Weekly Email 3/23/26

We're kicking off this week with a little inspiration. As we explore the right to protest and peaceful assembly, who better to turn to than one of history's greatest champions of both, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Take a moment to watch these 7 Inspiring Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes to Live By and let his words set the tone for this week's conversation. 

Topic of the Week: The Right to Protest

Dear Restore the Balance Community,

Last week, we focused on finding some common ground and working collaboratively with others, all with a goal of making our democratic system work better for all of us. And now we are going to focus on what would appear to stand in opposition to that goal: protesting. How can the two possibly serve the same goal? After all, protesting or resisting are "negative" actions that don't serve to bring us together, right? But what if protesting does serve a constructive purpose, when what we are protesting are, in fact, the forces that try to tear us apart?

The right to peacefully assemble is guaranteed in our Constitution. Our "freedom to assemble" is accorded the same importance as our freedom of speech.

One of the pre-eminent values nearly all Americans share is each citizen's freedom to think and to speak for themselves, even if it means speaking out against an action of their government.

For Further Reading & Viewing:

• The First Amendment & Freedom of Assembly — Constitution Center

• Freedom of Assembly and Association — UN Human Rights

• TEDx Talk on Protest

Take Action

Find a protest or rally near you — No Kings

Upcoming Events

April 1 — RMPBS Make a Circle | 5:30–8:30 p.m. Central Library, Mesa County Libraries, Free sandwiches, salads & drinks provided. First-come, first-served.

April 4 — "We the People: A Program on Defending the Constitution" | 1:00–3:00 p.m. CMU University Center Ballroom. Register here

April 11 — West Slope People's Forum | 2:00–4:00 p.m.

Avalon Theatre, Downtown Grand Junction

April 15 — RTB Social Hour | 4:30 p.m.Feisty Pint,

359 Colorado Ave., Grand Junction | No RSVP needed! 

April 21 — RTB Roundtable: Healthcare | 7:00–9:00 p.m.

Redlands Community Center, 2463 Broadway, Grand Junction. Space is limited, reservations required. RSVP here

On the Radar: Local Government Meetings

• Board of County Commissioners: Tuesdays @ 9am

• Grand Junction City Council: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 5:30pm

• Town of Palisade Board of Trustees Meeting: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 6pm

• Fruita City Council: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 7pm

• D51 School Board: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 5pm (public comments accepted on 3rd Tuesdays only)

• Mesa County Library Board: Last Thursdays @ 5:30pm

• Public Health Board: Monthly Tuesdays @ 3pm

RTB Member Insights

Here are some recommendations from our members:

• Jesse Welles: Keeping the Spirit of American Folk Music Alive. A beautiful reminder of the storytelling tradition at the heart of American music. Jesse Welles carries on the folk tradition of speaking truth to power through song, fitting for a week focused on the right to have your voice heard.

Thank you to all who have submitted photos, podcasts, and video recommendations. We will publish a recommendation in each category every week. Please keep them coming!

Want to Contribute to Our Weekly Newsletter?

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You can share resources, suggest topics you'd like RTB to address, or submit photos from around our community. All submissions can be anonymous or attributed to you; it's your choice.

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Let's learn from each other and build a more informed community together.

Don't forget to vote in 2026: June primaries, November general.