WHERE WILL WE BE IN YEAR 251? | |
As we prepare to mark America’s 250th birthday, many of us aren’t in a celebratory mood. In just 18 months in office, Trump and his collaborators have inflicted deep and widespread damage on our 250-year-old experiment in democracy. The onslaught on our institutions and the rule of law has been relentless. Some might even say the wounds are fatal.
But here’s a different view of what’s really happening: After being battered during the first few months, we are now better organized than ever and fighting back. I recently attended a Zoom call with organizations and funders who convened to discuss the emergency created by Trump’s multi-pronged effort to shut down voting in Ohio (see article below). Rather than spending time lamenting Trump’s actions, participants focused on their own work: opposing Trump’s maneuvers while continuing to register voters, protect election workers, and litigate against executive orders. One leader put it in terms that almost sounded Churchillian: “We will not be shocked or awed.” And neither should we.
Public opinion, even among many former Trump supporters, has turned sharply against him. Democrats are winning state-level races that are crucial for securing statehouses or blocking Republicans from gaining supermajorities. Courts are blocking many of Trump’s efforts to undermine elections. A wave of young people and newcomers—of all genders, backgrounds, and communities—are running for public office, inspired by the belief that our elected representatives can do better than many of the incumbents who have held office for decades.
Good things are happening—but we can do more if we stay focused on our work, whatever form it takes, locally here in Connecticut or remotely in other states. And, to the extent you are able, please consider donating to organizations on the front lines of this fight. (See article below for ideas on where to give now.)
With awe in our power together,
Your Faithful Editor
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In This Issue
- Celebrate 250 With Us
- Knock Doors for Maria Horn
- Volunteer for CT State Candidate Aaron Zimmer
- Join a Stand-out Protest in Your Community
- Other Upcoming Events
- Where to Give Now
- Ohio: Trump's Laboratory for the Midterms and Beyond
- Letter from Georgia
- In Case You Missed It
- Get These Other Sources For Action
- This Month from A.R.T. (Art Rejects Tyranny)
- Did You Miss a Newsletter?
- Share Your News
- Tell Us What You Think
- Spread The Word
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CELEBRATE 250 WITH US
Patriots, consider spending Saturday, July 4th in Salisbury by participating in one or more of our planned activities. These are opportunities to celebrate our great country while reminding our community that we must stand up to protect it.
The Weekly Action on the Town Green from 10-11am
Join your friends and neighbors to denounce the policies of the Trump regime. PLEASE NOTE TIME CHANGE FROM OUR USUAL WEEKLY PROTESTS.
A Celebration of American Democracy - Pop-up event from 11am-noon
Please join us on your way to the Town Grove for the Salisbury Association's Fourth of July commemoration. We'll be standing along Route 41 and Ethan Allen Street and Route 44 and Holley Street to remind folks who pass by of the foundational values and principles of our nation. Join this action wearing your red, white and blue and either borrow one of our signs or make your own expressing America’s promises: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, liberty and justice for all, free speech makes America great, etc., all positive affirmations of our republic’s bedrock. In respect for the holiday, signs should be non-partisan and non-political. We’d love 20+ people at each of these pop-up locations.
Liberty Tree Project
The Salisbury Association is sponsoring their 50th celebration at the Town Grove starting at 12pm. There will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence, a boat parade, and a concert by the Salisbury Band. You're invited to create contributions to our Liberty Tree. Please write what American freedom and democracy means to you on a ribbon and tie it to the tree. (We will provide the ribbons.) The resulting community Liberty Tree will later be displayed in a public area.
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KNOCK DOORS FOR MARIA HORN
Maria Horn is kicking off her reelection campaign, and she’s looking for our help reaching voters through doorknocking. Since taking office in 2019, Maria has been a steadfast voice for our communities in Hartford on local, state, and national issues.
Her campaign is organizing doorknocking events across several towns. Let's thank her by showing up to help. Please review the list of towns and dates below, and then click to sign up.
Doorknocking is fun and rewarding -- and one of the most effective ways to engage voters. You’ll talk with neighbors about the issues that matter to them and share information about Maria’s work. If you’re new, don’t worry — you’ll receive training and all the materials you need. First time volunteers are paired with experienced partners. You'll meet at a volunteer host’s home for a short training and Q&A before heading out in pairs. You’ll receive a clipboard with your “turf” (a map of the homes you’ll visit) and a sample script. Afterwards, finish, everyone returns to the host’s home for snacks and to share stories from the doorknocking. Maria's campaign makes it welcoming, supportive, and enjoyable. Your time makes a real difference.
Cornwall - Sunday, June 28 from 12-3pm
Kent - Sunday, July 12 from 1-4pm
Goshen - Sunday, July 19 from 12-3pm
Sharon - Sunday, August 16 from 12-3pm
Falls Village - Sunday, August 23 from 12-3pm
North Canaan - Sunday, August 30 from 12-3pm
Norfolk - Sunday, September 27 from 12-3pm
Salisbury - Sunday, October 4 from 1-4pm
Washington - Sunday, October 11 from 1-4pm
Can't doorknock? Consider helping Maria by signing up to phonebank. Her campaign is hosting virtual phonebanks (VPBs) from now until Election Day. You make calls to voters in the district from your home using your computer/tablet and your phone. The campaign will provide all the training you need, including the scripts, phone numbers, and other information for making the calls. You can schedule a time to make calls anytime that works for your schedule. It's a fun and easy way to share with your neighbors your enthusiasm for Maria and the other candidates on the Democratic ticket. Click to sign up.
Questions? Contact Cindy Barrett at 860 781 5066 or cbingoshen57@gmail.com.
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VOLUNTEER FOR CT STATE CANDIDATE AARON ZIMMER
Aaron Zimmer is running for the CT State Senate in our district (30th District). This is a seat that Democrats have not held for nearly 50 years, but this time could be different. The campaign is shifting into high gear. Canvasses are starting and the digital teams are mobilizing. Volunteers across the district are stepping up because they know what's at stake. Aaron is now actively recruiting volunteers to knock doors or call voters (training provided), share about Aaron’s campaign on social media, be a driver, and other important tasks. Grassroots campaigns don't win because of one candidate. They win because an army of neighbors decides to do something. Please sign up to volunteer.
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JOIN A STAND-OUT PROTEST IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Keep building the pro-democracy momentum that's sweeping our country. Show up at one of the protests happening every week in our area. Bring a sign or a flag if you can—but what matters most is simply showing up.
Saturdays
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Salisbury - 11am-noon at the Salisbury Town Green at the White Hart Inn, 15 Under Mountain Road, Salisbury.
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Torrington - 11am-noon at Coe Park, 101 Litchfield Street, Torrington.
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Cornwall - 12 noon (now only 30 minutes) at the triangle intersection of Routes 4 and 7 South in Cornwall Bridge.
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New Milford - 12 noon (now only 30 minutes) - Protest and Food/Diaper Drive at the Old East Street School near CVS, 50 East Street, New Milford.
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Kent - 2-3pm - At 50 North Main Street, north of the Welcome Center.
Fridays
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Standout Protests in Sheffield (MA) - 4-5pm at Main Street (Rt. 7), across from Roberto’s Pizza. Contact Ricky Bernstein for details at rickypenrose@gmail.com.
Other Days
The Berkshire Visibility Brigade is holding standouts on the Mass Pike overpasses in Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, and Lee (MA) on Sundays, Wednesday, and Thursdays. Click for details and sign-up.
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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursdays July 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 at 2-3:30pm - Postcarding at the White Hart. Saving Democracy's postcard season has begun! The group will meet in the Garden Room at the White Hart. You are welcome to sit and write in the Garden Room, take your cards to a table on the lawn, or just stop by to pick up a packet to complete another time. (Kind reminder: the very generous and accommodating White Hart staff have asked us not to use the Dining Room for postcarding.) Sarah Zarbock and John Hoffman will also have a box with packets of postcards on the bench by their front door and you can grab a bunch during daylight hours...no need to ring the bell, just take a packet or two from the box. They are at 37 Chatfield Drive in Lakeville. To receive updates and future event information, join the Saving Democracy email list by contacting kathyvoldstad@gmail.com.
Thursdays July 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30 at 3pm: What’s the Plan? Weekly Call with Indivisible’s Founders. The chaos coming out of the White House is a deliberate strategy to sow confusion and make us believe we are powerless to fight back. The antidote? Coming together as a community to cut through the noise and unite around strategies for resistance. Join Indivisible co-founders Leah Greenberg and Ezra Levin each week for an hour to discuss what’s happening—and, more importantly, what's the plan. These calls can be very uplifting! Click for details and registration.
Tuesday July 21 at 7pm: Salisbury Democratic Town Committee. This regular meeting of the SDTC will be held at Town Hall and on Zoom. Please email Lee Greenhouse to receive a copy of the agenda and the link to the meeting. All are welcome.
Sunday July 5 at 2pm: Of the People, By the People, For the People - A Movement Choir at Five Points Arts Center, 855 University Drive, Torrington. A celebratory afternoon for our nation’s 250th anniversary. The movement choir is a communal project led by choreographer/director Paula Josa-Jones. The project’s aim is to evoke the spirit of regeneration and community in this festive marking of our 250th anniversary as a nation. A movement choir is a form of community performance where people collaboratively create and perform movements, focusing on the healing, inspirational experience of moving together. This free event will also feature an art-making tent and food truck. Click to RSVP to this free event.
| Friday July 24 at 7pm: Concert by Sam Lardner and Barcelona Benefiting Vecinos Seguros 2, a volunteer group supporting our immigrant neighbors. The concert will be held at the Salisbury Congregational Church. Tickets are available from $5 to $250 (plus fees). Click to purchase tickets. If you cannot attend the concert but wish to make a contribution, please donate through the Trinity Lime Rock Episcopal Church website (The church is Vecinos Seguros' fiscal steward.) Please put "Vecinos Seguros" in the notes on the donation page, so that the organization will be credited. | Tuesday August 11 - CT Democratic Gubernatorial Primary. This election between Governor Ned Lamont and challenger Josh Elliott will determine who will be the Democratic candidate in November. | |
WHERE TO GIVE NOW
As the midterms approach, many of us are understandably uncertain about how best to use our financial resources—large or small—to protect our democracy during this critical time. We feel an urgent need to support organizations on the front lines, but with so many worthy options, it can be difficult to know where our contributions will have the greatest impact.
Below are some suggestions of a few organizations you may want to consider. With threats to our elections so imminent, this list focuses on organizations that are heavily involved in that area.
Please give early—don’t wait. Donations made now are more powerful than those made later. Early contributions allow organizations to put resources to work immediately: hiring staff, making media buys, and investing in the critical infrastructure needed to succeed.
The States Project - Recruits, funds, and supports candidates for state legislatures to build Democratic majorities in key states. It focuses on protecting voting rights, preventing gerrymandering, advancing fair policies at the state level, where critical decisions about elections, laws, and governance are increasingly made. Give directly or join Salisbury's giving circle or email Kathy Voldstad to learn more about the giving circle.
All Voting Is Local - Advocates at state and local levels to expand voter access, counter misinformation, and support election officials with policies and practices that prevent interference and ensure fair, inclusive election administration.
Campaign Legal Center - Nonpartisan legal organization using litigation, policy advocacy, and communications to defend voting rights, ensure votes are counted, promote fair redistricting, and enforce campaign finance and ethics laws.
Democracy Defenders Fund - Brings legal experts together to protect elections through litigation, anti-corruption efforts, and bipartisan campaigns that defend vote counting, certification processes, and public confidence in democratic institutions.
The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections - Coalition of election and law enforcement experts developing policies, training, and coordination strategies to protect election workers and voters from threats, intimidation, and violence.
SNF Agora Institute - Academic and public forum at Johns Hopkins advancing research, civic engagement, and dialogue to strengthen democratic institutions, inform policy, and build public trust and participation in elections.
Democracy Works - Civic technology nonprofit providing verified election data and tools like TurboVote to help voters access accurate information, plan participation, and confidently engage in elections nationwide.
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OHIO: TRUMP'S LABORATORY FOR THE MIDTERMS AND BEYOND
Ohio is emerging as a critical testing ground for what the Trump administration and its allies may attempt nationwide in the 2026 elections. With closely contested races for governor and US Senate, the state has become a focal point for a series of actions affecting voting access and election administration. Several chilling developments illustrate this trend:
FBI action targeting voter registration efforts: In June, federal agents searched the offices of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a group focused on voter registration, raising concerns about intimidation and the potential chilling effect on civic participation.
Transfer of sensitive voter data: Earlier this year, Ohio officials shared extensive personal information—covering millions of voters—with the U.S. Department of Justice, despite court rulings questioning such federal data requests.
Restrictions on mail-in voting: A new state law eliminates the grace period for ballots arriving after Election Day, even if mailed on time, potentially disenfranchising voters who rely on the postal system.
Expanded voter roll purges: A sweeping new law aims to remove voters from registration lists, prompting legal challenges from voting rights advocates.
Importantly, these efforts are being actively challenged. Voting rights organizations, elected officials, and legal advocates have filed lawsuits, pushed back in courts, and raised public awareness—demonstrating that while threats to democratic processes are real, so too is the ongoing fight to protect free and fair elections. If you want to support their efforts in Ohio and elsewhere, please consider donating to some of organizations listed under "WHERE TO GIVE NOW."
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LETTER FROM GEORGIA
Amidst so much disturbing news about gerrymandering and other efforts to cripple fair elections, guardians of democracy are winning in many places because people are organizing and holding public officials to account. The email below is from Lauren Groh-Wargo on June 17, the day after her organization, Fair Fight, helped stop the Georgia legislature from eliminating majority Black voting districts. It's a reminder that when we fight, we can win.
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Friends,
Today is a big day. I want to make sure you know what happened — and what it means.
The Georgia special session started this morning. Republicans called it for one reason: to redraw voting maps and silence Black and Brown voters before the 2026 elections.
We had a different plan. We turned out with our coalition allies around 500 Georgians who packed the State Capitol today alongside U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock and voting rights leaders to make their opposition impossible to ignore. They called Gov. Kemp's office. They showed up. They made noise. And it worked. By this afternoon, Georgia House and Senate Republican leaders announced they will not move forward with redistricting during this special session.
Let me be clear about what that means: House and Senate Republicans blinked. Not because they had a change of heart — but because they're afraid of the people. They're afraid that a fight over racist voting maps just before the election could cost them their majority in November. Our grassroots organizing forced their hand.
Governor Kemp still wants to proceed. This fight is not over. They could change their minds and redraw maps at any moment while they remain in this special session. We don’t know how long it will take them to resolve the QR code ballot issue they created and how many hours and days of pressure MAGA can mount on them to change their position before they end the session. But today proved what we've always known: when we organize, when we show up, when we make our voices heard — it matters.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
This Is the Formula That Defeated Orban. It Would Defeat Trump, Too. This recent opinion piece by M. Gessin in The New York Times examines how Hungarian voters ultimately defeated Viktor Orbán after years of democratic backsliding, offering lessons for protecting elections. Despite entrenched advantages—including media control and electoral rules favoring incumbents—high turnout and unified opposition led to a decisive outcome. The article highlights both the vulnerabilities of democratic systems and the resilience of voters, underscoring why vigilance, participation, and institutional safeguards remain essential to ensuring free and fair elections everywhere. Click to read the full piece.
Trump’s MOU with Iran: The Art of the Kneel. After months of bombastic threats, intense bombing, and a storm of tweets, Trump proudly unveiled a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Iranian government. The MOU can only be described as a capitulation — something one might have expected from British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain when he failed to stand up to Adolf Hitler in 1938, rather than from “tough guy” Donald Trump. To better understand what Trump has done, read this week’s edition of Steve Sheffey’s Pro Israel Political Update. Don’t be misled by the title of Sheffey’s publication. He is no fan of the current Israeli government nor of the Trump administration, which claims to be pro Israel. In this edition, Sheffey offers a sharp analysis of what has been won (nothing) and what has been lost (a lot).
America’s Best Kept Secret: Progressiveness Is Popular. Contrary to the prevailing media narrative of a deeply divided nation, new polling and recent election data suggest that Americans overwhelmingly support democratic values, diversity, and personal freedom. In this piece, Jennifer Rubin argues that progressivism is not only viable but broadly popular—and that Democrats may, in fact, be far more aligned with the views of a supermajority of Americans than conventional wisdom suggests. Read Rubin's full post in The Contrarian.
Inside the Ludicrous, Deadly Serious Plan to Take Over Greenland. When Trump said, “We want Greenland,” Trump said. Four men sprang into action to make fantasy a reality.What began as a seemingly laughable idea—“buying” Greenland—has taken on a bizarre and troubling life of its own. This New Yorker investigation reveals how a proposal once treated as a punchline evolved into a chaotic, unofficial campaign driven by loyalists, stunts, and backchannel pressure. The story is at once absurd and alarming, illustrating how fringe ambitions can drift into real policy conversations—and why even the most outlandish ideas deserve public attention and scrutiny. Click to read more about this caper.
Aspiring CT GOP Legislator Refuses to Apologize After Calling June 'STRAIGHT month' and Attacking Gays for 'Corrupting' America. A Republican candidate for Connecticut's state legislature has refused to back down after making a homophobic post on social media despite receiving backlash from within his own party. Jadon MacCormack is a first-time candidate running to represent northeastern Connecticut's 50th District. His statements are so egregious that they were even denounced by some leading CT GOP officials. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
| | GET THESE OTHER SOURCES FOR ACTION | |
Because we publish only once a month, there are many events that never make it into our pages. To keep informed about those events, we strongly suggest that you subscribe to some of the excellent, more frequent sources that are listed below.
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Robert Hubbell's Today's Edition provides daily analysis and commentary on the latest political happenings and practical suggestions for what citizens can do. He started the newsletter in 2017 to provide hope and perspective to his family after the unexpected results of the 2016 election. Over time, his family email was shared among friends and became of community of like-minded citizens devoted to preserving American democracy. Click to read his latest posts and subscribe.
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5 Calls - Elected officials really do care what their constituents think. That's why calls to officials' offices are impactful. Every day staffers compile and report on all the calls that their offices receive. Making a call takes just a minute using the short scripts on key issues and telephone numbers they provide. 5 Calls researches key issues, drafts scripts, and provides contact info for elected officials. Go to the 5 Calls website and choose an issue you care about. Enter your zip code and the system will provide you with the telephone numbers of your senators and representatives along with the relevant scripts. Subscribe to 5 Call’s weekly newsletter for emails with the latest updates.
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Jill Drew’s Today's Action Daily Blast – This twice-a-week email suggests a single, focused calling action to our public officials each day, most often providing carefully-researched sample scripts along with the contact information for calling US Senators and Representatives serving Northwestern Connecticut and the adjoining area of New York’s Hudson Valley. To sign up email jill@jilldrew.com.
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Saving Democracy email - Indefatigable activist Kathy Voldstad provides announcements of actions for people in and around Salisbury and elsewhere. Kathy's emails also provide inspiration that we all need in times like these. To sign up, email kathyvoldstad@gmail.com.
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Jessica Craven's Chop Wood, Carry Water – This is one of our perennial favorites. Activist Jessica Craven provides daily suggestions on easy actions that each of us can take. Read it here and subscribe free for her daily dose of actions.
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THIS MONTH FROM A.R.T. (ART REJECTS TYRANNY)
This month’s featured work from Art Rejects Tyranny (A.R.T.) is And Still I Rise (Maya Angelou) by Bunny Burson, an artist in Litchfield County. A snow globe filled with the iridescent confetti that was meant to fall on election night 2016, the piece serves as a reminder that elections have serious consequences. Women’s rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights—all of our rights—must be nurtured and protected from tyranny. We need the courage and vision to act and to resist when necessary. Click to see the work and learn more about the artist.
A.R.T. is a local, collaborative creative project that inspires people to create something in response to the destruction being wrought in Washington. Works can include, but are not limited to, painting, drawing, collage, photography, sculpture, scrapbooking, or poetry. Click to learn more about A.R.T. and how to submit a work.
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And Still I Rise (Maya Angelou)
Bunny Burson, artist. Litchfield County CT
Medium: mixed media
Dimensions: 3 1/4 X3 1/4 X 5 1/4
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