August 3, 2025 • 20 mins
Des Moines area locals, Please join Mom’s Against Genocide on August 13th from 10a-12p at the Neal Smith Federal Building. More info on Instagram @momsagainstgenocide.
Even if you’re not in Des Moines, please listen for ways you can organize in your community!
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Hi, this is Mandy Griffin.
And I'm Katie Swalwell, andwelcome to our Dirty Laundry,
stories of white ladies making amess of things and how we need
to clean up our act.
katy (00:15):
Hi.
Mandy (00:15):
Hi.
katy (00:16):
I am really excited for this very quick but powerful
interview that we are featuringin this mini, so with a good
friend of mine, Bridget ReidBird, who lives in Des Moines
and, a nonprofit and.
community organizer, she isgonna talk about this, but
organized an event called MomsAgainst the Camps in 2019.
(00:40):
Has just been a her whole lifeactually, and her parents are,
her dad has now since passedaway, but he was an incredible
community organizer.
Her mom, she just comes fromthis tradition of anti-racist
social justice.
Organizing people, communityorganizers.
She's also a mom and a whitewoman and has two kids that are
my kids' age.
(01:00):
And we actually met years ago inkind of a community organizing
space and then just reallyconnected over a lot of our
shared interests and values.
And I'm so excited that you gotto meet her and.
grateful that we have the chanceto lift up an event that she's
working on.
That I think will hopefully besomething people in the Des
Moines area can attend, but alsosomething that could inspire
(01:23):
other people.
Anything you wanted to notebefore we
Mandy (01:26):
Yeah.
One thing that I really lovedwhen I was talking to her, she
said that she, because of herparents' activism, she had grown
up attending protests and beinginvolved in all of this stuff,
which I love so much becauseit's something that I really do
want to make sure.
Kids also do, and one of thethings that I think is great
(01:47):
about the event that she issponsoring, that we are talking
about with her is that it isalso meant for people to bring
their children and to bringtheir families too.
So I think this is a really goodway that people can get involved
with their kids and somethingthat people can do.
'cause we talk all the timeabout.
katy (02:07):
what
Mandy (02:07):
can we actually do as individuals?
And I feel like this issomething concrete, even if
you're not in the Des Moinesarea, where this is taking
place, which we know a lot ofour listeners are there,
katy (02:18):
but
Mandy (02:19):
the majority are not.
Maybe an idea of things that youcould start working on in your
own community and things that wecould do.
katy (02:25):
Yes.
The last thing I'll say, I mean,this just popped up because she
and I were, were talking aboutthis event and I thought, oh
gosh, we have a way to helppromote this with the podcast.
But I was.
Especially motivated, I thinkbecause a few days ago, Ms.
Rachel had spoken
Mandy (02:44):
Mm-hmm.
katy (02:45):
very outspoken about supporting children who are
suffering in Gaza right now andhad just had this post and, and.
Had a big interview that isgoing viral, just about why she
cares about this issue and whyit's so important to speak up.
And she works really closelywith Jewish folks, with
Palestinian folks and, and justto name the fact that a lot of
(03:08):
Jewish people are very worriedand concerned about.
The suffering in Gaza and what'shappening with children,
starving, being shot, beingbombed, you know, parents dying
and kids being orphaned andit's, it just it's not it, it's
like a, a humanitarian humanissue.
And in Ms.
Rachel's post, do you, are youfamiliar with Miss Rachel?
(03:30):
Your kids are old
Mandy (03:30):
Yeah, I was gonna say for, yeah, they didn't watch
her, but I have nephews that areyoung and watch her all the
time.
I was gonna say for people whoare maybe not in the parents'
sphere of knowing who MissRachel is, she isn't.
Mega popular children'sentertainer.
She has a show on YouTube that Ijust has untold millions of
(03:52):
people who watch it.
I mean,
katy (03:54):
massively,
Mandy (03:55):
like.
katy (03:56):
popular.
Mandy (03:57):
It's a huge, huge show,
katy (03:59):
Yeah.
Mandy (03:59):
but she has come out against what's happening in
Palestine and against thegenocide and the starvation
there, and she has received alot of hate and backlash for it.
And despite that, she continuesto speak up for what she
believes is right to do for thechildren and the people in Gaza.
And so.
katy (04:20):
So here's her, her post.
That really struck me to justthink about what more can I do,
should I be doing especially topeople who have any kind of
platform.
I'm not pretending that thisplatform, this podcast is like
that influential.
I wish it were more, but.
Mandy (04:35):
Yep.
Yep.
katy (04:36):
that says, I will always choose kindness, but I will
never understand your silence.
I want people around me whosehearts break for every child,
not just when it's convenient,not just when it's easy, not
just when it's notcontroversial, not just when the
child looks like you or is bornin a quote, acceptable place.
I especially can't understandthose with so much privilege.
The un cancelable who stillremain in the shadows.
(04:57):
I want the light and I see thoseof you who risk everything to
hold it.
I'm in awe of you and goes on tojust thank the.
Palestinian Jewish people sheworks with for, for supporting
her in this time when she'sgetting a lot of criticism and
how it shouldn't becontroversial to not want
children to starve to death.
get blown up like that shouldjust not be a controversial
(05:17):
thing to want or to support.
Mandy (05:19):
Yep.
katy (05:19):
I heard that and I felt that, and appreciate also Ms.
Rachel as a white woman who'sclearly, leveraging her position
however best she can andappreciating that.
So yeah, this is a tiny thing tobe able to do.
But if you are in Des Moines andyou can come to this event that
bridge is gonna talk about injust a minute here.
(05:41):
If you can share information, ifyou can think about ways to
connect with other people justin this season that we are
really focused on white inparticular, and the ways that it
has been weaponized.
To justify and defend genocideover many generations and defend
and justify racism and whitesupremacy and, and all kinds of
(06:05):
oppression.
the ways that it doesn't have tobe like that.
How we can use our position are,are who we are in the world to
actually.
Promote dignity, justice, peace,human rights, sustainability,
like all of all of the thingsthat are wrapped up in justice
and equity and love, that weactually can, that's another way
(06:27):
to be in the world, and we aretrying to be that.
Mandy (06:31):
Yep.
katy (06:31):
So yes,
Mandy (06:33):
Yeah.
katy (06:33):
here's, here's
Mandy (06:34):
so here's that.
Okay.
katy (06:37):
Hi.
Hi.
Well, I, I'm so excited about amini, so I can't remember the
last time we did win.
It's been a long time, but I'mexcited and it actually was so,
serendipitous.
So today we're talking with oneof my dear friends who is such
an inspiration to me.
I, Bridgette is here and I loveyou so much.
And I, we were just havingcoffee earlier this morning and
(07:01):
she was very passionatelytelling me about this event that
she's organizing.
And I thought, oh my gosh, wehave.
A platform that can help promotethis event in whatever small
ways that we can.
So I want to ask her detailsabout the specific event, but
then I also would just love tohear more about how this event
(07:22):
came to be and, and how Bridgedthinks about organizing because
our whole season is on whitemotherhood and the ways that
that's been weaponized for whitesupremacy.
But we know that that's not theonly way to be.
And I, when I think of Bridget,I think of someone who's really
embodying, uh.
A very different version ofthat's intentionally disruptive
(07:43):
of white supremacy veryexplicitly and very boldly.
And I think the event that she'sorganizing is a testament to
that.
So welcome Bridgette.
Thank you for being here.
Here.
Thanks for inviting me.
We should do more coffee moreoften.
Maybe I'll.
Yeah, we should.
And I honestly, I was justsaying that you, Mandy and
(08:03):
Bridgette are like sisters fromanother mister that there's just
so much you guys have in common,even.
Even just your, like a knee jerkreaction to something is so
similar, like you're two pettydetectives, let's put it that
way.
Like you are on the case for,for everything and have no
problem speaking your mind.
And I think that's justsomething I really admire.
So let's just jump right inthis.
(08:23):
Let's talk about the specificevent first.
What exactly it is?
How people can participate, evenif they're from far away, and
maybe even think of events likethis in their own locations.
And then we'll ask somequestions that get into how you
came to organize it in the firstplace.
So let's start with the event.
Sure.
So, on August 13th from 10:00 AMto noon a group of us are
(08:45):
planning an event around Gaza.
So many folks know the, what'shappening the genocide that's,
taking place, master Star Basin,people being sought at, bombed.
At the hands of Israel andNetanyahu.
Bridget (08:59):
Um, and so I've just been really struggling with what
to do.
It's been going on for almosttwo years now, and I'm like, we
have got to do something.
So we are planning we're callingourselves Moms Against Genocide,
um, and really focusing onturning out moms and children.
But it's really for.
(09:20):
Everybody who, cares aboutwhat's happening and wants to
just do something.
So we're going to really becalling out, humanitarian aid
people.
We need humanitarian aid intoGaza immediately, and not
through the Gaza HumanitarianFund.
'cause we know what's beenhappening.
Um, when folks are lining up toget food, they're being shot at.
(09:42):
So we need the United Nations.
We need a safe place to to getfood into Gaza.
Um, and then an arms embargoNow.
No more weapons.
No more money.
No more taxpayer dollars goingto.
Fund genocide.
Um, so those are the two bigpieces that we're lifting up.
But since we're saying everybodycome, we want this to be a kid
(10:04):
friendly event.
There's going to be a lot forkids to, to do, there'll be an
art project, um, a big bannerthat we're that says Let Gaza
live for kids to be able tocolor and send their messages
to, you know, the people ofGaza.
And, um, a story time for kidsas well.
But we'll also be talking about,tangible ways to take actions in
(10:27):
our demands to Senator Grassley,Senator Ernst, and really trying
to get the message out that DesMoines families even, you know,
from the heartland sharing outas far as and wide as we can to
the international community thatwe care and the families of Iowa
are absolutely against thisgenocide and what Israel's
doing, genocide.
Mandy (10:48):
So this is happening in de in Des Moine, Iowa because as
most people who know, who listento the podcast, that is where
Katie and I met is where Katiestill lives.
Um, we have lots of listeners inDes Moines'cause I can see on
our stats like where downloadscome from.
And we definitely have a lot inDes Moines, so anyone who is
local to there, uh, we will postsome information.
(11:11):
In the show notes on where thisis taking place and how you can
participate.
For people who don't live in DesMoines though, how can they
support this event and you inparticular or, and what do you
recommend if people do, like,how did you organize this?
What kind of community resourceswere you able to pull upon that
(11:32):
people might be able to do intheir own communities?
So, just a
Bridget (11:35):
little backstory.
So in 2019 we organized asimilar event.
So we called ourselves then momagainst the camp because if you
remember at that time Trump andhis administration.
Were separating families andputting children in cages.
And these images that I wasseeing, I was like, oh my gosh.
(11:56):
You think of yourself again as amom.
What would you do if yourchildren were taken from you?
It was just like, I can't evenimagine it.
And so I was like, how do welift up the voice of moms?
And.
Our experiences of as being amother and, what would you do if
your child was taken from you.
(12:18):
And so we were really appealingto Senator Joni Ernst as a
mother and said, what would youdo for your daughter if he was
taken from you?
You would do anything in, in theworld to keep your child with
you and keep them safe?
And so that is just somebackstory.
So we organized a sit-in withabout a hundred people there.
(12:38):
It was like a mom toddler sit-inat Doni Ernst's office, and it
really kind of went viral.
It, it went far and wide.
And and then we ended up.
Having a phone conversation withher and just highlighting again
that people in Iowa really careabout, all children and no
families should be separated.
(12:58):
So since all of this has beenhappening, I've been really,
struggling with, you know, how,again, to, what would you do as
a mother if your child, if yousaw your child, without arms,
what would you do if your, youknow, if your child had
literally no food, if your childhad no arms and no food, like, I
just can't even imagine it.
(13:19):
How would you feel?
It a constant worry of like,what will happen to you if
something happened to you?
What does that mean for yourchildren?
Um, and so I just, it's justlike how.
Putting yourself in all of thesepeople's shoes.
How can we not do something,anything?
Um, this is not gonna be asit-in, it's gonna be outside of
(13:42):
the federal building.
But I think for anyone, it'slike, who do you know?
In your network that cares aboutthis, who are the people that
have influence in your communitythat you can talk about?
Bringing folks together.
Just telling stories and,sharing.
Anything to personalize itsissue.
So folks really see the humanityin that we are not separate from
(14:06):
each other, we are all in thistogether.
People in Gaza, people in Sudan,people in Congo, everywhere we
are in this together.
And if someone is hurting inanother country, in another part
of the world, it it impacts allof us and our children.
So.
I think we have a, we justcreated a new Instagram account.
It's called Moms AgainstGenocide.
(14:27):
So I'd say folks can followthat.
And please just share it withanybody that you know.
Also on the day of, on August13th, help us lift up.
The pictures and the storiesthat we're going to share on
that day and share it to yoursenators.
Share it to again, the otherpeople that, it's like, can we
(14:48):
organize something similar inour community?
And then get with the otherpeople that can organize events.
So I'm planning this not bymyself.
I'm planning this with otherparents and I'm planning this
with, you know, a great arthuman that can help us, just
make this event look, get cooland, whatever, to, just make it
(15:11):
punchy and make folks noticewhat's happening.
And think of what you would wantto get out to say.
So we're gonna have a, a letterthat we're gonna deliver to our
senators at the federalbuilding.
We're asking folks to bringformula'cause we are going to be
asking our senators that youhave the power to get this to
Gaza if you want to.
(15:31):
If you want to, you can do this.
So we'll be we'll be liftingthat up.
Um, and then following theevent, we're gonna ask folks to
show up to town halls and askour senators to their face, to
stop funding Israel, make surehumanitarian aid gets into Gaza.
Um, and then some postcardparties.
I just think of all the waysthat you your, everybody's
(15:54):
community is different.
I don't know what's going on inevery, so you think of what
makes your community unique andthe people that you know there
and start having conversations.
This shouldn't really, thisshould not be political at all.
This is it.
Humanitarian crisis, the amanmade one by Israel, but this
is, we're talking about feedingpeople and making sure people
(16:19):
are not being bombed athospitals and shot at in food
lines.
This is like the most basic pleato our government and to the
international community thatthis has to stop.
katy (16:29):
Can you, Bridget, just, I know we only have you for a
couple more minutes, but justthinking about.
Why it is so important for youto foreground your identity as a
mother in your organizing andwhat you think the power is of
moms like this season so far,we're just learning about the
ways that so many white momshave weaponized that to support
(16:50):
white supremacy.
So just whatever thoughts youhave about why that is so
powerful and how you see that asa way to disrupt.
Injustice to disrupt oppression.
You know, I think of the JamesBaldwin quote, the children are
al are always ours, every singleone of them all over the globe.
(17:11):
And I'm beginning to suspectthat whoever is incapable of
recognizing this may beincapable of morality.
Bridget (17:18):
I think like we have to connect ourselves to the rest of
the world.
We're all linked.
And then I, again, I just keepon, I just keep thinking of it.
Of what I would do.
I just, I just, it always comesback.
That is like, your children meanmore to you than any anything.
And so I love my kids as much asa mom and Gaza loved her kids.
(17:42):
There's no difference.
And if something, if what washappening to them was happening
to us, we would want themfighting for us.
We should all be doing this.
And I think we so often think wehave no power.
We can't do anything about it.
But we do have power.
We collectively have power.
(18:03):
So if we are all trying to findthe little ways to do something,
then we are fighting backagainst.
Oppression.
We are fighting back againstsystemic racism.
We are, all of these issues arelinked.
And just again, at the verybasic of like just feeling
empathy and compassion andunderstanding for other people,
(18:26):
um.
This is like the least thingthat we could do.
I am like, I am talking aboutthis in such a privileged way.
I was, Katie and I were talkingearlier today of like, we're
busy with this and we're busywith this, and oh my God, we're
so overwhelmed.
But I'm like, I can't even, howcan I even complain when other
people are suffering so much inthe world?
So this is just the very, veryleast thing I can do.
(18:50):
And for folks who have beenwondering what they can do.
The least you can do is show up,take off an hour or two of work.
The least you can do is sharethis and try to, talk about.
How, personalize it foryourself.
Do a little bit more.
Try to just really put this inyour shoes for other folks to
(19:10):
understand and just share it.
Use whatever power and platformthat you have to try to do
something.
katy (19:17):
Thank you so much, Bridget.
I I just appreciate all yourorganizing efforts and just the
ways that you're trying to thinkcollectively and creatively for
what to do.
The suffering of childrenanywhere is unacceptable,
especially when there thisparticular community suffering
is.
So manufactured and does nothave to be this way, and that as
(19:41):
Americans, our government issupporting the government that
is causing that suffering ofthese kids.
So I just appreciate your.
Passion for this and, yourdedication to this.
And yeah, we wanna do whateverwe can to support this event and
other events.
So thank you for spending timewith us today.
Mandy, any last words from me?
No, super great to meet you.
(20:02):
Hopefully I can make it out toIowa sometime.
We can all do coffee.
Yes, that would be great.
Yeah.
And we will definitely post someinformation about the event.
We'll post a link to theInstagram account that you
mentioned.
Mandy (20:15):
And anyone local, please share it.
But even if you're not localshare the information about it
just so that people can followalong and also get ideas.
I think that's really great toput it out there.
See who else is around youlocally that might be interested
in doing something as well, andjust start to do some organizing
around that.
(20:35):
Absolutely.
It's great.
Bridget (20:36):
Thank you.
Thanks for having me on all.
Mandy (20:38):
Yeah, thanks.
We'll talk to you later.
Bye.
Hi, this is Mandy Griffin.
And I'm Katie Swalwell, andwelcome to our Dirty Laundry,
stories of white ladies making amess of things and how we need
to clean up our act.
katy (00:15):
Hi.
Mandy (00:15):
Hi.
katy (00:16):
I am really excited for this very quick but powerful
interview that we are featuringin this mini, so with a good
friend of mine, Bridget ReidBird, who lives in Des Moines
and, a nonprofit and.
community organizer, she isgonna talk about this, but
organized an event called MomsAgainst the Camps in 2019.
(00:40):
Has just been a her whole lifeactually, and her parents are,
her dad has now since passedaway, but he was an incredible
community organizer.
Her mom, she just comes fromthis tradition of anti-racist
social justice.
Organizing people, communityorganizers.
She's also a mom and a whitewoman and has two kids that are
my kids' age.
(01:00):
And we actually met years ago inkind of a community organizing
space and then just reallyconnected over a lot of our
shared interests and values.
And I'm so excited that you gotto meet her and.
grateful that we have the chanceto lift up an event that she's
working on.
That I think will hopefully besomething people in the Des
Moines area can attend, but alsosomething that could inspire
(01:23):
other people.
Anything you wanted to notebefore we
Mandy (01:26):
Yeah.
One thing that I really lovedwhen I was talking to her, she
said that she, because of herparents' activism, she had grown
up attending protests and beinginvolved in all of this stuff,
which I love so much becauseit's something that I really do
want to make sure.
Kids also do, and one of thethings that I think is great
(01:47):
about the event that she issponsoring, that we are talking
about with her is that it isalso meant for people to bring
their children and to bringtheir families too.
So I think this is a really goodway that people can get involved
with their kids and somethingthat people can do.
'cause we talk all the timeabout.
katy (02:07):
what
Mandy (02:07):
can we actually do as individuals?
And I feel like this issomething concrete, even if
you're not in the Des Moinesarea, where this is taking
place, which we know a lot ofour listeners are there,
katy (02:18):
but
Mandy (02:19):
the majority are not.
Maybe an idea of things that youcould start working on in your
own community and things that wecould do.
katy (02:25):
Yes.
The last thing I'll say, I mean,this just popped up because she
and I were, were talking aboutthis event and I thought, oh
gosh, we have a way to helppromote this with the podcast.
But I was.
Especially motivated, I thinkbecause a few days ago, Ms.
Rachel had spoken
Mandy (02:44):
Mm-hmm.
katy (02:45):
very outspoken about supporting children who are
suffering in Gaza right now andhad just had this post and, and.
Had a big interview that isgoing viral, just about why she
cares about this issue and whyit's so important to speak up.
And she works really closelywith Jewish folks, with
Palestinian folks and, and justto name the fact that a lot of
(03:08):
Jewish people are very worriedand concerned about.
The suffering in Gaza and what'shappening with children,
starving, being shot, beingbombed, you know, parents dying
and kids being orphaned andit's, it just it's not it, it's
like a, a humanitarian humanissue.
And in Ms.
Rachel's post, do you, are youfamiliar with Miss Rachel?
(03:30):
Your kids are old
Mandy (03:30):
Yeah, I was gonna say for, yeah, they didn't watch
her, but I have nephews that areyoung and watch her all the
time.
I was gonna say for people whoare maybe not in the parents'
sphere of knowing who MissRachel is, she isn't.
Mega popular children'sentertainer.
She has a show on YouTube that Ijust has untold millions of
(03:52):
people who watch it.
I mean,
katy (03:54):
massively,
Mandy (03:55):
like.
katy (03:56):
popular.
Mandy (03:57):
It's a huge, huge show,
katy (03:59):
Yeah.
Mandy (03:59):
but she has come out against what's happening in
Palestine and against thegenocide and the starvation
there, and she has received alot of hate and backlash for it.
And despite that, she continuesto speak up for what she
believes is right to do for thechildren and the people in Gaza.
And so.
katy (04:20):
So here's her, her post.
That really struck me to justthink about what more can I do,
should I be doing especially topeople who have any kind of
platform.
I'm not pretending that thisplatform, this podcast is like
that influential.
I wish it were more, but.
Mandy (04:35):
Yep.
Yep.
katy (04:36):
that says, I will always choose kindness, but I will
never understand your silence.
I want people around me whosehearts break for every child,
not just when it's convenient,not just when it's easy, not
just when it's notcontroversial, not just when the
child looks like you or is bornin a quote, acceptable place.
I especially can't understandthose with so much privilege.
The un cancelable who stillremain in the shadows.
(04:57):
I want the light and I see thoseof you who risk everything to
hold it.
I'm in awe of you and goes on tojust thank the.
Palestinian Jewish people sheworks with for, for supporting
her in this time when she'sgetting a lot of criticism and
how it shouldn't becontroversial to not want
children to starve to death.
get blown up like that shouldjust not be a controversial
(05:17):
thing to want or to support.
Mandy (05:19):
Yep.
katy (05:19):
I heard that and I felt that, and appreciate also Ms.
Rachel as a white woman who'sclearly, leveraging her position
however best she can andappreciating that.
So yeah, this is a tiny thing tobe able to do.
But if you are in Des Moines andyou can come to this event that
bridge is gonna talk about injust a minute here.
(05:41):
If you can share information, ifyou can think about ways to
connect with other people justin this season that we are
really focused on white inparticular, and the ways that it
has been weaponized.
To justify and defend genocideover many generations and defend
and justify racism and whitesupremacy and, and all kinds of
(06:05):
oppression.
the ways that it doesn't have tobe like that.
How we can use our position are,are who we are in the world to
actually.
Promote dignity, justice, peace,human rights, sustainability,
like all of all of the thingsthat are wrapped up in justice
and equity and love, that weactually can, that's another way
(06:27):
to be in the world, and we aretrying to be that.
Mandy (06:31):
Yep.
katy (06:31):
So yes,
Mandy (06:33):
Yeah.
katy (06:33):
here's, here's
Mandy (06:34):
so here's that.
Okay.
katy (06:37):
Hi.
Hi.
Well, I, I'm so excited about amini, so I can't remember the
last time we did win.
It's been a long time, but I'mexcited and it actually was so,
serendipitous.
So today we're talking with oneof my dear friends who is such
an inspiration to me.
I, Bridgette is here and I loveyou so much.
And I, we were just havingcoffee earlier this morning and
(07:01):
she was very passionatelytelling me about this event that
she's organizing.
And I thought, oh my gosh, wehave.
A platform that can help promotethis event in whatever small
ways that we can.
So I want to ask her detailsabout the specific event, but
then I also would just love tohear more about how this event
(07:22):
came to be and, and how Bridgedthinks about organizing because
our whole season is on whitemotherhood and the ways that
that's been weaponized for whitesupremacy.
But we know that that's not theonly way to be.
And I, when I think of Bridget,I think of someone who's really
embodying, uh.
A very different version ofthat's intentionally disruptive
(07:43):
of white supremacy veryexplicitly and very boldly.
And I think the event that she'sorganizing is a testament to
that.
So welcome Bridgette.
Thank you for being here.
Here.
Thanks for inviting me.
We should do more coffee moreoften.
Maybe I'll.
Yeah, we should.
And I honestly, I was justsaying that you, Mandy and
(08:03):
Bridgette are like sisters fromanother mister that there's just
so much you guys have in common,even.
Even just your, like a knee jerkreaction to something is so
similar, like you're two pettydetectives, let's put it that
way.
Like you are on the case for,for everything and have no
problem speaking your mind.
And I think that's justsomething I really admire.
So let's just jump right inthis.
(08:23):
Let's talk about the specificevent first.
What exactly it is?
How people can participate, evenif they're from far away, and
maybe even think of events likethis in their own locations.
And then we'll ask somequestions that get into how you
came to organize it in the firstplace.
So let's start with the event.
Sure.
So, on August 13th from 10:00 AMto noon a group of us are
(08:45):
planning an event around Gaza.
So many folks know the, what'shappening the genocide that's,
taking place, master Star Basin,people being sought at, bombed.
At the hands of Israel andNetanyahu.
Bridget (08:59):
Um, and so I've just been really struggling with what
to do.
It's been going on for almosttwo years now, and I'm like, we
have got to do something.
So we are planning we're callingourselves Moms Against Genocide,
um, and really focusing onturning out moms and children.
But it's really for.
(09:20):
Everybody who, cares aboutwhat's happening and wants to
just do something.
So we're going to really becalling out, humanitarian aid
people.
We need humanitarian aid intoGaza immediately, and not
through the Gaza HumanitarianFund.
'cause we know what's beenhappening.
Um, when folks are lining up toget food, they're being shot at.
(09:42):
So we need the United Nations.
We need a safe place to to getfood into Gaza.
Um, and then an arms embargoNow.
No more weapons.
No more money.
No more taxpayer dollars goingto.
Fund genocide.
Um, so those are the two bigpieces that we're lifting up.
But since we're saying everybodycome, we want this to be a kid
(10:04):
friendly event.
There's going to be a lot forkids to, to do, there'll be an
art project, um, a big bannerthat we're that says Let Gaza
live for kids to be able tocolor and send their messages
to, you know, the people ofGaza.
And, um, a story time for kidsas well.
But we'll also be talking about,tangible ways to take actions in
(10:27):
our demands to Senator Grassley,Senator Ernst, and really trying
to get the message out that DesMoines families even, you know,
from the heartland sharing outas far as and wide as we can to
the international community thatwe care and the families of Iowa
are absolutely against thisgenocide and what Israel's
doing, genocide.
Mandy (10:48):
So this is happening in de in Des Moine, Iowa because as
most people who know, who listento the podcast, that is where
Katie and I met is where Katiestill lives.
Um, we have lots of listeners inDes Moines'cause I can see on
our stats like where downloadscome from.
And we definitely have a lot inDes Moines, so anyone who is
local to there, uh, we will postsome information.
(11:11):
In the show notes on where thisis taking place and how you can
participate.
For people who don't live in DesMoines though, how can they
support this event and you inparticular or, and what do you
recommend if people do, like,how did you organize this?
What kind of community resourceswere you able to pull upon that
(11:32):
people might be able to do intheir own communities?
So, just a
Bridget (11:35):
little backstory.
So in 2019 we organized asimilar event.
So we called ourselves then momagainst the camp because if you
remember at that time Trump andhis administration.
Were separating families andputting children in cages.
And these images that I wasseeing, I was like, oh my gosh.
(11:56):
You think of yourself again as amom.
What would you do if yourchildren were taken from you?
It was just like, I can't evenimagine it.
And so I was like, how do welift up the voice of moms?
And.
Our experiences of as being amother and, what would you do if
your child was taken from you.
(12:18):
And so we were really appealingto Senator Joni Ernst as a
mother and said, what would youdo for your daughter if he was
taken from you?
You would do anything in, in theworld to keep your child with
you and keep them safe?
And so that is just somebackstory.
So we organized a sit-in withabout a hundred people there.
(12:38):
It was like a mom toddler sit-inat Doni Ernst's office, and it
really kind of went viral.
It, it went far and wide.
And and then we ended up.
Having a phone conversation withher and just highlighting again
that people in Iowa really careabout, all children and no
families should be separated.
(12:58):
So since all of this has beenhappening, I've been really,
struggling with, you know, how,again, to, what would you do as
a mother if your child, if yousaw your child, without arms,
what would you do if your, youknow, if your child had
literally no food, if your childhad no arms and no food, like, I
just can't even imagine it.
(13:19):
How would you feel?
It a constant worry of like,what will happen to you if
something happened to you?
What does that mean for yourchildren?
Um, and so I just, it's justlike how.
Putting yourself in all of thesepeople's shoes.
How can we not do something,anything?
Um, this is not gonna be asit-in, it's gonna be outside of
(13:42):
the federal building.
But I think for anyone, it'slike, who do you know?
In your network that cares aboutthis, who are the people that
have influence in your communitythat you can talk about?
Bringing folks together.
Just telling stories and,sharing.
Anything to personalize itsissue.
So folks really see the humanityin that we are not separate from
(14:06):
each other, we are all in thistogether.
People in Gaza, people in Sudan,people in Congo, everywhere we
are in this together.
And if someone is hurting inanother country, in another part
of the world, it it impacts allof us and our children.
So.
I think we have a, we justcreated a new Instagram account.
It's called Moms AgainstGenocide.
(14:27):
So I'd say folks can followthat.
And please just share it withanybody that you know.
Also on the day of, on August13th, help us lift up.
The pictures and the storiesthat we're going to share on
that day and share it to yoursenators.
Share it to again, the otherpeople that, it's like, can we
(14:48):
organize something similar inour community?
And then get with the otherpeople that can organize events.
So I'm planning this not bymyself.
I'm planning this with otherparents and I'm planning this
with, you know, a great arthuman that can help us, just
make this event look, get cooland, whatever, to, just make it
(15:11):
punchy and make folks noticewhat's happening.
And think of what you would wantto get out to say.
So we're gonna have a, a letterthat we're gonna deliver to our
senators at the federalbuilding.
We're asking folks to bringformula'cause we are going to be
asking our senators that youhave the power to get this to
Gaza if you want to.
(15:31):
If you want to, you can do this.
So we'll be we'll be liftingthat up.
Um, and then following theevent, we're gonna ask folks to
show up to town halls and askour senators to their face, to
stop funding Israel, make surehumanitarian aid gets into Gaza.
Um, and then some postcardparties.
I just think of all the waysthat you your, everybody's
(15:54):
community is different.
I don't know what's going on inevery, so you think of what
makes your community unique andthe people that you know there
and start having conversations.
This shouldn't really, thisshould not be political at all.
This is it.
Humanitarian crisis, the amanmade one by Israel, but this
is, we're talking about feedingpeople and making sure people
(16:19):
are not being bombed athospitals and shot at in food
lines.
This is like the most basic pleato our government and to the
international community thatthis has to stop.
katy (16:29):
Can you, Bridget, just, I know we only have you for a
couple more minutes, but justthinking about.
Why it is so important for youto foreground your identity as a
mother in your organizing andwhat you think the power is of
moms like this season so far,we're just learning about the
ways that so many white momshave weaponized that to support
(16:50):
white supremacy.
So just whatever thoughts youhave about why that is so
powerful and how you see that asa way to disrupt.
Injustice to disrupt oppression.
You know, I think of the JamesBaldwin quote, the children are
al are always ours, every singleone of them all over the globe.
(17:11):
And I'm beginning to suspectthat whoever is incapable of
recognizing this may beincapable of morality.
Bridget (17:18):
I think like we have to connect ourselves to the rest of
the world.
We're all linked.
And then I, again, I just keepon, I just keep thinking of it.
Of what I would do.
I just, I just, it always comesback.
That is like, your children meanmore to you than any anything.
And so I love my kids as much asa mom and Gaza loved her kids.
(17:42):
There's no difference.
And if something, if what washappening to them was happening
to us, we would want themfighting for us.
We should all be doing this.
And I think we so often think wehave no power.
We can't do anything about it.
But we do have power.
We collectively have power.
(18:03):
So if we are all trying to findthe little ways to do something,
then we are fighting backagainst.
Oppression.
We are fighting back againstsystemic racism.
We are, all of these issues arelinked.
And just again, at the verybasic of like just feeling
empathy and compassion andunderstanding for other people,
(18:26):
um.
This is like the least thingthat we could do.
I am like, I am talking aboutthis in such a privileged way.
I was, Katie and I were talkingearlier today of like, we're
busy with this and we're busywith this, and oh my God, we're
so overwhelmed.
But I'm like, I can't even, howcan I even complain when other
people are suffering so much inthe world?
So this is just the very, veryleast thing I can do.
(18:50):
And for folks who have beenwondering what they can do.
The least you can do is show up,take off an hour or two of work.
The least you can do is sharethis and try to, talk about.
How, personalize it foryourself.
Do a little bit more.
Try to just really put this inyour shoes for other folks to
(19:10):
understand and just share it.
Use whatever power and platformthat you have to try to do
something.
katy (19:17):
Thank you so much, Bridget.
I I just appreciate all yourorganizing efforts and just the
ways that you're trying to thinkcollectively and creatively for
what to do.
The suffering of childrenanywhere is unacceptable,
especially when there thisparticular community suffering
is.
So manufactured and does nothave to be this way, and that as
(19:41):
Americans, our government issupporting the government that
is causing that suffering ofthese kids.
So I just appreciate your.
Passion for this and, yourdedication to this.
And yeah, we wanna do whateverwe can to support this event and
other events.
So thank you for spending timewith us today.
Mandy, any last words from me?
No, super great to meet you.
(20:02):
Hopefully I can make it out toIowa sometime.
We can all do coffee.
Yes, that would be great.
Yeah.
And we will definitely post someinformation about the event.
We'll post a link to theInstagram account that you
mentioned.
Mandy (20:15):
And anyone local, please share it.
But even if you're not localshare the information about it
just so that people can followalong and also get ideas.
I think that's really great toput it out there.
See who else is around youlocally that might be interested
in doing something as well, andjust start to do some organizing
around that.
(20:35):
Absolutely.
It's great.
Bridget (20:36):
Thank you.
Thanks for having me on all.
Mandy (20:38):
Yeah, thanks.
We'll talk to you later.
Bye.
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