Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution (FCCPR) would like to say thank you to all who made Saturday’s “No Kings” march and rally such an amazing experience. Three hundred and eighty-nine people signed up to attend the march through www.mobilize .com, so we expected that up to 500 might actually attend. Nearly 3,000 came out, nearly six times what we expected, a recognition of the outrage, concern, anger, and fear generated by the Trump administration’s attacks on our communities, our institutions, and our democracy.

Despite these concerns, the march and rally were peaceful and joyous; our larger western Massachusetts community came together in Greenfield (as they did in Orange, Northampton, Ashfield, and Springfield) in solidarity. The line of the march moved slowly along the length of the sidewalk between Energy Park and the Common. Marchers were patient, cooperative, and passionate about standing up for our community and country. We would also like to give a shout out to the Greenfield Police Department, who were very supportive and helpful in keeping the march and rally peaceful and safe for all.

Our No Kings march and rally was one of more than 100 events across the state, and 2,000 such events across the country, with an estimated 11 million people coming out to protest the military birthday party that the president gave himself (and that we paid for), but more importantly to protest the many unconstitutional and violent actions undertaken by this administration and the unwillingness of the Republicans in the legislature to do their jobs. It was exciting and reassuring to know that democracy is not dead. Increasingly, the public is coming awake and to know that we will be back, peacefully and persistently until our democracy is restored.

Doug Selwyn, Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution

Greenfield