Joyce The Resistor
By Mary Weaver
This is a photo of soon to be 83-year-old Joyce Conklin VanKirk as she led the RESISTOR group in Perry, Iowa Saturday, February 8.
I was intrigued about her willingness to be in wind chill weather of 28 degrees holding a U. S. Flag. The following is what I learned.
Joyce has been observing now President Trump for the last nine years. His antics prior to being President 45 and even before left her very concerned. Because she missed the rally for our Democracy and the Constitution in Des Moines earlier in the week, she determined that she should RESIST. “Even if I am standing by myself, I must show that I do not condone what is happening”.
She called the Perry Chief of Police to obtain permission, and he replied as long as she stayed on the sidewalk it would not be a problem. She called two friends who helped her inform others, primarily on Facebook. The RESIST/protest would be polite, with signs of pro Democracy, not degrading of Trump or the Republicans.
The editor of the Perry News, Jim Caufield offered to develop a Facebook poster. The word kept spreading and even though it was an extremely chili day, 28 persons came to join her at the Big Bike, a huge metal fabricated bicycle on the corner of the main intersection as a driver enters the Perry business district.
There is a stop sign near where the individuals were standing with their flags and signs, and many honked or waved in salutation and support. There were two that rolled down their car windows and shouted TRUMP, but as Joyce proclaimed, This is America. We can all express our views”.
Joyce describes herself as a RESISTOR, in that she always felt-feels the responsibility of persons who are being taken advantage of. She had high school classmates and friends being killed in Vietnam and she resisted the war. She has even gone so far as to have an electrical RESISTOR chiseled into her headstone.
Being mindful of the Hispanics living in the Perry Community, the Facebook poster will be translated into Spanish by Mr. Caufield
Joyce will be back from 12-1:00 P.M. every Saturday at the BIG BIKE. She expresses that she believes our Country is at a real crossroads. When judges’ rules are not followed, she recognizes the pot is simmering and beginning to boil over. Ordinary people become the resistors and must “ DO SOMETHING”.
She ended our interview with the phrase used by Benjamin Franklin, when following the 1787 Constitutional Convention he was asked, “Do we have a republic or a monarchy?”, Franklin replied, A Republic if you can keep it.
I am so proud of you !! If I lived near Perry , I’d join you!!! Thank you for resisting the threat to our Democracy! I’m a Democrat Chair in SE Iowa. Keep up the great work !!
Proud, Proud and beyond PROUD of my big sister!
I am in Perry and with her every week. So empowering. Join us each Sat.