On the second morning of the Ukraine Action Summit in Washington DC, the Pennsylvania delegation visited the office of Senator John Fetterman. He is unequivocal in his support of Ukraine in its war against Russian invasion and aggression.
In two days we visited most of the 19 members of the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation. Fetterman was the most clear and emphatic in his support, as he has been from the first day of the invasion on February 24, 2022.
This is the fourth summit I have participated in since October of last year. Each time we visit Fetterman's office, I am revitalized in my work as a political activist.
Much of the work of political activism shows no obvious results. I have been to many protests and marches where I can see no difference before and after. But the longest protest I was involved in had the wonderful result of opening the door to Fetterman's election to the Senate.
From November of 2016 to January of 2023, I was part of an intrepid group who showed up in front of the Philadelphia office of Senator Pat Toomey of Pa., year round in all weather. In 2016, Toomey promised if elected he would have open town hall meetings in Philadelphia. We started "Tuesdays with Toomey" to hold him to that promise. In our primary goal, we failed. Toomey never held an open town hall, anywhere.
But our protests, at every Toomey office across the state, eventually led Toomey to not seek reelection, nor to seek the governorship. Will Bunch, the politics correspondent at the Philadelphia Inquirer said "implacable opposition" in part led Toomey to decide not to run.
In a 50-50 state like Pa., incumbency is a real advantage. Because Toomey decided not to run, Fetterman did not have to run against an incumbent. And then (thank you Trump) Fetterman did not have to run against a viable candidate. Trump's pick, Dr. Oz, was the Republican candidate. Fetterman won!
Fetterman spoke twice at Tuesdays with Toomey in Philadelphia while he was serving as Lieutenant Governor of Pa. We were delighted when he ran for the Senate, more delighted that we could in some small way contribute to his victory.
And our reward is all the Senator John Fetterman has done to support Ukraine.
