A new activist group, People for Democracy East Hampton, will rally on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Town Hall.
“Speak Out for Democracy” is the name of the group’s upcoming action. At 11, participants will gather by the parking lot behind Town Hall, where members of the community have been invited to speak about how they have been personally impacted by the Trump administration’s actions in the past four months and share their concerns about matters such as threats to essential services, the environment, veterans’ services, migrants, and health care.
From noon until 1 p.m., the group will gather with signs along Pantigo Road in front of Town Hall, the site of three “Honk for Democracy” gatherings earlier this year.
“We appreciate your dedication to defending the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the democratic principles upon which the United States was founded,” reads the mission statement of People for Democracy East Hampton, a part of the Indivisible movement. “Your commitment to exercising the right to peaceful assembly underscores the vital role of nonviolent protest in promoting civic engagement and protecting democratic institutions from authoritarian threats. Such efforts are essential in maintaining a free and open society where citizens can voice their concerns and advocate for their rights within the framework of the law.”
Saturday’s rally comes in advance of another happening two weeks later, a national day of defiance called No Kings Day. June 14 is both President Trump’s 79th birthday and the day of a planned military parade in Washington, D.C., a long-held desire of the president, which coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States Army.
People for Democracy East Hampton will stage another action on June 14 at Town Hall, and will encourage participants to join a larger rally scheduled for later that day in Southampton Town.