Category: Opinions

‘This is what democracy looks like,’ protesters chant

A group of protesters with their signs at the President’s Day Protest at the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain in Kansas City, Mo. (Photo by Rebecca Tombaugh)

by Rebecca Tombaugh
Reporting artist

People lined up thick along J.C. Nichols Parkway.

Eslun Tucker, of Kansas City, Mo., was right up against the curb holding up the signs she made.

“This is a safe place for protests….”

Tucker was one of around 1,300 people who gathered from all parts of the metro on Friday for the “President’s Day Protest” organized by the group “The People Vs. The President of the United States.” The group says its mission is to inform with real facts and demand investigation into ethical and constitutional violations by President Trump and his administration.

Tucker continued to talk about why she came.

“This is a greater threat to our democracy…President Trump’s words and actions…we’ve never had a president like him…the rise of tyranny….

Eslun Tucker hasn’t protested in 40 years, but believes she must now because of a threat to democracy. (Photo by Rebecca Tombaugh)

One of her signs read “Protect Our Free Press.”

The word “Free” was in red.

“The press is a firewall to tyranny…this is an effort trying to undermine our press…I’m standing up for the free press. All of these others, like the judiciary, he attacked….”

Earlier, she called two Wyandotte County legislators to tell them she was going to protest. They are friends and she wanted them to know she believed this was important.

“Not just the Missouri side…the first protest in years…40 years ago…I feel wonderful…encouraged…we face extremes threats…and I have to do more….”

“Offensive…this man…because of his propensity to offend women…minorities…only language they understand… compromised…Putin….he’s colluding with Russia…campaign staff…unusual…in the history of our country…narcissism…reign for disaster…”

The crowd began to chant in unison.

“Support Our Free Press”
“Support Our Free Press”
“Support Our Free Press”

“We need to get up and be vocal…First Amendment Rights…pillars of our democracy…heaven help us….

“I’m very proud of the people who are coming out….important…leader…Mayor turning out….

“Only 1 car…young white guys…’Trump’s our president!’…’You birther!’…I wonder if he saw my sign…Right back at you!”

“Show Us Your Tax Returns”
“Show Us Your Tax Returns”
“Show Us Your Tax Returns”

Several speakers took turns at a podium in the grass.

“We Will Resist”
“We Will Persist”
“We Will Resist”
“We Will Persist”
“We Will Resist”
“We Will Persist”
“Step Down Now”
“Step Down Now”
“Step Down Now”

Iman Aly, of Kansas City, Mo., came to fight for democracy and basic human rights. (Photo by Rebecca Tombaugh)

Iman Aly, of Kansas City, Mo., was one of four sisters and a friend who came with signs.

“I came out today to fight for our basic human rights…fight for democracy…Muslim…there’s nothing else we can do…second protest…19…mixed…welcoming…hugs…comments…hurtful looks…cuss…during the election…even more…

“I feel like people here have a great way to express those emotions….

“Shrug it off…willing to come…go back to my home country…Egypt…

“Not expecting…very reassuring…”

“The Sign Fatima Made” Art copyright 2017 by Rebecca Tombaugh.

Fatima Betrow, 17, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., is a student.

“I came here to be heard…a person can make an impact…”

“Everyone Is Welcome”
“Everyone Is Welcome”
“Everyone Is Welcome”

“Significant…when I see people who come…come out…not like everyone else…people care…I hope this makes an impact….choose our battles wisely…shine the light on the truth not alternative facts…”

“I came to be heard,” said Fatima Betrow, of Lee’s Summit, Mo. (Photo by Rebecca Tombaugh)

“Yes We Will”
“Yes We Will”
“Yes We Will”

A drone with red lights buzzed overhead.

“Love Trumps Hate”
“Love Trumps Hate”
“Love Trumps Hate”

A local TV satellite truck’s antenna stuck up high in the air.

“This Is What Democracy Looks Like”
“This Is What Democracy Looks Like”
“This Is What Democracy Looks Like”
“Can’t Build Walls, Hands Too Small”
“Can’t Build Walls, Hands Too Small”
“Can’t Build Walls, Hands Too Small”

Six Kansas City police sat on horseback in a line off to the side. A helicopter hovered above the park.

People lined the curb as cars drove past the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain. (Photo by Rebecca Tombaugh)

The protesters began to walk along the sidewalk, chanting, circling the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain. A white dog was on a leash. A woman pushed a stroller.

A small red car covered in Trump-Pence campaign stickers made a sharp right turn to catch up and drive by the crowd.

Rebecca Tombaugh is a reporting artist who lives in the Greater Kansas City area.
Photos, art and story copyright 2017 by Rebecca Tombaugh

Legislative update from Rep. Pam Curtis, D-32nd Dist.

by Rep. Pam Curtis

It was a very busy week as members of the Kansas House of Representatives spent most of the time on the floor debating and voting on various bills and amendments before turnaround day. We have reached the mid-way point of the 2017 session and the Kansas Legislature will resume work on March 6 after a short week-long break. There is still a lot of work to do.

It is a special honor to serve as your state representative. I both value and need your input on the various issues facing state government. Please feel free to contact me with your comments and questions. My office address is Room 452-S, Kansas Statehouse, 300 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612. You can reach me at 785-296-7430 or call the legislative hotline at 1-800-432-3924 to leave a message for me. Additionally, you can email me at [email protected].

House overturns governor’s veto on tax bill, Senate fails

After both the House and Senate formed bipartisan coalitions to pass a bill last week that largely repealed Sam Brownback’s failed tax experiment implemented in 2012, the governor issued a veto on Wednesday morning.

In order to overturn a veto, a body needs two-thirds of the vote. In the House, that two-thirds number is 84. After the initial vote came up just one vote shy, two legislators on the Republican side flipped their votes, surpassing the required number with a total of 85 votes in favor of the veto override.

Later that day, the Senate took up the veto override bill. With 40 members, the Senate needed 27 votes in favor. Unfortunately, they came up just three votes short, and the overturn failed.

Democrats will continue to work for the will of the people to resolve this issue.

Due process passes through House

Due process for teachers was stripped in 2014 in a vote occurring in the dark of night. This removed protections for Kansas educators. Wednesday morning, the Kansas House passed the first step toward restoring due process rights. Due process ensures a fair dismissal process.
In a final action vote, House Bill 2186 passed with a 72 – 53 vote. This bill included the due process amendment. Next, the bill will go to the Senate for a vote.

Medicaid expansion passes House after killed by committee

Last week, the Health and Human Services committee made a motion to table Medicaid Expansion, effectively killing the bill for the 2017 session.

On Wednesday, however, a Medicaid Expansion amendment was added to House Bill 2044. After a long debate, both the amendment and the bill passed. Kansas has refused millions of federal dollars that could have been spent on bettering our hospitals and clinics, and taking care of our citizens that need it the most.

On Thursday, the House took final action on the Medicaid expansion amendment, passing with a vote of 81 – 44. This marks the first movement towards expansion of the program.

Wyandotte woman organizes metro-wide event to send love to newcomers

Hannah Johnson, of Wyandotte County, organized the event to welcome newcomers to the metro area. (Photo copyright 2017 by Rebecca Tombaugh)

by Rebecca Tombaugh
Reporting artist

Dixie cups. With hearts. Chatter. Kids.

A child’s voice is heard.

“It’s mine!”

Boxes of crayons.

Black sharpies.

Three little girls. One looks over the shoulder of another coloring on a postcard. She holds it up to show to the two girls on each side.

They huddle over the postcard.

Round tables. Metal chairs.

A young woman with a purple jacket wearing a backpack sits down to write at a table. At another table, a woman sits her baby on the table top. At another table is a man with a beard wearing a khaki hat. The string of his hat hangs loose under his chin. He stops writing. He holds his pen up in mid-air. His eyes glance toward the wall. He tips his head and starts writing on his postcard.

“Man with Khaki Hat” (Art copyright 2017 by Rebecca Tombaugh)

A toddler stumbles along the back wall crying all the while, an American flag hangs perfectly still in the corner not making a sound.

It’s Saturday morning, and the fifth floor of the Kansas City Public Library, 14 W. 10th St., in Kansas City, Mo., is full of children, strollers, men and women, young and old, families, babies and backpacks — all here for “To Immigrants with Love Open House Valentine Event.”

“People, Crayons, Round Tables and an American Flag.” (Art copyright 2017 by Rebecca Tombaugh)

Hannah Johnson, of Wyandotte County, is with Americorps Vista. She organized the event.

“I’ve been really happy,” she says. “There were people lined up before we opened up.”

In the main room everybody is writing on postcards and kids are coloring valentines that will find their way immigrants and refugees in the metro.

A man in the room walks up to a giant valentine box.

“Do these cards go in here?” asks the man.

“Yeah,” says Nathan Hernandez with a big smile. He is a volunteer at the event. He is part of the local group “Resistance KC.”

“We promote love and acceptance of all people,” he says.

Nathan Hernandez volunteered to show people where to go at what he called a “positive protest.” (Photo copyright 2017 by Rebecca Tombaugh)

Hernandez says the group provides volunteers for activist events. He calls this a “positive protest.”

He says the group formed after the election.

“It’s important because people are important, and people’s rights are important,” he says.
More people get off the elevator and walk toward Hernandez, who gestures to the tables in the main room.

“In the middle of the tables there are crayons…,” he says.

The elevator doors open and more people approach.

“Hey guys!” says Hernandez. “Are you here to color postcards?”

In the wide hallway, everybody lines up to take a selfie with their valentines to be sent along with their valentines.

“3 Little Girls.” (Art copyright 2017 by Rebecca Tombaugh)

The three little girls, along with their parents, hold their valentines with both hands and pose for their selfie to send with their valentines. The photographer gives instructions. The shortest girl crosses her feet at the ankles.

“Smile…”

The little girls freeze in place.

“One more…”

The girls giggle.

Nearby, Julie Robinson watches the people passing by. Robinson is the refugee and immigrant services outreach manager for the library.

“This is the largest event we’ve done,” she says.

So many showed up they may run out of cards, said Julie Robinson, refugee and immigrant services outreach manager at the Kansas City Public Library. (Photo copyright 2017 by Rebecca Tombaugh)

Robinson says they printed 1,000 cards and were down to about 200 after the first hour or so.

“It’s an awesome thing,” she says.

Robinson says this event is to show the people that are coming that Kansas City really welcomes and appreciates them coming here.

“Moving to a new country is hard,” says Robinson. “We want to be their neighbors.”

And, she says welcoming newcomers doesn’t have to be a one-time event, but can be a daily occurrence.

“Smile at people whether you know them or not just so they feel welcome,” she says.

The author of this article wrote a postcard to immigrants in Kansas City. (Photo copyright 2017 by Rebecca Tombaugh)


Rebecca Tombaugh is a reporting artist in the Kansas City area. She is a former managing editor of the Kansas City Kansan.

Copyright 2017 by Rebecca Tombaugh