July 2025 Newsletter

Our July Program

We are returning to our roots with this month’s program. After a horrendous mass shooting at a church school in 2023, we added the fifth issue we chose to work towards, Sensible Gun Reform. 

Our speaker this month will be Twila Gibbens, a retired United Methodist pastor. Inspired by the social actions of the church, she has long been active in areas of women’s equality, racial equality, LBGTQ acceptance, and after moving to Tulsa, with Interfaith dialogue. 

In 2017, Twila attended a workshop in Washington, D. C. on Gun Violence. It inspired her to reach out to our legislators upon her return. Finding no one ready to address the issue, she began to talk to folks about “doing something.” When the St. Francis Hospital shooting happened in 2022, she was encouraged to be the someone to do something. 



Twila will share the story of the formation of Guns to Garden Tools and the people who volunteer with this effort. Our meeting will be Thursday, July 31 at the Rogers County Building, 416 S. Brady in Claremore. We gather at 4:00, and the meeting begins at 4:30. We hope you will join us.

From the President’s Desk

I was told by an attendee that the effort by RoCo Democrats to collect food at the Farmer’s Market last Saturday for the local Veterans Pantry was a great success. Kudos to Paula Strickland and the other officers for putting that together. Sadly, it appears that the need for food is not reserved to those with past military experience. 

While cruelty has become the centerpiece of the current President’s agenda, there seems to be no lack of examples of it among what is happening on a daily basis with this administration. I keep thinking nothing is going to shock me anymore, but I have to say the article I read in this month’s OKLAHOMA OBSERVER by Jim Hightower did leave me a bit stunned . 

The article is entitled “Soldiers Say It’s Hard To Eat a $45 Million Parade.” The ridiculous waste on a parade for 47’s and the army’s birthday could have been much better spent giving the military those dollars to spend on the enlisted men’s food allowance. I think it is important for everyone to know this, so I have included the following paragraphs:

…about 25% of service members are so poorly paid and poorly served on U. S. Army bases that they are officially “food insecure,” relying on food stamps and local food pantries for their bare bones nutritional needs. Last November, for example, it was reported that the base dining hall at Fort Carson, CO, was serving a miserly “meal” consisting of one slice of toast and a spoonful of lima beans. Some bases are only offering gas-station-style grab-and-go snacks.

More scandalous, soldiers have a $460 “food tax” automatically deducted from their meager paychecks each month to pay for food. But the Army brass quietly diverts two-thirds of the soldier’s money to other purposes—which they won’t disclose. 

Congress knows about this and does nothing. T…. doesn’t even want to know. And Pentagon honcho Hegseth is lost in the fog of his own incompetence.

To help raise awareness and Hell, go to FeedingAmericaAction.org

                                                                                   --Jim

Another piece of shameful neglect for us to add to the long list of sins being committed by this administration.                                     

Pride in the Park

Claremore Pride’s first-ever Pride in the Park on Saturday, June 21 was deemed to also have been a great success. Our own Chris Thomas was awarded a $500 scholarship for their effort. Congratulations, Chris! Attendees were evidently pleased with the array of goodies available at our WE table. Thank you to all who helped with it, especially Lesley Thomas, who coordinated everything for us.

Training for Possible Civil Disobedience

During my lockdown with rebound Covid last week, I watched the first training offered by Indivisible’s No Kings, “One Million Rising,” It’s a 3-part training to help us feel more comfortable for what may lie ahead of us. The first session covered 1) The Big Picture and Why We Are Here, 2) Authoritarianism 101, 3) Mass Defiance, and 4) Kinds of Noncooperation. I’ll have copies of my notetaking efforts available at the membership meeting. If you're interested in taking part, click here for information and to register for online sessions two and three.

Bernie Made a Big Splash in Tulsa

The Majority Postcard Project Continues

More Signs of Justice Majority Project Postcards are ready for messaging and addressing to send to Oklahoma’s two U. S. Senators and five Representatives.  There should be plenty on your minds to share with them this week. Their names and addresses in Washington will be provided for you on mailing labels. Join us this Friday, July 25 from 1:00-4:00 at the WE office, 106 S. Cherokee, and share your thoughts with the folks in D. C. who no longer seem to have a spine. (Don’t forget, Signs of Justice has requested that the cards go in the mail at the end of the month so that their offices will be flooded with cards at the beginning of each month.)

Food for Thought

A Study of Tyranny

Considering what we are currently experiencing in America, it seemed very appropriate that we visit the lessons of this small but powerful book, ON TYRANNY. This book presents twenty lessons from the twentieth century, adapted to the circumstances of today. 

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century

by Timothy Snyder

Lesson 7. Be reflective if you must be armed.

If you carry a weapon in public service, may God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no.

Lesson 8. Stand out.

Someone has to. It is easy to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom. Remember Rosa Parks. The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.

NOTE: Each lesson is briefly discussed as it relates to history. A copy of the book is in our WE library.

Calendar of Events

You can find these events on our website under the Calendar tab

Friday, July 24 - Majority Project Postcards, 1 - 4 p.m. at WE office, 106 S. Cherokee in Claremore. Our office will be open to fill out postcards to our representatives.

Sat., July 26, RoCo Democrat Picnic, 11 am - 2 pm at Claremore Lake

Weds., July 30, 7:00-8:30 p.m. — 2^nd of 3 Online Sessions of the “One Million Rising” Training Click here for info and to register.

Thurs., July 31, WE Membership Meeting (Rogers County Bldg. 416 S. Brady in Claremore)

4:00 p.m. - Sign in and socialize

4:30 p.m. - Meeting starts

6:30 p.m. - Rogers County Democrats Meeting

Weds., Aug. 13, 7:00-8:30 p.m. — 3rd of 3 Online Sessions of the “One Million Rising” Training Click here for more info and to register.

Thurs., Aug. 14, 4:00 p.m. —WE Executive Mtg. (officers only)

Weds., Aug. 20, 9:30-2:00—RSU Tent Day Volunteers are needed to work our booth. A sign-up sheet will be available at the membership meeting if you wish to work a shift.

Thurs., Aug. 21, 7:00—Indivisible Tulsa County program presented by an ATLANTIC writer on PROJECT 2025 (watch for more details)

Thurs., Aug. 28, WE Membership Meeting (Rogers County Building, 416 S. Brady in Claremore)

4:00 p.m. - Sign in and socialize

4:30—Meeting starts

6:30—RoCo Democrats

Working Together for a Better Tomorrow,

Sharon Douthitt, President

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