Power of protest: safety first… Power and passion always… Your story, your way!

by: Anthony Corona

Dear friends in the blind and low vision community,

In these challenging and powerful times, the call to rise up and speak out rings louder than ever. Across the country, people are gathering to demand justice, dignity, and the change we know is long overdue. And we, the blind and low vision community, are not only welcome in this moment—we are essential to it. Whether you’re someone who’s been in the trenches of advocacy for years, or you’re just now feeling the spark to get involved, this letter is for you. It’s a call to action and a roadmap to ensure that your voice is heard, your power is honored, and your safety is always front and center.

Showing Up In-Person: Safety First, Power Always

Attending a protest can be a deeply moving and empowering experience. But it’s important to do so in a way that centers your access, preparedness, and peace of mind.

1. Make a Plan.

Learn the route and timeline of the protest in advance.
Reach out to organizers to ask if accessibility support or volunteer guides are available.
Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes.
Bring water, ID, emergency contact info, medications, and a mask.

2. Go with a Trusted Person or Group.

Partner with someone who knows your needs.
Establish a meetup spot in case of separation.
Use check-in tools like Find My iPhone or Life360.

3. Bring Tech That Works for You

Keep your phone charged and bring a power bank.
Use apps like Aira Explorer Be My Eyes to assist with navigation or reading signs.

4. Know Your Rights

Learn your legal rights as a protestor and a person with a disability.
Practice short scripts to communicate access needs, like: “I’m blind and need space to move safely.”

For Guide Dog Handlers: Keeping Your Teammate Safe

If you’re a handler and your guide dog is part of your protest experience, your bond is your strength—but preparation is key.

Know your dog’s limits. Loud noises, crowd energy, and high temperatures can be stressful. Trust your dog’s behavior to guide your choices.
Bring water and a collapsible bowl. Hydration for both of you is essential.
Use a cooling mat or vest if you’re in a hot area.
Be mindful of hazards like broken glass or dropped food—keep paws safe with booties if needed.
Know when to leave. If your dog seems overwhelmed, prioritize their well-being and step away. That doesn’t mean your protest ends—it just changes form. Your guide dog gives you independence. Protecting their safety is another form of protest: a powerful act of love and solidarity.

Protest Isn’t One Size Fits All: Alternatives that Matter.

Not everyone can—or should—be out in the streets. That doesn’t mean your voice is any less important. In fact, it may be even more strategic.
Join virtual actions like online teach-ins, livestreamed rallies, and Twitter storms.
Write letters to your local newspaper, elected officials, or organizing groups.
Host or join Zoom-based discussions, advocacy trainings, or creative storytelling events.
Use your talents: whether it’s writing, art, speaking, music, or community outreach—let your gifts fuel your resistance.

You’re not alone. Organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, the American Council of the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and Blind LGBT Pride International, as well as countless grassroots organizers, are already paving the way. When you join their efforts—even from home—you’re not only advocating for your rights, you’re helping drive the entire movement forward. Your energy fuels change for our whole community and beyond. Be Seen, Be Heard—In Your Way.

Marching on the National Mall, gathering outside courthouses, or standing on the steps of your city hall is unforgettable. If you have the time, stamina, and support, these moments can be life changing. But protest doesn’t only happen in those places. It can happen in your kitchen, on your phone, through a letter, or behind a microphone. You don’t need permission to be powerful. You only need a little passion, a little creativity—and your truth.

In Closing, you Belong in This Movement. Let no one tell you otherwise: this moment belongs to you, too. Whether you show up with a guide dog at your side, a screen reader in your hand, or your voice echoing through online channels—you are part of the heartbeat of change. You don’t need to see the crowd to feel the power of collective action. You just need to be there, in whatever way is right for you.

With strength, solidarity, and love; with your Community, your Movement, and your Voice; exercising your power to protest comes in many ways in many forms. Safety first… Passion always… Your story and your truth! Collective action is like a grand chorale performance. Every voice is unique, and every voice is needed, but as every voice blends in the harmony, the power bills and the song cannot be ignored!

Yours,
Anthony Corona
He/Him
Host and Producer of Sunday edition

For more information about Sunday Edition, send Anthony a message at sundayeditionac@gmail.com

To know more about what BPI is doing to help fight the good fight, visit us at bpi.gay or send us a message at media@blindlgbtpride.org.

25 Hours and 5 Minutes: What Difference Can a Day Make

by: Anthony Corona

He began by invoking the spirit of “good trouble,” and concluded with a fervent call to action. Senator Cory Booker’s historic 25-hour and 5-minute speech on the Senate floor was not merely an exercise in endurance; it was a profound testament to the urgency of our times—a moral alarm bell sounding against policies and actions that are tearing at the fabric of our democracy and threatening the American way of life.

Blind LGBT Pride International stands in solidarity with Senator Booker, applauding his unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the very soul of this nation.

In surpassing the previous record held by Senator Strom Thurmond—who infamously filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1957—Senator Booker not only etched his name into the annals of Senate history but symbolically overturned a dark chapter of obstructionism rooted in hate and injustice. As Booker reflected: “I’m here because as powerful as he was, the people were more powerful.” That is the essence of the American dream—ordinary people standing together to demand a better future.

Throughout his impassioned address, Senator Booker laid bare the profound consequences of recent executive actions and policy proposals—decisions that place corporate interests over human dignity, silence voters, jeopardize the retirement security of millions, and marginalize the very workers who keep this country running. “These are not normal times in our nation,” he warned. “The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent, and we all must do more to stand against them.”

He spoke of farmers struggling under unfair subsidies that reward the largest agribusinesses while small family farms go under. Of migrant workers who harvest the food on our tables while being vilified, underpaid, and denied pathways to citizenship. He read aloud letters from Americans fearing the erosion of Social Security—our most basic promise to generations who have labored with the expectation of dignity in retirement. Booker reminded us of a nation where the right to vote is under siege—from voter ID laws designed to suppress marginalized communities to the gutting of the Voting Rights Act that once stood as a proud achievement of bipartisan courage.

These aren’t isolated actions. They are part of a deliberate dismantling of the pillars that uphold the American dream. “We cannot allow ourselves to become numb,” Booker urged. “We must not let injustice become normalized or our silence become complicity.”

He also highlighted the administration’s attempts to roll back protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals, including the ban on transgender Americans serving in the military—a move Booker termed “deplorable and despicable.” Such actions not only undermine the rights of LGBTQIA+ citizens but also erode the inclusive values that define our nation.

Moreover, Booker addressed the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, condemning budget cuts that threaten essential services and accessibility. He emphasized that neglecting the needs of disabled Americans is a betrayal of our collective responsibility to ensure equality and dignity for all.

Blind LGBT Pride International echoes this urgent call to action. While few can command the Senate floor for over 25 hours, each of us possesses the capacity to contribute meaningfully. Whether through sharing Senator Booker’s message, contacting our representatives, or showing up in our communities, our collective voice is a force that cannot be ignored.

Let us be clear: Executive orders have been signed that undermine environmental protections, defund diversity and inclusion initiatives, and roll back protections for transgender Americans. Policy decisions are endangering reproductive rights, sabotaging affordable healthcare, and prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy over basic human services.

This is not the American way. The America we believe in is a place where everyone—regardless of race, disability, gender identity, or zip code—has the right to dream, to vote, to retire with dignity, and to be heard. That is the America that Senator Booker stood up for—for over a day straight.

We invite you to join Blind LGBT Pride International in our mission to illuminate truth and champion equality. Visit us at www.bpi.gay. Whether you can offer time, resources, or simply your voice, your involvement is invaluable.

Let us honor Senator Booker’s courage—not just with applause, but with action. Let’s rise together in good trouble, and strive toward the nation envisioned not only in our founding documents but in the hearts of all who dare to dream of liberty and justice for all. Because the difference a single day can make…is the difference between silence and resistance, between apathy and action. Let us choose action.

For more information about the speech and the Senator’s political positions, you may access the resources below. Note: The following links will take you to other websites.

For a visual summry, you can watch a summary of Senator Booker’s speech from the Associated Press.

You can also watch the full opening remarks of the speech from Senator Booker’s Senate page.

View the highlights of the historic 25-hour speech here.

Learn more about Senator Booker’s political positions from this Wikipedia article.

Anthony Corona
He/Him
Host and Producer of Sunday edition

For more information about Sunday Edition, contact Anthony at sundayeditionac@gmail.com.

To know more about Blind LGBT Pride International, visit bpi.gay or send a message to media@blindlgbtpride.org.

BPI Advocacy Committee Holds First Community Call on March 4, 2025

As promised, we are creating new opportunities for you to engage with BPI and to reinforce bonds with fellow members and allies. This virtual meeting courtesy of your Advocacy Committee is a response to the ever-growing need for us to build community and to strengthen ties that make us a family. It is our hope that this fosters a greater sense of solidarity among BPI members and to inspire us to reach out to our local communities to make a difference.

Remember, in these trying times, we are stronger together than we are apart.

Below is the note from your Advocacy Committee chairs Tristan Snyder and Tai Tomasi regarding the first community meeting:

The BPI advocacy committee is pleased to announce that we will be holding community meetings alternating weekly on Tuesday and Sunday evenings. Information for our first meeting is below:

Who: blind LGBTQIA plus folx and Allies

What: the building blocks of local community

Where: Zoom (Check the announce list for meeting information.)

When: Tuesday March 4, 8:00 PM Eastern, 5:00 PM Pacific

Why: Are you struggling to make sense of everything that is going on in the world? Are you feeling overwhelmed and looking for community? Join like-minded people to learn how to connect with local resources, get involved with advocacy, and cultivate Hope in these difficult times. If you feel moved, let us know what you think the needs of the Blind LGBTQIA plus community are. What can the Blind pride international advocacy committee do for you, and our community as a whole? What topics would you like to see the advocacy committee cover?

If you have questions or concerns, please email: advocacy@blindlgbtpride.org

People’s union plans National Economic Blackout on February 28

A group of Americans has planned a National Economic Blackout on February 28, 2025. The blackout is in response to companies discontinuing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives as a result of a series of sweeping executive orders from Donald J. Trump.

Upon his inauguration, Trump issued

, an executive order ending all diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) mandates, policies, and programs in the federal government. He also released an executive order mandating contractors and companies who work with the federal government to comply with the DEIA ban. The order labelled DEIA as illegal discrimination. Non-compliance can result to frozen funds and discontinued projects. As a result, companies like Walmart, Amazon, Google and Target have started eliminating their DEIA programs.

To respond to the dissolution of DEIA initiatives in the private sector, the People’s Union is planning a 24-hour national Economic Blackout on February 28. The blackout targets specific companies like Walmart and Amazon as well as fast food chains like McDonald’s. Read more about the blackout in this February 12 article by Newsweek’s Suzanne Blake.

As blind and visually impaired and LGBTQIA+ individuals, we benefit from DEIA policies and programs that prevent discrimination, promote fair and equitable access to information and ensure that spaces are welcoming and safe for all. There is nothing wasteful or illegal about diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, but the same cannot be said about waging war on vulnerable communities including disabled, LGBTQIA+, women, and BIPOC individuals. We are extremely disappointed and enraged by the actions of companies that have rescinded their DEIA initiatives to comply with what is obviously a morally reprehensible and mean-spirited act from Trump.

BPI encourages our members, friends, and allies to take part in the National Economic Blackout on February 28. Our money is power and taking part in the blackout will hit them where it hurts the most—their bank accounts, even just for a day.

Believe in our collective power of NO! Save DEIA; Join the blackout!