As the pace of events in Los Angeles quickens this week, with the Trump administration and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California facing off over the former’s deployment of National Guard and United States Marine troops to quell protests against immigration enforcement actions, East Hampton Town and municipalities throughout the country will see what is being called a nationwide day of defiance.
Saturday’s “No Kings” events, coinciding with Flag Day, the president’s 79th birthday, the 250th anniversary of the United States Army’s founding, and a military parade in Washington, D.C., will happen at East Hampton Town Hall, Steinbeck Park in Sag Harbor, and Cooper’s Beach in Southampton, as well as in Orient and Riverhead.
“On June 14 — Flag Day — President Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday,” according to the website nokings.org. “A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else.”
“No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance. From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism — and show the world what democracy really looks like.”
People for Democracy East Hampton, a new group that is a chapter of the Indivisible movement, is organizing the East Hampton action, following its May 31 “Speak Out for Democracy,” also at Town Hall. As on that day, Saturday’s gathering will start with an “open mic” session and music near the parking lot behind Town Hall.
“We usually refresh people’s memories about the Constitution or Declaration of Independence,” Barbara Burnside of People for Democracy East Hampton said, adding that she is expecting a large crowd on Saturday.
At noon, participants will line Pantigo Road in front of Town Hall, holding signs and inviting passing motorists to sound their horns and wave. People for Democracy will have some signs available for those who do not have their own.
“So far, it’s been a joyful and positive and really encouraging experience,” Ms. Burnside said. “We’ve been really glad to see there are fewer and fewer negative responses.”
It all comes amid another mixed message from the federal government: A Department of Homeland Security webpage published last week to “expose sanctuary jurisdictions” included East Hampton among more than 500 cities and counties. The page, which was soon removed, was published as part of an executive order signed by the president in April that required the attorney general, in coordination with the secretary of homeland security, to publish “a list of states and local jurisdictions that obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
Last winter, both town and East Hampton Village officials stated that local police would not take on the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, but added that they are legally bound to honor and support efforts to serve a warrant on a criminal matter that is signed by a judge. The position of both municipalities is that they are not defying federal immigration law.
Ms. Burnside said she intends to remind local officials that they, too, took an oath. “We want to support all our local governments to uphold their oath to the Constitution,” she said. “I think about governance instead of government, which is another way to say, ‘I don’t care how you vote, I want to be sure you can vote.’ ”
In Sag Harbor, the No Kings gathering will start at 11 a.m. It will include a performance by the Fistys, a local band that was profiled in The Star in April and whose lyrics are largely drawn from current events.
In Orient, organizers plan a parade “to make fun of the wannabe king on his birthday,” with participants encouraged to wear costumes and carry signs and noisemakers. The parade is planned for 10 to 11 a.m., with its location shared upon signup at mobilize.us.
Another gathering happens from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Riverhead Town Hall. Those who will march in Orient have been encouraged to continue on to Riverhead.
In Southampton, a “Shut Down Billionaires Lane” protest will be from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Because of its later start, “people can attend more than one demonstration,” Ms. Burnside said.
