John Seitz | Grove City Grassroot

We The People … These Colors Don’t Run

At the height of a driving downpour, the man beside me, turned towards me, pointed to the wet flag he was holding, and emphatically said, “These colors don’t run!”

Instantly, I knew why we and over 200 other patriots were standing in the rain this Saturday morning in Grove City, PA. His metaphor was spot on.

Our precious United States of America is experiencing a deluge of manufactured political thunderstorms that threatens to destroy our republic and end democracy in favor of dictatorship. The threat is real and increasing week by week.

But … These colors don’t run. We the people are not running away from the storm. We will continue to protect the ideals of democracy that were first fought for and written by our founding fathers and mothers. We will continue to peacefully fight to make sure that our colors do not fade during this tsunami of repression.

Saturday, June 14th, saw three well organized and very well attended protests in Mercer Country. The warm noontime rain was sometimes intense, but the people came.

At one point a passing car pulled over. A window came down and someone’s hand gave a dry umbrella to an unprotected stranger. Love in action.

Guitars appeared and were played in spite of potential damage to their instruments.

A boy silently stood and experienced how the peaceful expression of democracy works.

People with compromised mobility sat beside a flooded sidewalk. They knew that their temporary discomfort was unimportant, while their commitment to being a witness was.

The day demonstrated that even bad weather will not stop the perseverance of the people in publicly proclaiming their love of our nation.

The people will remain awake in love and empathy as long as it takes for a new day and the cleansing rain to wash away the hateful anti-democratic stormy darkness.

~John Seitz, June 14, 2025

We The People … Get up, Stand up!

This Saturday the 14th is the nationwide “No Kings” protest. That morning I’ll get up from my comfortable chair, and gather with hundreds of others at our small town Main Street. Over 150 have already registered for the peaceful rally. Many others will just show up here in Grove City, PA.

I’d much prefer to enjoy the morning in my workshop making stuff, or sitting here writing happy stories. But, I know that my country needs me on Saturday.

It needs me to publicly resist the official vilification of kindness, empathy and love that’s sweeping our land.

It needs me to stand up for the poor, for the sick, for public education, for free expression, for science, for those without a voice, for free press, for the judiciary, for the Constitution, even for our “head in the sand” Congress.

All of the above are under constant attack. I cannot continue to just sit by any longer, complaining to the living room walls. Its time to stand up.

I’ve been told to ‘stay in my lane’, don’t write about politics. To only write and post happy stories. To not make waves. Well, I see Saturday as a positive story of people coming together to demand a positive redirection of our country.

We need to be visible. Visible to each other, visible to the country. And, that can only be accomplished out in the open. Every additional person at a protest gathering is a peaceful vote for change. Like votes in an election … every person counts.

Wherever you are, consider changing your Saturday plans from; I can’t go because I’m busy, to; I don’t want to go, and it’s a hassle to go, but … I need to go!

Find a gathering and go for your families future. Go for your country’s survival as a free nation. Find your voice beyond complaining to each other, beyond reposting.

Stand quietly like I probably will with my hat and sign.

Or, stand, sing and chant. Just being there counts.

Get up. Stand up. Stand up for your right

Get up. Stand up. Don’t give up the fight

~ John Seitz June 12, 2025