2024 Election

Mendocino Indivisible draws huge crowd, what’s next?

Frank Hartzell March 19, 2025

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Mendocino Indivisible draws huge crowd, what’s next?

The Huddle, or Indivisible Mendocino is a resistance movement that certainly has the right reaction to present insanity. Folks I think we need a bigger boat!

Wood ducks are among the most beautiful and beloved poultry there is. But woodies are also the most fearful and don’t know how to resist and assimilate. As a result, they have become rare, while mallards, the bravest duck, has greatly increased its power in a world ruled by humans. This pretty one was on our pond yesterday. I had to hide and shoot through the window so as not to scare him. Resist, don’t run!

Here is an update from the group:

Indivisible Mendocino, fondly known as “The Huddle”, packed a lot of people and news into its monthly meeting on Wednesday. Meeting headliners included a session offering guidance on supporting locals who are vulnerable to Trump administration policies and funding cuts, a discussion of the Indivisible-sponsored nationwide April 5 “Hands Off” Day of Action – the local gathering will be at Main/Laurel, 12 noon, in Fort Bragg. A local lawyer described her firm’s approach to being targeted in a recent Trump Executive Order, and attendees relayed their successes and challenges in pressuring elected officials to fight the national onslaught on Americans’ freedom and services.

I tried to take a photo of the Indivisible Mendocino meeting that would not create fear or offense. I avoided the people saying they didnt want their photo taken. The only face I can see is Merrie Smith, who Im pretty sure would have no more fear than John Hancock, who, when the other signers of the Declaration worried about losing their heads to the King, signed his famously large signature right in the middle, saying “there, now the king can see my name even without his spectacles!”

We’re going to need to deal with this rapid growth (in meetings last year, there were times when we’d be 10 or 15 people – the growth since Jan. 20 has been astounding) and I’m going to talk to the Community Center people about last night as well as future meetings. We’ll be looking for a bigger boat!

I counted 138 people trying to fit into Mendocino community center. Linda counted 141. Linda made brownie bites and we dropped them off on the outside wall Then we went around talking to people and a river of late arrivals flooded in and filled every seat and there was standing room only. No place for us to sit! A man was upset about photos being taken. Someone worried about zoom. They were told the Zoom meeting will only be shared internally. We were among those who couldn’t get back in and left. A man came in late, got between Linda and myself while were trying to count from outside the room’s only door and he susshed our whispering. About a dozen people showed while I was at the back door and turned away when they saw the shoulder to shoulder crowd.

There is no braver bird than a hummer. This one flew into our house and got tangled in cobwebs in our skylight. Have no fear, I rescued and released the little fella. Sometimes when you jump in headfirst, someone will be inspired and pull you out. Sometimes not, but be a hummer, not a wood duck.

The meeting started with a discussion of what the Trump administration had done to the Perkins Law Firm. Im going to look itup now! Hope to get a report from someone who stayed!

I am hoping to hear what happened.

Fort Bragg is about the worst place in the state to drink and drive. I had a picture showing a guy doing a sobriety test but didnt think that was fair to print. ICE is also not greeted with open arms by the cops. They are not allowed to use the parking lot at the cop shop, nor are holds without a judges signature uphed..

The group is Indivisible Mendocino, which I believe started as the Huddle at the end of covid?

Here is their message….

Hello Indivisible Mendocino (Huddle) friends,

We’ve made it through another week!Hopefully you’ve found some bits of joy to offset the worldwide stress that seems to be a constant state of affairs now.