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Chaffee Mutual Aid

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

America, and democracy, demand a press and citizenry that are free to publish and state the truth, or mistruth, conspiracy, or disinformation, without interference from those in power. As more late-night hosts lose their platform, a chilling crackdown on our First Amendment protections is underway. AG Bondi has declared a difference between “free speech” and ”hate speech,” while the orange one is openly calling for the silencing of his critics. Anyone caught not fellating our autocrat sufficiently will be punished.

On 9/17/2025, our mad king declared ANTIFA (anti-fascist) a domestic terrorist organization. Since ANTIFA is not an organization, but rather an ideology opposing fascism, we see this move as the regime declaring themselves anti-anti-fascist. What did we learn about double-negatives?

So far, we have been "lucky" in Salida. Yes, there has been DHS and ICE activity in our beautiful valley. Community members have spent or are spending time in concentration camps from Alamosa to southern Texas. However, we have not seen the mass mobilization of federal troops setting up checkpoints like they are in DC; we're a little mountain town after all. We ALL hope with the passion of a thousand suns that doesn't change, but if the majority of Americans don't wake the fuck up and see what is happening, it is coming.

Imagine fortified checkpoints on 291 and both ends of 50 through town. Lines of cars waiting to present papers to federal officers, ensuring no one is "illegal". This regime is also able to define who is "illegal". We hope we are "alarmist", but we need to be prepared in case we are not. As much as we can't directly influence national policy/decisions, we CAN influence local policy.

The Chaffee Board of County Commissioners and the city council have open hearings with public comment. SHOW UP. These boards make a lot of the decisions in our county; saying something you believe in to their faces can impact decisions. It is much easier to ignore an email than someone standing in front of you.

Our country was founded out of rebellion against a tyranny. Our Constitution’s First Amendment “prevents” the government from “abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble”.

With crackdowns on peaceful protests, increased DHS presence, and corporate media gaslighting, we must work together to peacefully resist. Yes, at big rallies, but more importantly, between mass actions, the real work must be done in boring County Commissioner meetings and speaking with your community.

What is it going to take to protect our neighbors?

Individual Action

Use Your Free Speech To Resist. Fly your Pride, Black Lives Matter, Ukranian, Palestinian, & Anti-Fascist Flags

Collective Action

Remind our representatives that we ALL have rights. See dates boxed in the calendar to the left. Contact info below.

Mass Action

On 10/18/25 at 11:00 AM, join us at Riverside Park to remind our president that “NO KINGS” is in our nation's foundation.

Gina Lucrezi - Commissioner District #1 by appointment glucrezi@chaffeecounty.org,

David Armstrong - Commissioner District #2 by appointment darmstrong@chaffeecounty.org, and

PT Wood - Commissioner District #3 PT’s office on Wednesdays pwood@chaffeecounty.org

You Might Be Anti-Fascist If You Believe:

in democracy
freedom of speech is a necessary right
that Hitler & Mussolini were terrible humans
the Holocaust, Armenian, Cambodian, Uyghur, American, African, Australasian, Indigenous genocides were wrong
people should not be treated differently based on color, language, religion, neurodiversity, economics or sexuality

Why Are We Called The Luddite Local?

The Luddites were not technophobes. They were the middle class English textile, mill, and factory workers who opposed automated technology because of worker pay and output quality. The owning class, profiting from the Luddite’s loss, failed to assure the unfed masses they would receive support. The starving workers destroyed the machines, to save their family’s income.

The Luddite Local does not advocate for property destruction but hopes to challenge you to see the modern day parallels. Learn more in the book below!