BUFFALO, N.Y. — From a chilly morning start in small towns to the capital of New York state, people from all walks of life turned out for Saturday’s “No Kings” rallies.
Rallies organized by the No Kings network opposed to President Donald Trump were held in cities and communities across the U.S., with an aim of getting people out to vote early in the midterm elections.
“Our fear as a community is making sure these elections are not tampered with, but also that people have the opportunity to vote and all the information that comes with it so it’s not inaccessible,” said Stephanie Mejia, the executive director of Western New York Peace Center and a member of Buffalo United Coalition, the organizing force behind many of Saturday’s rallies. “So that’s why this is a rally. So, we can gather people together and really bring community together.”
Voting certainly is top of mind for people like Sarah Rodriguez. The No Kings Hamburg organizer dressed as a 20th-century suffragette on Saturday. She was planted on Main Street, waving a sign that read, “Use Your Voice or Lose Your Choice.”
“Our ancestors fought for years and dealt with a lot of hardship to give women the right to vote,” said Rodriguez. “Don’t let that go to waste. Get out there and use that right that our ancestors fought so hard for.”
Some Republicans aren’t impressed with this shift in focus.
“I think for the people that are protesting, they’re professional protesters,” said Paul Bergdorf, chairman for Albany County Republicans. “They protest Iran. They protest Russia, they protest Venezuela, and now they move on to whatever the issue du jour is.”
Bergdorf believes that these rallies will embolden Republicans in the midterms.
“I think they are a wonderful reminder of the decisions that people are going to make,” Bergdorf said. “Whether they’re going to have folks who stand for common sense and the people who are on the right side of the 80-20 issues, as opposed to those who want to impose their will on you by any means necessary.”
Despite the opposition, Richard Lipsitz, president of Western New York Area Labor Federation AFL-CIO, believes that voters of all persuasions will turn out this November.
“I anticipate a large vote on the 3rd of November,” said Lipsitz. “I anticipate that participation in party politics being one thing, participation in voting being another, that both those things are going to increase in activity no matter who wins the election.”
For attendees, the rallies serve another purpose: a chance to foster community.
“When we come and get together, it gives us this whole sense of we are not alone,” said Joanne May, an attendee at No Kings Hamburg. “When we find when we’re listening to the news, and we see and get so maybe depressed or upset or frustrated, when you come here to know that you are [with] like-minded people, it is really enforcing and it’s really hopeful.”
Early voting begins and voter registration applications must be submitted by Oct. 24 to vote in the general election. You can find more information about your local elections by visiting elections.ny.gov.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.