Please take a moment to sign this petition…….
Dr. Shannon Joslin, a biologist and bat researcher who has passionately worked at Yosemite for years as an employee of the National Park Service, was recently terminated by the Trump administration. On their own free time, SJ and six others climbed El Capitan in Yosemite and took part in a tradition of hanging a flag at the top. Hanging flags off El Capitan has occurred in the past without consequences. In February, demonstrators hung an upside-down U.S. flag, often symbolizing a distress call, on El Capitan to draw attention to the mass firings by the Trump administration. And last year, a group “Climbers with Palestine” hung a flag in protest of the war on Gaza.
Why was Dr. Joslin fired? For having the temerity to hang a Trans Flag on El Capitan. Dr. Joslin planned the climb and participated in the action on their own free time. They also took down the flag voluntarily after a couple of hours. They never thought the display of acceptance and love would result in their losing their job. But in an effort to make an example out of them, the Trump administration is not only firing Dr. Joslin, they are threatening criminal charges.
The Trump administration has tightened restrictions around protest in an effort to suppress speech criticizing the government. And the day after the trans flag was displayed on El Capitan, Yosemite’s acting superintendent Ray McPadden signed a rule prohibiting people from hanging large banners, flags, or signs in nearly all areas of the park.
The penalty? Up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for groups.
The Trump administration is trying to suppress, intimidate, and silence the LGBTQ community. Their efforts to eliminate transgender people continue, to the point where they are removing any and all references to us from official sites and documents. An example is the removal of all references to “transgender”, “bisexual”, or “queer” from the Stonewall website. But now, they are even going after those who would show support for us.
Please follow the link below and sign the petition:
https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/joslin
Remember, all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.