December 2025 Newsletter
Reject Autocracy Protest on November 15
Despite heavy rain, about 50 determined individuals gathered at the federal building to protest the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to turn America towards autocracy. They were reminding our community that most Americans refuse to accept an authoritarian government.
These same individuals brought 386 pounds of food to help the many Ketchikan families suffering from food insecurity. The food was collected by VFR and donated to the Salvation Army.
FYI.. While “Reject Autocracy” was not part of a nationwide protest like the “No Kings” rallies, there are many independent anti-authoritarian protests every week in large and small towns across the country.
Growing VFR
Currently, 176 Ketchikan residents receive our monthly newsletter, which we plan to continue publishing through the 2026 midterm elections. These recipients we consider ‘supporters’—folks who participated in last year’s postcards campaign and/or subscribed or joined us via our website.
We want to have a positive influence on the direction of our country, so the more supporters we have, the better. Let your friends and family know about us. The easiest way to receive our newsletters is by using the “Join Us” link on our website,
Please note that we regularly update The Take Action and Events pages on our website
VFR has no public events planned in December. However, it’s a good time to find common ground with your friends and neighbors, to support pro-democracy organizations, and to encourage our Alaska members of congress to challenge Trump’s unconstitutional actions.
We’ll be hosting a potluck for our supporters on Saturday, Jan 31, 2026 from 6 to 9 pm. The potluck will include a brainstorming session and a movie. We’ll have more details next month. For now, we’d like you to vote on what movie we should watch. The candidates are below.
All the President’s Men
Mr Smith Goes to Washington
Seven Days in May
V for Vendetta
Dave
If you have an opinion on the movie, please vote here!
Letters-to-the-Editor
Since March, 47 letters or points of view have been published in the Ketchikan Daily News by supporters of VFR. We will continue the campaign in 2026. The following is one of the recent letters submitted by supporter Susan Walsh:
EDITOR, Daily News:
“Teachers are asking how they can fulfill their responsibility in teaching young people the moral, ethical and spiritual values required in a free society while the President of the United States disregards the nation’s traditionally high standards of morality.”
This was written in October 1973, addressing Nixon’s Watergate shenanigans, all of which seem quaint when exhuming the long list of corruption perpetrated by the present administration.
What is so vastly different is that back in the “good old days,” there was a bipartisan Congress that, when shown the facts, voted for his eventual impeachment. They did their job!
This is a question for Nick Begich and Dan Sullivan, who are up for re-election. Can either of you point to a time when you challenged Donald Trump’s abuses of power?
If not, why should Alaskans trust you to defend democracy in the future?
November 2025 Newsletter
VFR is proud of Ketchikan for showing what civic courage looks like.
October 8 Town Hall
At our community forum, more than 50 residents shared how budget cuts, rising costs, and loss of services are affecting Ketchikan families. We heard stories of resilience — neighbors helping neighbors, and a shared determination to advocate for fairness and accountability.
The stories shared at the meeting made it clear that Trump administration’s policies are hurting families here in Ketchikan. The government shutdown and expiration of the ACA tax credits are exacerbating the problems. We have sent our report of the meeting to our congressional leaders.
No Kings Rally
Nearly 7 million people participated in "No Kings" protests on October 18, 2025, making it one of the largest single-day demonstrations in U.S. history. In Ketchikan, almost 300 people filled the sidewalks in front of the Federal Building, and joined in a march in peaceful protest. Despite steady rain, spirits were high. Signs included “Make America Kind Again,” “No Thrones, No Crowns, No Kings” and “Hands off our Constitution.”
At the rally, we enjoyed good music and speeches. Jenny Ballif reminded us that “The Constitution protects the rights of ordinary people. It ensures that no one person can hold too much power.” Bill Rotecki urged us to continue speaking out saying that “Love and compassion will be my guide… We will prevail.”
We’re grateful to all who attended and participated in our constitutional right to peacefully assemble. The Ketchikan Daily News published a solid article on the event.
Reject Autocracy Protest
📅 Saturday, November 15 | 12:00–1:00 PM | Federal Building
The next peaceful protest will take place on Saturday, November 15, from noon to 1:00 p.m. on the sidewalks in front of the Federal Building. Once again, we are raising our voices to demonstrate that most Americans do not want an autocracy. Bring your signs. Bring your friends. Let's keep the momentum going.
The government shutdown, the permanent layoff of federal workers, and the increase in the cost of food are making food insecurity a growing concern for some Ketchikan residents this fall/winter. To support those in need, we will collect non-perishable food donations at the protest. Donations will be accepted on a flatbed truck displaying a "Voices for Reason" banner, which will be parked near the Federal Building. There will be a limited number of totes for items vulnerable to rain; therefore, items resistant to rain are preferred.
Stay Connected to VFR events and actions
Visit voicesforreasonpac.org for the latest event information. Upcoming actions are featured at the top of our home page, with our full calendar accessible through the events menu.
Join our group and follow us on Facebook for updates and community connection.
Comments or suggestions? Email us at info@voicesforreasonpac.org
Thank you for showing up. Every gathering, every conversation, every act of generosity strengthens the fabric of our democracy.
See you on November 15.
– Voices for Reason PAC
October 2025 Newsletter
Ketchikan has two big events this month that we want to promote!
No Kings 2.0 on October 18
Join us for "No Kings 2.0", a mass nationwide peaceful protest on Saturday, October 18 at noon.
In Ketchikan, we'll gather at the Federal building at noon to demonstrate together against the Trump Administration's accelerating authoritarian actions. At 12:30, we'll march together from the Federal building to the covered area at Berth 3 (just south of Sockeye Sams) for a powerful rally defending our democracy.
No Kings 1.0 on June 14, 2025, was the largest coordinated protest in recent American history. Since then, Trump's assault on democratic norms has only intensified. Now more than ever, we need every defender of democracy to raise their voice against this autocratic regime. We must show our fellow citizens and elected officials that Americans will not stand by while our freedoms erode. Real change in America has always come from the bottom up, i.e. from the people.
Mark your calendar. Spread the word. Bring your friends and family. Rain or shine, we'll be there, and we need you there too. Together, we'll create a presence too large to ignore. By peacefully protesting these dangerous actions, we're sending a message to current and future generations: what's happening now is not normal, and we will not accept it.
Be there. Our Democracy is worth defending.
Ketchikan Community Forum on October 8
Voices for Reason invites you to a community forum where citizens of Ketchikan are invited to share their experiences and knowledge of how their lives have been affected or will be affected by recent actions of the federal government. Actions like those of DOGE, reductions in employees, changes in the social safety net, executive actions on tariffs, foreign policy shifts, new tax laws, and immigration enforcement. The purpose of the forum is for the community to better understand how recent federal actions and policies are affecting daily life here and reshaping our community.
This forum is your chance to be heard. Whether you've experienced positive or negative impacts in your workplace, your household, or you simply have concerns and questions, your voice matters. Come share your story and hear from your neighbors.
We'll compile the insights from this meeting and share them with community members and our local and state representatives, ensuring Ketchikan's reality reaches those in power.
Join us at the Ted Ferry Civic Center on Wednesday, October 8th, at 5:30 pm. All community members are welcome.
Keep Writing Letters to the Editor
Our letter-writing campaign is making an impact, with multiple voices reaching the Ketchikan Daily News every week. This momentum matters. Each letter reminds our community and leaders that we're paying attention and demanding better.
Keep it going. Submit your letter to the Ketchikan Daily News. If you sign up on the VFR website you’ll get a reminder email as well as a volunteer willing to give feedback on your letter. When we write together, we amplify our message that we reject this dangerous path.
Your voice is powerful. Use it.
Stay Connected to VFR events and actions
Visit voicesforreasonpac.org for the latest event information. Upcoming actions are featured at the top of our home page, with our full calendar accessible through the events menu.
Follow us on Facebook for updates and community connection. We've recently improved our page to better serve our growing movement.
Thanks for reading, and thank you for being part of this growing movement.
– Voices for Reason
Comments or suggestions? Email us at info@voicesforreasonpac.org
September 2025 Newsletter
Letter to the Editor Campaign
Our Letter to the Editor Campaign has been strong in the Ketchikan Daily News. In the last three months, over 30 letters have appeared protesting the Trump administration’s authoritarian/ineffective/illegal/cruel/anti-American policies, while only 1 letter has supported the Trump administration. One voice is easy to ignore, but together, our message speaks volumes.
If you haven’t yet submitted a letter to the editor, please write one. You can sign up for a slot to get a reminder at https://www.voicesforreasonpac.org/vfr-takeaction or just write and submit one.
Bill Rotecki wisely pointed out that a letter does not have to be intellectual or documented or detailed to be effective. It should be a message from the heart so it can touch the souls of some readers.
Make the already convinced more active.
Make the middle of the road decide to agree with your point of view.
Make the "other side" question their allegiances.
Workers over Billionaires Rally
On Labor Day, 75 patriots stood outside the Federal Building in Ketchikan, peacefully demonstrating against policies and actions that prop up billionaires at the expense of hardworking Americans. We proudly proclaimed that we are the 99%, and we will not silently allow our leaders to take our nation on a trajectory that limits our rights and freedoms and opportunities so that the wealthy elites can become even more wealthy.
It was especially nice to have so many cruise ship passengers approach us and thank us for our efforts. The world is watching us.
Local voices stand for the people. Even a macaw joined in.
VFR PAC Steering Committee Meetings
The steering committee meets every two weeks to discuss approaches to influence returning the country to a healthy democracy and to plan future actions. We could use help. We invite ideas and feedback and new members—all supporters are welcome at our meetings. Next meeting: Wednesday Sept 17 at 4:00pm in the small meeting room at the Ketchikan Public Library. Look on our https://www.voicesforreasonpac.org/events page on our website voicesforreasonpac.org to find the time and place for future meetings.
No Kings Protest, October 18
The next large-scale nationwide protest is now set for October 18. One goal is to exceed the numbers from the June 14 No Kings protest, which saw over 5 million people in the United States and 300 in Ketchikan take part. Voices for Reason and Ketchikan Mayday for Democracy are planning Ketchikan’s involvement. Stay tuned.
Postcard Campaigns
Next year, Voices for Reason is planning to run a postcard campaign for our Alaska elections. However, there are other nationwide campaigns currently underway. See https://turnoutpac.org/postcards/ or https://www.activateamerica.vote/postcards for ways to get involved today.
Thanks for reading, and thank you for being part of this growing movement.
– Voices for Reason
Comments or suggestions? Email us at info@voicesforreasonpac.org
August 2025 Newsletter
Letter to the Editor Campaign
Let’s keep the anti-authoritarian conversation going. The more letters to the editor, the better. We want to persuade next year’s voters to consider what is really happening to our country, and we want to keep our congress members accountable for their actions.
We’re asking you to write a letter to the editor on a topic of your choice. If you haven’t yet, please go to our website page https://www.voicesforreasonpac.org/vfr-takeaction, hit the open form button and sign up or go directly to the form https://forms.gle/JBSKXuxZCWWmPxm38.
Letters can be short and simple or long and impassioned. Need examples? Look through the letters written since the start of our campaign. https://www.voicesforreasonpac.org/vfr-archivedletterstotheeditor
Thank you to all who have written letters — your voice carries further than you know.
A Patriotic Independence Day
To let Ketchikanites know about our organization and to help celebrate July 4 we entered floats in the parade, emphasizing the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The Voices for Reason parade float proudly carries Lady Liberty and signs supporting the U.S. Constitution.
Events
Learn about upcoming events at https://www.voicesforreasonpac.org/events
Good Trouble Lives On Rally
On July 19, Mayday for Democracy organized a rally to coincide with the nationwide Good Trouble Lives On protest. 80 people gathered to stand up for justice and the rule of law and speak out against authoritarianism. The Ketchikan Daily News covered the rally with front page photos in their July 22 edition.
Resist the Regime on Saturday, August 9
The next rally, Resist the Regime, will take place Saturday, August 9from 12:00–1:00 pm in front of the Federal Building in Ketchikan.Come join us as we continue to raise our voices in support of democracy and constitutional values and against the rise of autocracy. Bring a sign, bring a friend, and let’s keep the momentum going.
Letter of the Month
We’ll close with one of our favorite letters from June. We plan to highlight one letter a month. You can find all the letters here: https://www.voicesforreasonpac.org/vfr-archivedletterstotheeditor
“It Will Take Courage”
By Eric Muench, published June 20 in the Ketchikan Daily News
We Americans enjoy our freedoms to travel, to live where and as we wish, to elect our leaders, to worship as we believe and speak our minds without fear, and to think of ourselves as permanently blessed by nature itself in the musically celebrated “land of the free.”
But some of us do not value these freedoms as clearly or as regretfully as did Germans after they allowed the 1930s conversion of their constitutional republic into a Nazi dictatorship. We too will have those people’s regrets if we are not smart enough to defend the rule of law.
What has enabled creation and growth over 200 years of America’s widely admired freedom and strength has been the democratic structure of governance that is set out in the United States Constitution.
This basic law of the land drives democratic government and also protects individual freedoms by demanding “habeas corpus” and “due process.” Ideas such as “innocent until proven guilty,” “rule of law” and trial by jury rather than by autocrats are guarded by the federal courts. The Constitution is the legal standard to which every state entering the union agreed and to which all other federal, state and local laws and regulations must conform, and to which every federal employee and office holder swears allegiance.
President Trump did, too, but rejects the limit on his power and would govern instead by executive order. Strong congressional oversight powers in the Constitution have been deliberately unused by the Republican majority unwilling to face up to the dangers of dictatorship in order to remain in Trump's favor. It has been left to the federal judges in our land to defend against executive dictatorship, but the courts have no enforcement army, while the president commands many police units as well as the armed forces, and he is using them with fearful force.
We are left with a stark choice: The rule of law (the Constitution), or the rule of a man (Trump) who will have achieved dictatorship if Congress lets him and if the courts are swept aside by lack of enforcement powers and if we the people do not back up the courts and convince Congress or change its makeup.
It will take courage. But we must complete the musical refrain: “Land of the free AND the home of the brave.”
Thanks for reading, and thank you for being part of this growing movement.
– Voices for Reason
Comments or suggestions? Email us at info@voicesforreasonpac.org
Special shoutout to our friends in the Mayday for Democracy group, whose float “We the People” shared the award for the most patriotic entry!
July 2025 Newsletter
The No Kings Rally: Thank You
On June 14th, 300 people gathered at the Federal Building for the No Kings Rally to stand up against the authoritarian actions of President Trump. (More than 5 million participated around the country. At least 18 rallies occurred in Alaska.) There were signs, chants, and many people proud to make their voices heard. We even had some tourists join us. Importantly, our protest was well covered by the Daily News.
Please continue to show up (and persuade others to join us). Harvard researcher Erica Chenoweth has shown that only 3.5% of a population actively engaging in civil discourse and protest is enough to bring about serious political change.
Mark Twain once said,
“Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
Letter to the Editor Campaign
Our letter to the editor campaign is going strong. Over 40 people have signed up to write letters on topics of their choice. Our intent is to have 2–3 letters published in the Ketchikan Daily News each week to keep the anti-authoritarian conversation going, keep our representatives accountable, and influence our fellow citizens. Letters can be short and simple or long and impassioned. If you haven’t signed up yet, please do so at https://forms.gle/JBSKXuxZCWWmPxm38. You’ll receive a confirmation email and a reminder email for the week you choose. Making our voices heard consistently is how we make a difference.
Upcoming Events
(see the events page on our website for additional information)
July 4: Independence Day Parade, 1–2pm
Celebrate by cheering on the VFR and Mayday for Democracy floats.
July 9: Voices for Reason Steering Committee Meeting, 5–7pm at Pioneer Hall. If you have ideas about how we can better fight authoritarianism, please join us.
July 19: Good Trouble Lives On Rally, 12–1pm at the Ketchikan Federal Building
This nation-wide demonstration provides another opportunity to speak out. We’re not spectators to history – we’re the makers of it.
Update on the authoritarian provision in Big, Beautiful Bill (senate Budget Reconciliation Bill)
˚In our June newsletter, we recommended contacting senators to exclude language in the bill that would prevent judicial challenges to unlawful and unconstitutional actions taken by the administration. The Senate parliamentarian has declared that this provision cannot be included in the Reconciliation Bill, which only requires a majority vote, so it is unlikely to appear in the final bill to be passed by Congress. President Trump wants this entire bill passed by July 4. It is not too late to contact our congressmen if you have concerns about social safety net cuts, clean energy cuts, tax cuts, or spending increases. See https://5calls.org/issue/hr1-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-budget-reconciliation/ for details.
Comments or suggestions? Email us at info@voicesforreasonpac.org
June 2025 Newsletter
Thank you to everyone who attended our May 10 workshop and to those already contributing to our letter-writing campaign. Also, a big shoutout to those who participated at the protest on May 3.
120 citizens of Ketchikan demonstrated outside the Federal Bldg on May 3 as part of the “Hands Off” protest.
Upcoming Events in Ketchikan:
Letter to the Editor Campaign:
We’re raising our voices—one letter at a time.
At our May 10 workshop, local supporters gathered to learn how to craft persuasive letters to the editor in the Ketchikan Daily News and other SE Alaska papers. Now, we’re putting that knowledge into action. Our current goal is to publish two letters per week for the next six months, speaking out on issues that matter and standing up for constitutional democracy. So far, we have fifteen people who have committed to write twenty two letters.
We need your help. Claim your slot here. It’s ok to keep it short and simple. Your words can shape voters’ opinions, so let’s make sure our neighbors and our leaders hear them.
Nationwide "No Kings" Protest —
Saturday, June 14, 12:00–1:00 PM
Ketchikan Federal Building
Join fellow patriots nationwide on Flag Day for a peaceful demonstration against Donald Trump’s authoritarian actions. The “No Kings” protest aims to remind citizens, judges, and our congress members that no one, not even a president, is above the law.
Bring a sign, your friends, and your commitment to government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Let’s show that most people in Ketchikan do not want an authoritarian government. Our efforts will give support to those representatives and judges who push back against unconstitutional and unlawful actions. Courage is contagious.
“Big, Beautiful Bill” passes house
On May 22, The House of Representatives forwarded a tax and spending bill to the Senate. While there is much to dislike about this bill, there is one concerning section that increases the power of an authoritarian. It has language that limits the power of federal judges. We recommend contacting our Alaskan Senators and say something like;
“Please oppose the inclusion of language in the Senate text of the Budget Reconciliation Bill that prevents challenges to unlawful and unconstitutional actions taken by the administration or restricts courts from enforcing contempt rulings against government officials.”
Senator Dan Sullivan: https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/contact/email
Senator Lisa Murkowski: https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/contact/email
A Closing Thought
The fight for democracy doesn’t belong to any one political party—it belongs to all of us. Every letter, every protest, every conversation matters.
Comments or suggestions? Email us atinfo@voicesforreasonpac.org
May 2025 Newsletter
If you wrote postcards in 2024, signed up on our website, or shared your interest with us—thank you. You are part of a growing network of Alaskans who believe our democracy is worth protecting.
Voices for Reason was founded to oppose Donald Trump’s re-election and to push back against the rise of authoritarianism. We sent 20,000 handwritten postcards to Arizona voters in 2024. Now, our focus is to engage Alaska voters and safeguard constitutional democracy.
Upcoming Events in Ketchikan:
Protest: Mayday for Democracy
Saturday, May 3 | 12–1 PM
Ketchikan Federal Building
Make your voice heard. Join us for a peaceful protest against Trump’s unconstitutional actions. Bring a sign, a friend, and your commitment to democracy. (See website)
Meeting for all Voices for Reason Supporters
Saturday, May 10 | 10:30 AM
Ketchikan Public Library – Large Meeting Room
Get insights on writing effective letters to the editor. Help strategize our efforts to defend democracy. Meet the organizers. Light refreshments will be served. (See website)
What We’re Working On
We aim to provide a real check on Trump’s authoritarianism by influencing both public discourse and the makeup of Congress. We anticipate an Alaska Senate seat and our House of Representative seat will be in play in 2026. Our goal is to convince independents and persuadable Alaskan voters that Trump needs a substantial congressional check on his unconstitutional and unlawful abuse of power.
Current Efforts
Democracy Bingo Cards: Small daily actions, big impact. Print yours and start today.
Letter Writing Campaign: Help us submit weekly letters to the Ketchikan Daily News defending democracy. We’ll guide you through it. Learn more at our May 10 event.
Public Awareness: We’re a central hub of information to promote rallies and community events advocating a healthy constitutional democracy and protesting Trump’s abuse of power and congress’s acquiescence to that abuse.
Future Efforts
Looking ahead to 2026, we plan to:
Launch a large scale postcard campaign to Alaska voters.
Host a town hall this summer on how Trump’s executive actions affect Ketchikan.
Encourage conversations that find common ground with friends, family, and acquaintances regarding the importance of a constitutional democracy.
Grow our network—because the more of us there are, the more we can accomplish together.
Stay in Touch
You received this email because you expressed interest in helping defend democracy. We’ll only contact you when we have meaningful updates. If you’d prefer not to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe.
Questions or ideas? Reach us at info@voicesforreasonpac.org