Defending Democracy through

Public Art, Community Engagement and Civic Education

Hi! My name is Kim and I created the DEMOCRACY StopTheSteal.US (DSTS.US) project (https://www.democracystopthesteal.us) because I believe the United States is entering a dark and dangerous moment in its history. I could not just stand by and watch our Democracy be stolen. I had to act.

I decided I wanted to engage people with public art (highway banner installations) and offer free civic education (Authoritarian Red Flags workshops) to help Americans recognize and understand how the very foundations of our democratic system of government are under real and significant threat.

The DEMOCRACY StopTheSteal.US project aims to:

Conceived and developed in Rhode Island, DSTS.US is a two-part project. The Phase 1 fund-raising cycle will support the initial build-out stage. In this stage, with help and support from other individuals I am producing DSTS.US banners, developing the Authoritarian Red Flags workshops, building the digital infrastructure and networking to support, promote and raise awareness of the project.

The second phase of the project begins in spring 2026. The DSTS.US project will travel to communities large and small across the United States engaging with Americans from across the political spectrum.

The DEMOCRACY StopTheSteal.US mass banner hanging events will capture the community's attention and validate people's discomfort, unease and confusion around the current state of democracy in the United States.

The free Authoritarian Red Flags workshops - using current and historical examples - will educate Americans about the strategies and tactics used by authoritarian leaders in the US, and around the world, to dismantle democratic forms of government, amass control and steal power from the People.

Finally, the DSTS.US project will offer ways and resources for participants to stay involved and contribute to building out the national grassroots network of passive, non-violent resistance in the run-up to the 2026 mid-term elections.

By encouraging people to present the Authoritarian Red Flags workshops to others in their area, or producing and displaying DSTS.US banners, or joining or organizing local chapters of national networks such as Indivisible, MoveOn, 50501; the DSTS.US project intends to be one of the thousands of individuals and organizations planting and cultivating the seeds of resistance across the United States in 2025 and 2026.

The Budget

To date, I have put approximately $2,000 of my own funds into the development of this project. I am hoping to raise $5,000 in this first round of fundraising.

Budget - Fundraising: Phase 1

AMOUNT_____DATE___________ITEM

$2,250_______ 11/7/25-1/7/26_____Media TA, production & consulting

$1,000_______ 11/4/25-3/15/26____Promo mat, printing, banner produ

$750 ________11/4/25-3/15/26 ____Author. Red Flags wksp developmt

$400 ________10/3/25 & 10/14/25 __CrookedCon conference tickets

$250 _________11/6/25-11/9/25_____Travel to/from conference, food

$350 _________11/4/25-3/15/26_____Misc expenses

$5,000_________11/4/25-3/15/26____Total

Any funds raised that exceed the expected costs of this phase of the project will be put aside and utilized for Phase 2 when the DSTS.US project goes on the road in the spring of 2026.

Please note, NONE of the funds raised will be used to pay or compensate me, the project creator and director. All of my time and energy are as a volunteer.

Historical and real-time information on income and expenses for the DSTS.US project will be accessible through DEMOCRACYStopTheSteal.US beginning December 2025.