The Little Activist

A New Activist has hit the streets of the United States. She is tough as nails and cute as a pink and rainbow pony. That activist is Anya Pulis.

picture by Sarah Shoemaker

Anya is my daughter. She is an amazing, independent, and intelligent 8-year-old girl. This past couple of weeks she has had the time of her life. We arrived in New Orleans on June 26th. Anya began getting to know the other activists that we were staying with in preparation for the Libertarian National Convention.

Over the past few months she has had the pleasure of meeting several members of the LP. I work for Adam Kokesh, so she and Adam are old friends. She also has become friends with Stacy Cook, Adam’s girlfriend. She met Stacy at Elf Fest when “No Force- 1” landed in Indiana. Anya also met Joshua Smith, candidate for Chair of the party. Most importantly she met Baloo, Adam’s dog, and they became friends.

Shortly after arriving in NOLA, Anya went to work, putting smiles on the faces of the people who were staying at our Air B&B. My wife, Amber, Anya and I checked in at the convention on Saturday. My wife and I were alternate delegates from Indiana. My daughter was sad that she did not get a badge. Of course we bought her a lanyard and she went around collecting buttons to fill it with. Her top choices were a ribbon that read “Taxation is Theft”, a button that said “I am already against the next war”, and a peace sign button.

After a long day of talking with people at the convention we found out that all three of us might be able to become Delegates in Washington State. Anya was excited. She knew that this would mean that she would be able to vote. In the Libertarian Party there are no age restrictions. It was serious business for my little elementary school student. She had to decide who to vote for.

Obviously, her friend Joshua Smith would get her vote for chair. I was so proud of her as she shouted “Let’s get to work!” during the chair debate. Jumping up and down during the debate she could not contain her support for the rising visionary. Now it was time to pick other candidates. The secretary position was easy for her. Caryn Ann Harlos easily won her support. Anya loved her pink hair, liberty crown, and drive for freedom. Eventually, she would also decide on Alex Merced and his positive unifying message for Vice-Chair. The next day she in a facebook video would endorse her candidates including Adam Kokesh for 2020.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10216435006492886&id=1388079647

Sunday, started with a march. Anya, dressed in pink, arrived at the New Orleans VA to march in “The March of the Dead Veterans.” The roughly 2 mile march would begin at the VA and end at the convention. The purpose was to raise awareness about veteran suicide. Twenty veterans a day commit suicide and neither our media nor government seems to care. Anya certainly cares. She marched right behind the veterans and even helped give them water. At one point she stepped on a fire ant mound. This little activist was being bitten on her lower legs while trying to walk. Once we managed to get them off of her did she stop? Nope, she marched forward with strength and poise. I am so proud of her.

picture by Sarah Shoemaker

picture by Sarah Shoemaker

picture by Sarah Shoemaker

That evening, Anya listened to the speakers at the Black outreach panel. She had already met activist La Tonya Whittington of Houston NORML. Former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and Black Guns Matter activist Maj Toure also got to meet Anya. The panel was amazing. She will be influenced by these wonderful people.

When Josh lost, Anya was crushed. She cried. Eventually, when she saw him, she ran to him and gave him a big hug. It became her mission to see him elected as an At Large member of the LNC, which he was. Her mood improved as her other candidates won, first Alex Merced, then Caryn Ann Harlos. This was her first experience with party business and she was so happy to have participated as the LP’s youngest ever Delegate.

Some families are involved with sports, others are interested in games. Our family is interested in helping make the world more free. Those in government better get ready for my feisty little activist because she is coming for them and she might just be cute enough to dissolve their power without them realizing what she is up to.