Thoughts from our Chair
March 31, 2025
Good afternoon,
I want to update you about the opportunities to participate in an anti-Trump demonstration this upcoming Saturday, April 5.
DC: The bus to DC is full. Many thanks to Jack Fuller for making that happen.
RICHMOND: The people at the Richmond event are to gather at the Bell Tower on Capitol Square at 11:30 am. There will be speakers there. Then everyone who can will march to Monroe Park, leaving at 12:30. The distance is 1.2 miles and the forecast is pleasant. Parking will be whatever you can find. You might want to get to Richmond early.
People who want to find someone with whom to carpool (drivers and riders) should get in touch with Kent Willis: email is rkentwillis@gmail.com. phone or text is 804-399-4191.
WILLIAMSBURG: This is a rally, not a march. It begins at 2pm and will be held at the Williamsburg James City County Courthouse, 5201 Monticello Ave, Williamsburg.
People who want to find someone with whom to carpool (drivers and riders) should get in touch with Peggy Newsome: email is rayandpeg@gmail.com., phone or text is 804-815-9547.
Keep contacting Wittman, Kaine, and Warner on whatever issue is keeping you up at night. I, for one, am heartbroken over the removal from the Arlington Cemetery website of references to notable African-American, Hispanic, and women people who are buried there, including Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Thurgood Marshall. As the daughter of a US Marine, I am enraged that the Pentagon has removed from its website reference to the Navajo Code Breakers who were so instrumental in winning the battle of Iwo Jima.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/03/17/pentagon-dei-native-american-iwo-jima/
Thank you,
Sheila
Keep fighting! And thank you.
Sheila
April 5 in Kilmarnock
This is the same march on April 5, but in Kilmarnock. If you don't want to travel outside the peninsula, you can go to Kilmarnock.
Bud Ward with President Obama
Bud Ward worked at Anheuser Busch in Williamsburg starting in 1982. He was a proud member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Bud was active in the Mathews Democratic Committee for many years and became chair in 2012. He also became vice chair for the Southeast Region of the Virginia Democratic Party in 2012.
Under Bud’s leadership, our annual Crab Steam grew to be one of the most successful fundraisers of rural Democratic Committees in the state. He was well known among Democratic leaders across the state and was close friends with former Governor Ralph Northam. He completed his tenure as chair of the Mathews committee in 2020, but continued to be active in local and state Democratic affairs.
In recent years, Bud became an integral part of the effort to tell the story of the Black Exodus from Gwynn’s Island. He helped form the association of the descendants of Black people who were enslaved by Gwynn’s Island white families and who lived and worked on Gwynn’s Island after emancipation. The first reunions of the descendants were held on Bud’s property on the Piankatank River. He was so determined that the historic marker commemorating the Black Exodus from Gwynn’s Island be located on the island that he offered his property as the place for it to be installed. It is a fitting tribute to Bud that this historic marker will be erected in front of his house on Old Ferry Road.
Bud was an unapologetic champion of all principles and priorities of the Democratic Party in a place where not too many people agreed with him. He loved Mathews County nonetheless.
Bud was active in the Mathews Democratic Committee for many years and became chair in 2012. He also became vice chair for the Southeast Region of the Virginia Democratic Party in 2012.
Under Bud’s leadership, our annual Crab Steam grew to be one of the most successful fundraisers of rural Democratic Committees in the state. He was well known among Democratic leaders across the state and was close friends with former Governor Ralph Northam. He completed his tenure as chair of the Mathews committee in 2020, but continued to be active in local and state Democratic affairs.
In recent years, Bud became an integral part of the effort to tell the story of the Black Exodus from Gwynn’s Island. He helped form the association of the descendants of Black people who were enslaved by Gwynn’s Island white families and who lived and worked on Gwynn’s Island after emancipation. The first reunions of the descendants were held on Bud’s property on the Piankatank River. He was so determined that the historic marker commemorating the Black Exodus from Gwynn’s Island be located on the island that he offered his property as the place for it to be installed. It is a fitting tribute to Bud that this historic marker will be erected in front of his house on Old Ferry Road.
Bud was an unapologetic champion of all principles and priorities of the Democratic Party in a place where not too many people agreed with him. He loved Mathews County nonetheless.
DOGE TAKES OVER at the Treasury Department
Use these links to learn more about the takeover on Friday....
https://www.axios.com/2025/02/03/musk-doge-government-payments-treasury-fiscal-servicehttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/us/politics/elon-musk-doge-federal-payments-system.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/elon-musk-doge-usaid-treasury-government-rcna190450
https://abcnews.go.com/US/treasury-dept-elon-musks-team-access-federal-payment/story?id=118380399
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/musk-treasury-social-security-access-federal-payment-system-trump/
Here is an example of a U.S. Senator who is responding with action!
Become educated about Project 2025 and Agenda 47...
This is the playbook being used to organize the Administration's game plan.
1. https://kamalaharris.com/project 2025/
2. https://www.donaldtrump.com/platform
3. https://www.project2025.org/
4. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/06/18/trump-has-unveiled-an-agenda-his-own-he-just-doesnt-mention-it-much/
5. https://democracyforward.org/the-peoples-guide-to-project-2025/
6. https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/what-is-project-2025-and-why-is-it-alarming/
7. https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf