A quiet Quaker Meeting House has become the unlikely center of resistance in Phoenixville, Chester County in southeastern Pennsylvania.
A few days after the election, around 30 some shell-shocked people met in Schuylkill Friends Meetinghouse in Phoenixville. The Quaker group had sent out an ecumenical call for people of all faiths or no faith to meet to see what they could do about the horrible events that had overtaken the country.
People were disorientated and scared. It looked like everyone there had experienced a personal tragedy. Just meeting was a relief for people. They saw that they were not alone. The group decided to meet every two weeks in the future on Wed. nights. The group is now hundreds of activists strong and is now forced to move out of the meetinghouse to a new location due to the growing crowds.
The group has broken into various action groups like Health Care and Environment. “The Way Forward” has been contacting lawmakers and having weekly rallies. Many of the members are stepping up and running for local offices in 2017 and 2018.
“The Way Forward” is particularly focused on the gerrymandered GOP hacks like Ryan Costello and Pat Meehan in the local 6th and 7th districts. These are some of the most gerrymandered districts in the nation. Both of these hacks campaigned on being “independent” and “bi-partisan.” Since the election they have been Trump’s lapdogs. When he says, “Jump!” They say, “How High?” 538 has even quantified this. These hacks have been able in the past to get away with spouting the usual GOP nonsense on healthcare like “Patient-Centered Health Care,” and other terms. Well members of “The Way Forward” are trying to hold their feet to the fire and get real answers.
The DCCC should be looking at these seats even with their ridiculous and racist gerrymandering and actually spend money. “The Way Forward” shows the energy is there.
Having watched this group group grow, I realize the comfort others have gotten in seeing that they are not alone. People are willing to fight.
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