Saturday, March 28 in Rockland, Maine
Sponsored by The Audacity: Creative Action Together
March down Broadway starting at 11 AM
- Park at Bay View Square (Hannaford lot), Oceanside HS, and MacDougal Park to participate in this non-obstructive march; Audacity volunteers will be at each of these locations to coordinate march participation
Rally from Noon – 2 PM in Chapman Park
March at 2 PM to the Knox County Courthouse on Union Street as a symbolic seat of government, for a petition for redress of grievances. We will have a microphone and speaker and will identify grievances for government to redress, with a call-and-response format that will involve individual and crowd voices.
PRINCIPLES
We diverge on many issues and have many different backgrounds and ideas — this is what democracy looks like. But our movement and this day of action agree on the following:
- We oppose authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption.
- We support inclusive democracy, equity, and freedom.
- We are nonviolent in our actions. Nonviolence at the core of both Audacity CAT & the national group that called for a third No Kings Day.
The march starts 11 AM at Bay View Square (Hannaford Lot, Route 17) and follows Broadway, Limerock, and Main Street to Chapman Park. Walkers from Oceanside High School or MacDougal Park can join along the route. Parking is marked on the map with red “P”, and the route is highlighted in yellow. Audacity volunteers in fluorescent vests will guide the walk & answer questions.
PARKING / ROUTE / WHAT TO BRING / WHAT NOT TO BRING
- Bring Maine-Responsible Gear — We know it’s “spring” now, but the forecast says it’s going to be at or slightly below freezing, so don’t forget your coat and hat! If you get thirsty, bring a reuseable bottle full of water. Pack the headache meds. Whatever it takes for you to be safe and comfortable when you’re out for a few hours.
- Don’t Bring items or behaviors intended to escalate the situation toward violence. Even if it’s legal for you to carry, we suggest you leave your weapons at home and help keep the demonstration fully expressive but nonviolent. We will have yellow-vested peacekeepers in the crowd who have been trained in situational response. We strongly suggest that you avoid responding to provocateurs (it’s what they want) and find a yellow-vested peacekeeper for help.
- Bring Signs, Costumes and Other Creative Stuff! WE MEAN IT!!! Hankering to get into that inflatable T-rex costume? Go for it! Got just the right words for a sign? Bring it! Got a nonviolent resistance line dance to teach? Go the heck for that! People bringing their biggest selves to the civic square for full expression of liberty is what democracy is all about. Folks will cheer you on.
- Bring Friends. If we are going to peacefully prevail against this surge toward a bigoted autocracy of cronies, we’ll need the help of every person we can get. Send ten friends a text and ask them to come along. It’s a great reason to host a get-together with your ten friends after the protest!
WHY ENGAGE IN NONVIOLENT PUBLIC PROTEST?
- The research of Political Science Professor Erica Chenoweth demonstrates that nonviolent protest is twice as likely as violent protest to result in the downfall of a repressive regime, and that when more than 3.5% of the population of a country is involved in public nonviolent protest, repressive regimes in history have universally been ended.
- One goal of public protest is to shift the “Overton Window” — the public perception of what sort of political opinions and behaviors are acceptable or unacceptable. When authoritarians push to make their behavior acceptable, public protest shifts the Overton Window of acceptability back toward classic democratic activity — such as the First Amendment activity of assembling to peaceably petition for redress of grievance.
- Another goal of public protest is to shift the media narrative — by making the news story one of resistance, we hope to bolster the courage of politicians to themselves in turn resist. As the old saying goes, when the people lead, the “leaders” will follow.
POSTERS — PRINT ‘EM UP, STICK ‘EM ALL AROUND TOWN
SOCIAL MEDIA ICONS: SHARE ON FB, INSTA, BLUESKY & MORE
PRESERVE THE VOTE TRIFOLD BROCHURE
- Democracy 2050 Trifold Brochure focusing on Voting Resources: PDF