Meanwhile in Jackson, Mississippi of all places. . .

[Stargleamer]

This is in Jackson, Mississippi. Not Seattle, or Los Angeles, or Manhattan, or San Francisco. This is in Jackson, Mississippi.

The pendulum swings.

— kenofseattle (@kenofseattle.bsky.social) 2026-07-03T22:09:59.742Z

[pat_k]

1. Billboards are FANTASTIC!!

I've promoted billboard campaigns as a way to organize locally for decades!!

Depending on the market, they can be downright cheap. The biggest barrier I've found is settling on a great design. Once you have that, campaigns to raise funds from local people create connections that last. And people who have given even a dollar to get that sign up see a concrete result of their contribution. And that inspires further action, greater hope, and more engagement.

[underpants]

3. Ted Turner started his media empire with 1 billboard..the 2...then a UHF station

[paleotn]

5. Good old WTBS. It was rather cheesy back in the day...

like all UHF channels. Reruns of Gomer Pyle, Hogans Heroes and Star Trek. Those were the days! And 24/7 news? Who the hell is going to watch the news in the middle of the night, or the middle of the day for that matter. Apparently a lot of people. He was an innovator. I'll give him that.

[3catwoman3]

2. Mississippi?

Dang!

[pat_k]

4. Don't write off Mississippi!

My best friend in the late 70's early 80's, was April. She spent her early years in Little Rock, MS (Yes, MS, not AK). It's a tiny place about 40 miles from Meridian, MS. Her mother left MS long before I met April. April grew up in Topanga Canyon (and if you know the culture in So. Cal in the 70's, Topanga was unique).

Anyway, April was my roommate in West Los Angeles when her mother inherited the family home in Little Rock. April went back to help out. I spent a few weeks down there on a couple of occasions.

It was an immersion in a different world for me. A rich, nuanced, frustrating, and very strange world that was completely at odds with any stereotype. The family had history in the community. A woman who I think was a child of a former slave of the family was a friend.
Nobody had any problem with April's gay older sister.

April ended up re-locating "back home." I lost touch for lengthy periods of time, but my partner and I visited and stayed for a couple weeks in 2005, so I got another glimpse into life there. April died way too young in 2010.

I'm not sure that I have a point, but the thing that was most notable to me was that there was a general "politics isn't for the likes of us" attitude -- until something pissed them off or got their attention. And then they could be a formidable bunch of people.

I suspect that the current insanity has engaged people the Republicans don't even realize exist.

[paleotn]

6. $4+ gas has a way of doing that for average folks.

Wonderful story. I grew up in the south and you're right, it is nuanced. I guess the meanness that started in the mid-90's kind of overshadowed that and at times I lose sight of it. One of mom's cousins was gay and everyone knew it. But Hill was Hill and everyone loved him. Hill was short for Hilliard. He and my maternal grandfather were the funniest people I've ever known. When those two teamed up it was a rolling in the floor riot! And a bit off color at times. I remember my grandmother's most said phrase was...Jess!! Language!! I miss those days.

[BattleRow]

7. MAGA...

Many Are Going Away

[Joinfortmill]

8. Good sign.

[niyad]

9. Fantastic!!!

[AllaN01Bear]

10. ding. this .

[IronLionZion]

11. Jackson is a blue city. Their congressional district voted Harris in 2024 by 21 points

and Biden, Obama, etc.

[Marcuse]

12. Jackson: A blue capital city besieged by a red state legislature, a red Governor and a red Congressional delegation