In our June newsletter, we shared about the incredibly successful deployment of our We The People Preamble in LA, for No Kings Day, as well as in Seattle.  Now we are preparing for this iconic prop (of which we have now three We The Peoples!) to hit the road, joining the We Are America March. The March goes from Philly to DC., Sept 6-19.

You can help send a Backbone crew (with props!) to this important March by making a donation HERE.

After DC, we’re sending one of the We The Peoples to Wisconsin to appear in several cities and towns.  Interested in bringing a We The People Prop to your community?  Info about reserving it is HERE.

Banner Actions Across the Country

This has been a Summer of Bannering!  So far, we’ve distributed over 90 banner toolkits across the US.  It is heartening to see pictures of banner deployments from so many regions. Banner-Curious, but haven't gotten set up yet?  This page has info about the materials you need, and a recording of a recent How To Workshop. Let us know what questions you have!

Ready - Set - LIGHTS!

As we move into fall, we’ll be sharing skills in Light Projection.  At our first training, Thursday, Sept 11th, we’ll go over projection with spotlights.  Sign up for this free Intro Workshop HERE. Interested in getting set up with a Light Kit to do your own projections?  Backbone sells gently used equipment, and we're excited to get communities set up with a light!  Contact Backbone HQ by replying to this email.

Upcoming Events:

• Wednesday, Sept 3 (virtual) - Creative Activism Monthly Call

• Tuesday, Sept 9 (in person on Vashon Island) - Film Screening of Fish War

• Thursday, Sept 11 (virtual) - Light Projection 101 Training 

Action Reports:

In addition to banner actions across the Salish Sea region, our local team has been active.  

Last month, a large contingent of props and supporters marched in our local Strawberry Festival, with giant orca, salmon, the We the People, butterflies and more! 

Earlier this month, our team of 11 staff and volunteers supported Nimiipuu’s Envisioning a Restored Lower Snake River Flotilla on the Lower Snake. Check out the Photo/Video Album on Backbone's Flickr account!

Solutionary Rail Update:

The SR Team has been interviewing leaders in the labor and rail sectors. Our Reconnect America podcast includes both longer form episodes, as well as individual interviews. Take a listen to the most recent offerings:

• Greg Regan (AFL-CIO) on the potential railroad mega-merger, cross-modal solidarity, and more

• Phillip Longman (Open Markets Institute) on How to Fix the US Railroad Problem - and the country

• Basel Musharbash (Antimonopoly Counsel) on History of US Anti-Monopoly Law

• Bill Hutchison and Ed D’Amato (Lakeshore Rail Alliance) on How to Fix US Passenger Rail

• Tom White (Climate Rail Alliance) on the Loss of Railroading Knowledge and its impact on Passenger Service

Backbone/Solutionary Rail is thrilled that our Rosalia to Pasco Shortline Access Corridor is one of the Scenarios being modeled by Jacobs Engineering in their Lower Snake River study on replacing transportation services.  For info on the SR Plan, check out this explainer, with a link to our specific comments to WSDOT and Jacobs. 

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We are looking at a vibrant fall season of banners, lights, actions, as well as an epic street theater prop (Debut coming soon....)  

This work is supported by individuals like you.  Can you help us keep momentum growing by pitching in a tax-deductible donation HERE?

Thank you for making Backbone Campaign one of the ways you make a difference.