In January of 2025, a hundred Republican, Democratic, and politically independent residents of Knox County met at the Rockland Public Library to discuss a jarring shift in our nation’s government.

We recognized that although we hold different views on specific issues, we agree on seven core values.  We oppose authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption.  We support inclusive democracy, equity, and freedom.  We are committed to nonviolence in our actions.

We named our new group The Audacity for our willingness, despite our many differences, to take creative action together for political change. Our informal mascot is a cat, reflecting the acronym of Creative Action Together.

Since then, we have grown in number and activity, which includes:

• Assembling every Saturday at noon in Rockland’s Chapman Park to peaceably demonstrate for these values. Our first demonstration held 20 people; our largest assembly in October held more than 2,000.
• Organizing citizen testimony on multiple policies at the Maine State House and Rockland City Council.
• Presenting a petition of 1,089 Knox County residents calling on Maine’s members of Congress to hold an in-person town hall in Knox County open to all.  (Thank you to Rep. Pingree for quickly agreeing.  Senators King and Collins, we’re still waiting.)
• Creating and displaying pieces of visual art, includingarendition of the signs of fascism identified by historian Timothy Snyder.
• Holding a dance, three marches, four street theater actions, an entry in the Thomaston Independence Day Parade, and a weekly food collection drive for our local non-denominational food bank.
• Supporting postal workers struggling under budget cuts.
• Publishing a weekly newsletter on local issues and opportunities for civic engagement (to subscribe, send an email to contact@audacitycat.com).
• Raising funds for immigrant advocacy groups and nonprofit justice-related local organizations.

To meet the historic challenge facing our nation, we all must take principled public action. We welcome you to join us every Saturday at noon in Chapman Park, and to bring your new ideas. 

This website is a place for us to coordinate, share information, promote political action, and enable discussion. Posts made on behalf of the group reflect our plans. Posts made by individuals expressing their opinions reflect their individual opinions, reflecting the American tradition of robust free speech, and do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Audacity as a group.