This Saturday Matters — And We Need You With Us

At 10:30AM, December 2nd, this went out as an email to our subscribers. Right away we got a message asking 'what parade,' and another telling us that the link to our website wasn't working. To top it off, I realized I'd copy/pasted a passage twice, which is a peril of trying to send a mass email from an iPhone that you edited in notes before pasting it in a little chunk at a time. That's on me, and I'm sorry. No more big emails from tiny tiny screens, promise. In the meantime, I'm reposting here as it was intended, with links in tact.

Edit, 5:25PM: This article has been updated to include a link to coverage at The Wild Hunt News, Pagan Priestex Prepares for Arrest Rather Than Surrender First Amendment Rights.

This Saturday, December 6th, Indivisible Rutherford NC will gather for The Season of Enough—a small, peaceful, holiday-themed action meant to lift up one simple truth: every family deserves enough to make it through the winter. Our plan has never been complicated: stand together on the Courthouse Lawn or nearby sidewalks with a line of twelve signs spelling out a message of dignity, compassion, and care. That’s it. That’s the whole story. But this past week, something unexpected—and frankly troubling—has unfolded.

Over the past week, we’ve run into a series of unexpected obstacles from the Town, and have received a series of contradictory messages about whether free speech is "allowed" on the Courthouse Lawn during the Rutherfordton-Spindale Christmas parade. At times they’ve suggested the entire town is off-limits for expressive activity on that date. At others, they’ve admitted there are no documents showing the space is actually reserved or in use by the Town—since meaning to do something isn't the same as documenting that plan—and at no point have they provided the evidence that would normally justify restricting a traditional public forum.

We’ve reached out to civil-rights partners, including the ACLU, FIRE, and the National Lawyers Guild for clarification, constitutional guidance, and aid, and The Wild Hunt News is covering the ongoing issue, and we've reached out to additional media. But here is the most important thing:

We still intend to show up.

Peacefully, legally, and as a community, because standing together on Saturday is not about this one event. It's about letting our community see that marginalized folks, BiPOC folks, disabled folks, minority-faith folks, LGBTQIA+ folks, immigrants, renters, and working-class neighbors, deserve the same access to public space as anyone else.

But we need at least 12 people.

Not for confrontation, not for escalation—but so our message is complete, visible, and undeniable. Every person matters. Every body in that line matters. If your nerves are up about it, you’re in good company. A lot of us are feeling the same way. That doesn’t mean we’re wrong—it means the moment is real.

This action is peaceful, lawful, and we'll follow all lawful instructions; legal observers and civil-rights partners have been notified; just like any demonstration nobody should feel pressured to take risks they don’t want to take. You can hold a sign, stand just behind the line, take photos/video, or simply be present. All forms of participation are meaningful.

Why this matters

This is the moment when we decide—together—what kind of community we are. Because if only certain voices are “allowed” to be visible in public space, then public space isn’t truly public anymore. If free speech can be limited because it's inconvenient, then it isn't truly free. If peaceful neighbors can be pushed out of sight because their message doesn’t “fit,” then something vital in this county has already begun to slip. 

Showing up on Saturday says we belong here. That our voices matter. That public space is not reserved for the comfortable or the powerful.

That we won't let fear or confusion push us out of view. This is how we protect the future of free expression in Rutherford County—by showing up and standing together.

What to wear / what to bring

We're asking everyone to wear festive winter or holiday attire (red, green, ugly sweater, Santa hat, etc), warm layers since it will be cold, comfortable shoes, and your ID (just in case a local officer asks you to identify yourself). If you bring a phone, make sure it's fully charged, biometric locks, NFT, and bluetooth have been disabled, and you've placed it in airplane mode. Bring warm drinks, snacks, whatever keeps you steady. We're planning on bringing a few extra holiday accessories, some Hot Hands, and a thermos of apple cider for sharing. If you've got a spare thermos or airpot for coffee? Bring some along to share with a friend.

If you plan to attend

Please reply to this email or text Mortellus directly via Signal at Mortellus.13, or 828-980-1432, so we know how to organize signs and spacing.

Whatever happens, we show up for each other

These mountains raised us to look out for one another, to tell the truth even when it’s inconvenient, and to stand our ground with quiet, steady resolve.

Saturday is no different. We'll show up, stand together, and remind this county that enough is for everyone.

It Doesn't Have To Be This Way, 

High Priestex Mortellus