespassers, denying climate change, bailing out big business because socialism is ‘of the devil’, the confederate flag ‘worship’, even slavery and institutionalized racism in the past, and these things really irked me to the point where I was asking myself: ‘Why do they believe this?’.”
Perhaps thinking of a recent article on how Australia had instituted gun reform around the time he was born, Sosa began by taunting Christians in America about gun control:
During the interview Sosa told me, “Gun law here is rather strict, and a judge from the Circuit Court of the municipality of Salinas declared Law 404 unconstitutional according to the FEDERAL (U.S.) Constitution, but it is currently in (the) appeals process. I fear that things may get more violent here if the regulations are eliminated.”
Earlier this year, in response to a lawsuit brought on by gun advocates, Puerto Rico’s commonwealth court abolished all its regulations and licensing for firearms, making it legal to do, well – just about anything you can legally do with a gun.
Sosa has strong feelings on gun control, and said “I believe gun laws should answer to common sense, common sense being that no law-abiding citizen needs an automatic rifle. Common sense being that the only excuse to shoot someone is in the presence of very real and mortal danger. Common sense in that mass shootings are not just because of “mental health problems”. Common sense in that legal background checks should be instituted to buy a small magazine handgun under a .38 caliber after an appropriate waiting period.”
In 2014 Puerto Rico had its lowest homicide rate in 15 years.The island had 681 homicides in 2014, down from 1,164 three years before, according to Fox News. The decline in gun deaths did not go unnoticed, and ironically, is not attributed to any surge in gun sales, but partly to efforts by the FBI to take charge of cases involving armed felons.
One particular question that caught my attention was about “stand your ground” laws.
Sosa pointed out that one instance in the New Testament where a Christian ‘stood his ground’ was when Peter attacked one of the soldiers arresting Jesus, yet Jesus did not praise Peter for it, but reprimanded him (Matt 26:52).
Sosa said that, “Republicanism does not have as much of a stronghold (here) on Christianity as in the States; we may be morally conservative, but in regards to guns and economy, we have a true ‘smorgasbord’: Socialists, Democrats, Capitalists, Republicans, heck, even some Communists for good measure. We do not let our political ideologies influence our faith; we let our faith influence our political ideologies.” Sosa’s other tweets implicated Donald Trump, racism, and climate change.
(By the way Luis – we U.S. Christians are sometimes confused also.)
We’d be extremely interested in answers to any of these questions. They’re still open. Please feel free to leave your answers below. Luis is still waiting.
When Dick Durbin, then Judiciary Committee Chairman, uttered these words at a U. S. Senate hearing on stand your ground laws in 2013, hopes were high that finally the nation would agree, and that the federal government would initiate steps to push state lawmakers to change stand your ground laws. It hasn’t happened yet. The danger is still real.
Summarizing stand your ground law, Durbin’s opening statement “It appears to me that stand your ground laws are an invitation to confrontation” deserves to be a tweet of the month.
I read the Declaration of Independence yesterday, just to refresh my memory, so it seems fitting today to debut a new featured post called “Tweet of the Month“, which will present some of the most thought-provoking, engaging interactions from our twittersphere every month. Wishing wish you and yours a happy, safe, Fourth of July, also!
The Million Hoodies Movement For Justice is calling for a Day of Action to turn the music up throughout America on February 16, the birthday of Jordan Davis, gunned down after an argument over loud music by Michael Dunn, whose trial began this week.
Jacksonville, Florida Mayor Alvin Brown has proclaimed February 16 as Jordan Russell Davis Day.
The National Day of Action includes turning radios all the way up, mobilizing across the country, and signing a petition calling for Justice for Jordan Davis.
The movement is using the twitter hashtag #MusicUp4JD to promote the Day of Action., and participants can RSVP to the Hoodies.
Million Hoodies is an award-winning activism movement started in response to the Trayvon Martin shooting. The group reports over 50,000 members, and helped generate global support for the arrest of George Zimmerman after he was not immediately charged in the shooting.
The group is trying to recruit local chapter organizers across the country. For more information go to the Million Hoodies website.
Statement issued by the family of 17-year-old Darrell Niles regarding the court decision on stand your ground immunity hearing for Shannon Scott (courtesy WISTV.com):
“As a family, we have waited patiently, quietly and painfully for the last three years. We even remained silent, painful, yet hopeful during the Zimmerman case. We did not come this far not to receive justice for Darrell. We know that there is nothing we can do to bring Darrell back, but we will now speak on behalf of all innocent bystanders.
We were present in court every day and heard every statement. We are appalled by the judges decision. The 4 teenagers that testified on Shannon Scott’s behalf, gave 4 different stories. After each of their testimonies, it was revealed that each of them changed their stories from three years ago (statements were read aloud in court).
Please, please, please understand that there are so many details being left out. Kudos to Todd Rutherford for being a good lawyer. However, Shannon Scott’s roommate and his girlfriend testified that Shannon came into his room, grabbed his gun without telling them to get down or about any threat and immediately walked outside shooting. They testified that the first shot was close to the house and happened immediately after Shannon went out of his front door. They said the second shot was far off. This matches the statement (read in court) given by the shooter in the car of so called “women thugs”. She said she wanted the person that was shooting at her to know that she also had a gun, so she shot back.
As Rutherford mentioned on WIS news, the young lady did give a statement to police stating that she was going to shoot Shannon’s house up, but Rutherford failed to mention that her sentence ended in “after someone shot at me, but my friends talked me out of it.” She felt the need to defend herself.
Prior to this case, Shannon had no knowledge that the girls planned to shoot at his home. He found out in court and Mr. Rutherford capitalized on it in his closing statement to paint a picture that did not happen. Even the 911 call made by Shannon’s wife, at the time girlfriend, which was played in court said, “there is a white SUV full of girls parked at Allstate”. She stated that Shannon heard her say this. So, how did he end up shooting a red Honda that contained two boys?
stand your ground victim Darrell Niles (facebook photo)
The young man riding with Darrell also testified that Shannon shot first. He saw him walk out and start shooting. He also testified of a second shot that was far off. The 911 call gave details on where the girls were (parked at Allstate…a few houses down and two the right of Shannon’s home) and pictures revealed where my Darrell’s car ended (pictures shown in court….like two houses down and to the left of Shannon’s home). That doesn’t make for an off shot. That makes for bad judgement.
Shannon also testified that he saw the vehicle that posed a threat come down the street with it’s headlights off. Pictures shown revealed that Darrell’s headlights were on. Nonetheless, this man was shooting at kids.
Yes, teenagers can pose a threat and we understand wanting to protect your child, but by any means necessary and without judgement?!? There was a sign at his home that said, “Shoot first. Ask questions later.” He did exactly that. Regardless of what his lawyer wants people to believe, Shannon shot first. He created the biggest threat and took an innocent bystanders life. He shot at a car that had the windows up (pictures shown in court). That is not standing your ground.
We understand that the stand your ground law has caused an uproar in our nation at this time, but we do not feel as if it is applicable to this case. We hope and pray that the Supreme Court would allow this case to go to trial. We are confident in the facts. Not the painted picture of Rutherford, who helped write the stand your ground law. Thanks to everyone in support of justice in this case. We thank you. We solicit your prayers. One thing is for sure, facts do not lie!!“
End Stand Your Ground 
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