Democracy under attack, Donald Trump, Local vigilance, No Kings!

NO KINGS DAY SATURDAY, October 18 – All over the Bay Area

SEE YOU TOMORROW!
Sat Oct 18 in Benicia, Vallejo and more…
(Scroll down for locations & times…)

In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings.

Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. “NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together.

The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings, and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty. Grow our movement and join us.

A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.

>> IN BENICIA: October 18th NO KINGS DAY! 1-2pm at the Gazebo (map: First and Military Streets). Bring your signs, your neighbors, friends, and family, and your goodwill. We’ll “parade” this block for the hour on the sidewalk.

>> IN VALLEJO: Vallejo-Benicia INDIVISIBLE is holding a second NO KINGS Day of Action on Saturday, October 18, 10AM – 12PM, at Unity Plaza / JFK Library, 505 Santa Clara St. The event will include inspiring local speakers and live music as well as songs from our Resistance DJ. We will then march briefly through downtown Vallejo, ending around noon. The Vallejo event is listed with more detailed info on the Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible Facebook page (including a map).

>> ALL OVER THE BAY AREA: Here’s a LIST of NO KINGS Oct 18 events in the Bay Area, starting with Benicia – scroll down and click on an event for more details. Or… go to the big nokings.org or mobilize.us map and zoom in. Then click on a city for detailed info.

MORE… (nokings.org)

About No Kings

In June, we did what many claimed was impossible: peacefully mobilized millions of people to take to the streets and declare with one voice: America has No Kings. And it mattered. The world saw the power of the people. President Trump’s birthday parade was drowned out by protests in every state and across the globe. His attempt to turn June 14 into a coronation collapsed, and the story became the strength of a movement rising against his authoritarian power grabs.

Now, President Trump has doubled down. His administration is sending masked agents into our streets, terrorizing our communities. They are targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting and detaining people without warrants. Threatening to overtake elections. Gutting healthcare, environmental protections, and education when families need them most. Rigging maps to silence voters. Ignoring mass shootings at our schools and in our communities. Driving up the cost of living while handing out massive giveaways to billionaire allies, as families struggle.

The president thinks his rule is absolute. But in America, we don’t have kings and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.

Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and bigger. “NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan; it is the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, shouted by millions, carried on posters and chants, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together.

Because this country does not belong to kings, dictators, or tyrants. It belongs to We the People – the people who care, who show up, and the ones who fight for dignity, a life we can afford, and real opportunity. No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.

MEMORIES: BENICIA’S JUNE 2025 NO KINGS RALLY:

 

Christian nationalism, Democracy under attack, White supremacy

Benicia’s Mary Susan Gast to speak on dangers of ‘Christian Nationalism’

Rev. Dr. Mary Susan Gast

The Rev. Dr. Mary Susan Gast will speak at Community Congregational Church on Sunday, October 26, at 4:00 pm on the topic of Christian Nationalism, its roots and impact.

She states, “In the late 1970’s a movement began to emerge in the U.S. that we now recognize as Christian Nationalism. ‘Christian Nationalism’ is not simply being Christian and being American. It is the fusion of one particular take on Christianity with a vision of the United States as the birthright of the descendants of white Christian European settlers.

Bishop William Barber has observed that the adherents of Christian Nationalism believe that Christianity ‘calls on us to be anti-gay, against people who may have had an abortion, against immigrants, and against the poor. But what the Scriptures actually say is that God loves all people.’”

Her presentation on October 26th will examine the Biblical and historical bases for these diverse understandings of the application of Christian teaching, along with the effects of Christian Nationalism on our democracy and civil society.

Dr. Gast notes that the affirmation of Christian Nationalism among many current national leaders raises questions for many regarding the effects of that ideology on government policy.

“In August this year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth released a video on social media. It featured two pastors of Hegseth’s fellowship of faith asserting that women should not have the right to vote.

Doug Wilson, one of the pastors on the video, later affirmed to the Associated Press that he believes the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote ‘was a bad idea.’

In early September many members of the current administration attended the National Conservatism Conference. Speakers at the event included:

    • Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts endorsing ‘the righteous anger young men feel when our elites say they can be replaced by immigrants or machines’
    • Charlie Haywood, who has called for the ‘total denigration of ‘career’ as the main goal of women’
    • and U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt who declared America belongs to ‘us’. . . ‘the sons and daughters of the Christian pilgrims that poured out from Europe’s shores to baptize a new world.’

Gast is a Liberation theologian with advanced academic degrees from Michigan State University and the Chicago Theological Seminary.  Over the past 50 years she has made presentations in the U.S., South Africa, and China addressing the ways in which patriarchal and colonialist interpretations have distorted Christian teachings to the detriment of women and others regarded as not-quite-human.

Community Congregational Church is located at 1305 W. Second Street in Benicia. The event is free, and the public is invited.

Benicia parks, Democracy under attack, Donald Trump, Proposition 50, Stephen Golub

Benician Stephen Golub: Vote for Prop 50, Vote for Prop 218

Vote for America and Benicia

By Stephen Golub, first appearing in The Benicia Herald, Oct 5, 2025

Vote for Prop 50, Vote for Prop 218, Vote for America and Benicia

This Election Day, and via mail balloting before then, Benicians have a chance to help our democracy survive and our parks thrive. I urge you to vote for California Proposition 50 and Benicia Proposition 218. Briefly, here’s why:

Proposition 50: The Election Rigging Response Act

Literally every day, Donald Trump and his administration do unprecedented damage to America’s democracy, economy, national security, identity, public health and a host of other priorities. An unprecedented, blatantly and dangerously political speech to our nonpartisan military leaders. The prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey and the promise to go after many other perceived political enemies. Alienation of democratic allies like Canada while kowtowing to dictators like Putin. Spreading disinformation about Tylenol while slashing staff and funding for vaccines that could stem the next pandemic. Foreign and domestic public health cuts yielding millions of deaths. Inflation-spurring tariffs. Masked, unidentified agents grabbing even legal immigrants off our streets. The list is nearly endless.

Proposition 50 can help halt this tidal wave of attacks on everything that makes this country great. If passed, it will allow California to remap the state’s congressional districts in response to Republican-controlled Texas, Missouri and other states taking unprecedented steps to massively tilt the electoral playing field through their own redistricting.

The proposal is crucial because, if the electoral rules are fair, the Democrats will very likely win back the House of Representatives next year, given the growing unpopularity and damage of Trump and his policies. That in turn will help check his egregious abuses of power.

Unfortunately, in getting states to redraw their congressional maps so as to produce more likely Republican wins, he could retain control of the House even though many more Americans may vote for Democratic candidates across the country.

That’s just not fair. Whether you’re a Republican or Democrat or Independent, please vote for Prop 50 so we can have a fair election and put a check on Trump’s efforts to decimate our democracy and well-being.

Proposition 218: For a Citywide Parks, Landscape, and Lighting Assessment District

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. If we want Benicia to remain beautiful, enjoyable, safe and fiscally sound, we have to shell out the necessary money. By establishing a new Parks, Landscape, and Lighting Assessment District, Proposition 218 will help ensure that our parks, trails, open spaces and recreational areas are up to snuff.

I don’t like any new taxes or fees. Who does? But especially with our town facing acute budgetary challenges as Valero closes its refinery, we need to tap new resources to financially survive and eventually thrive.

An irony here is that last year we had a chance to adopt a real estate transfer tax that would have (among other things) significantly helped ease the financial pain of Valero departing, to the tune of perhaps $10 million dollars for the eventual sale of its property. The fact that the measure failed is water under the bridge. But Prop 218 could yield a similar sum spread over a number of years.

Let’s not throw away another$10 million or more again. If we repair and maintain our parks and related facilities, the benefits will spread beyond the immediate targets of the expenditures. It will help ensure that funds aren’t drained away from police and fire protection, which understandably consume a good chunk of Benicia’s budget. It will help property values to rise. It will help maintain Benicia as a wonderful place to live in and move to.

But we have to act fast. The mail ballots all property owners have received must be returned to the City (not simply postmarked) by October 14.

Now, what if you already returned your ballot but have since changed your mind? No worries. You can call City Management Analyst Sharon Denney at 707-746-4215 to arrange to replace that ballot with a new one.

As of this past Monday, only about 35 percent of the votes had been cast. So please, consider how this measure can help Benicia in so many ways. Vote Yes on 218.

Benicia resident and author Stephen Golub, A Promised Land

Stephen Golub writes about democracy and politics, both in America and abroad, at A Promised Land: America as a Developing Country.

…and… here’s more Golub on the Benicia Independent

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California, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Hawaii, Oregon, Public Health, Washington State, West Coast Health Alliance (WCHA)

Crazy new CDC vaccination guidelines – and the West Coast Health Alliance’s 2025-2026 Guidelines

Important for public to easily find current safe recommendations on vaccines

Roger Straw, The Benicia Independent

First note that today’s new CDC vaccination guidelines are based on misinformation and poor science. Second, know that our four West Coast states, California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii formed a WEST COAST HEALTH ALLIANCE (WCHA) which will offer clearer, safer guidelines based on real science.

Then note that the West Coast Health Alliance was announced over a month ago, but still seems to have no website. It’s recommendations are hard to find.

I was pleased that the tv news this morning carried an interview with Dr. Gupta, who showed a WCHA graphic,  “2025-2026 RESPIRATORY VIRUS SEASON IMMUNIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS” After an extensive online search, I found the chart on the Washington State Governor’s website (see below).

Click image to enlarge – or click here for PDF version.

These recommendations need to be more widely distributed and made easier to find. Please download, copy, print, distribute! I wrote to all of my state and federal legislators encouraging a website and better distribution.

Roger Straw, The Benicia Independent

Previously on the BenIndy:

“In response to recent federal actions that have undermined the independence of the CDC and raised concerns about the politicization of science…”

Sept 3, 2025, By California Governor Gavin Newsom
…[Note also on Sep 4: “Hawaii to join West Coast Health Alliance”]

What you need to know: In response to recent federal actions that have undermined the independence of the CDC and raised concerns about the politicization of science, California, Oregon, and Washington are beginning the process to provide evidence-based unified recommendations to their residents regarding who should receive immunizations and to help ensure the public has access and credible information for confidence in vaccine safety and efficacy.

SACRAMENTO — Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announced they will launch a new West Coast Health Alliance to ensure residents remain protected by science, not politics. The alliance represents a unified regional response to the Trump Administration’s destruction of the U.S. CDC’s credibility and scientific integrity.

“President Trump’s mass firing of CDC doctors and scientists — and his blatant politicization of the agency — is a direct assault on the health and safety of the American people. The CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science, ideology that will lead to severe health consequences. California, Oregon, and Washington will not allow the people of our states to be put at risk.”

Joint statement from Governors Newsom, Kotek, and Ferguson

“The dismantling of public health and dismissal of experienced and respected health leaders and advisors, along with the lack of using science, data, and evidence to improve our nation’s health are placing lives at risk,” said Erica Pan, MD, MPH, FIDSA, FAAP, Director and State Public Health Officer, California Department of Public Health. “California stands together with our public health and medical professional colleagues to uphold integrity and support our mission to protect the health of our communities.”

“Our communities deserve clear and transparent communication about vaccines — communication grounded in science, not ideology,” said Sejal Hathi, MD, MBA, Director, Oregon Health Authority. “Vaccines are among the most powerful tools in modern medicine; they have indisputably saved millions of lives. But when guidance about their use becomes inconsistent or politicized, it undermines public trust at precisely the moment we need it most. That is why Oregon is committed, alongside California and Washington, to leading with science and delivering evidence-based recommendations that protect health, save lives, and restore confidence in our public health system.”

“When federal agencies abandon evidence-based recommendations in favor of ideology, we cannot continue down that same path,” said Dennis Worsham, Secretary of Health, Washington State Department of Health. “Washington State will not compromise when it comes to our values: science drives our public health policy. Public health at its core is about prevention — preventing illness, preventing the spread of disease, and preventing early, avoidable deaths. We stand firmly with trusted medical professionals and organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as well as fellow West Coast health agencies — whose guidance remains rooted in rigorous research and clinical expertise. Our commitment is to the health and safety of our communities, protecting lives through prevention, and not yielding to unsubstantiated theories that dismiss decades of proven public health practice.” 

Details about this new Alliance

Our three states share a commitment to ensuring that public health recommendations are guided by safety, efficacy, transparency, access, and trust. The Alliance will help safeguard scientific expertise by ensuring that public health policies in California, Oregon, and Washington are informed by trusted scientists, clinicians, and other public health leaders. Through this partnership, the three states will start coordinating health guidelines by aligning immunization recommendations informed by respected national medical organizations. This will allow residents to receive consistent, science-based recommendations they can rely on — regardless of shifting federal actions.

In the coming weeks, the Alliance will finalize shared principles to strengthen public confidence in vaccines and in public health. While each state will independently pursue strategies shaped by their unique laws, geographies, histories, and peoples, these shared principles will form the foundations of the Alliance. Importantly, the three states affirm and respect Tribal sovereignty, recognizing that Tribes maintain their sovereign authority over vaccine services.

CDC’s dismantling

Since its founding, the CDC has been central to protecting Americans from disease. But recent leadership changes, reduced transparency, and the sidelining of long-trusted advisory bodies have impaired the agency’s capacity to prepare the nation for respiratory virus season and other public health challenges. In a vacuum of clear, evidence-based vaccine guidance, manufacturers lack reliable information to plan production, health care providers struggle to provide consistent plans of care, and families face uncertainty about access and coverage.

In June, California, Oregon, and Washington condemned Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s removal of all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to science-driven decision-making. We will continue to provide clear, evidence-based guidance to people living in our states, look to scientific experts in trusted medical professional organizations for recommendations, and work with public health leaders across the country to ensure all Americans are protected. The absence of consistent, science-based federal leadership poses a direct threat to our nation’s health security. To protect the health of our communities, the West Coast Health Alliance will continue to ensure that our public health strategies are based on best available science.