WE SHOWED UP AND STOOD UP | |
Millions of people came out across the country last Saturday, and we were there, too. In Salisbury and hundreds of cities and towns, ordinary people showed up to tell Trump and his accomplices that we will hold them accountable for undermining the rule of law and civil rights, using the military to turn our streets into battlegrounds, turning our government into their personal cash machine, conducting military action without authorization, and trampling on so much else that we cherish as Americans.
This third No Kings Day protest was bigger than either of the previous events. The wave against Trump and his MAGA malfeasance is growing as more and more Americans decide that they must get off the sidelines, take civic action, and not leave it to others, if we are going to save our democracy.
What comes next is up to each of us. The No Kings Day protests are national milestone events. But what really matters is what we each do to stand up and work for regime change every day. There are many ways to get involved. The purpose of this newsletter is to help you find activities that will work for your talents and time. Whatever you do, please commit yourself to doing something on an ongoing basis.
With belief in what we can achieve together,
Your Faithful Editor
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In This Issue
- Salisbury Turns Out in Force
- Aaron Zimmer Announces Run for State Senate 30th District
- Help Secretary Thomas Reach Her Goal
- Don't Stop! Join a Saturday Protest in Your Community
- Other Upcoming Events
- Trump Wants to Cut You from the Voter Rolls
- Adopt a State: North Carolina
- In Case You Missed It
- How Ordinary People Stop Tyranny
- Get These Other Sources For Action
- American Abroad: Ensuring Americans Overseas Can Vote
- New Art from A.R.T.
- Our Annual Appeal - Support Our Work
- Did You Miss A Newsletter?
- Share Your News
- Tell Us What You Think
- Spread The Word
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SALISBURY TURNS OUT IN FORCE
In Salisbury (population 4,000), an outsized group estimated at 400+ came together in spirited and peaceful protest, energized by the words and music of friends and neighbors. State Rep. Maria Horn, Rev. Heidi Truax, and attorney James Speyer each spoke poignantly about the importance of this moment in history and our role as active participants in it. Deron Bayer read excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, and Sophia DeDominicis-Fitzpatrick, a junior at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, spoke about her reasons for becoming an activist. Wendy Schwartz and Jackson Magyar, a seventh grader at Salisbury Central School, read grievances submitted by the crowd (with the encouragement of Erica Cohn). Musical performers included Joel Blumert, Louise Lindemyer, John Carter, Jo Loi, Carol Magowan, Charlie Noyes, Emily Elliot, and Bridget Lawrence-Meigs.
The organizing group behind this successful event deserves huge thanks. Sophia deBoer, Lee deBoer, and Amy Lake stepped up to lead and coordinate the event's many elements and participants. Allen Cockerline provided a hay wagon that Al Ginouves converted into the speakers' platform. Flyers were hung and distributed around town by Lisa Sheble, Jo Loi, Joanne Hayhurst, Joanne Taber, and Steve Perlmutter. Safety Leads Karin Gerstel and Joe Woodard coordinated the marshals: Pam Patterson, Bill Riiska, Jay Lorenz, Peter Halle, Mike Rogers, Michael Voldstad, Bruce Garner, and Deborah Carter. It takes a village!
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AARON ZIMMER ANNOUNCES RUN FOR STATE SENATE IN 30TH DISTRICT
Democrat Aaron Zimmer has announced his candidacy for State Senate in our district (the 30th), with a message focused on affordability, opportunity, and protecting fundamental rights. A Brookfield resident, small business owner, and former chair of the Brookfield Democratic Town Committee, Zimmer has been active in local civic life and previously ran for State Representative in 2024, earning strong support across the region.
The 30th District is a diverse area stretching across a broad swath of western Connecticut, from Danbury through Brookfield and New Milford and north into the rural communities of the Litchfield Hills, including Salisbury and neighboring towns. Across these communities, voters share concerns about rising housing costs, access to healthcare, and the need to invest in schools, infrastructure, and local economies. Zimmer is challenging Republican incumbent Stephen Harding by offering a clear contrast in priorities and a renewed focus on “kitchen-table” issues affecting working families.
Right now, you can help by making a contribution to Zimmer's campaign so that he can qualify for Connecticut's public financing program. He is looking for at least 20 small donations from each town in his district. Learn more and find out how you can support the campaign on Zimmer's website.
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HELP SECRETARY THOMAS REACH HER GOAL
The 2026 election is making it evident that Connecticut needs a strong Secretary of the State to safeguard our election process. Our Secretary of the State, Stephanie Thomas, has launched her re-election campaign and announced that she is participating in our state’s public financing program, the Citizens’ Election Program (CEP), which is designed to reduce the influence of larger donors and special interests. Under this program, Secretary Thomas must raise $100,700 from individuals in increments of $5 to $340 to qualify for public financing. Once a candidate accepts public financing, they can no longer accept outside money. What a great way to keep big money out of politics.
Please support our public financing system and help Secretary Thomas reach her qualifying goal. Please click to donate.
| | DON'T STOP! JOIN A SATURDAY PROTEST IN YOUR COMMUNITY | |
If you felt energized by No Kings Day, join your friends and neighbors every Saturday to stand up for democracy and against Trump's authoritarian policies and corruption. Bring a sign or a flag if you can, but the most important thing is to show up. Bring your family and show them how local activism works. Across the country, peaceful demonstrations like these are surging and showing Trump and his enablers and allies that we are watching and will hold them to account.
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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.
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Friday Protests in Sheffield (MA) - 3pm at Main Street (Rt. 7), across from Roberto’s Pizza.
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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursdays April 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 April 21 at 7pm: Salisbury Democratic Town Committee. This regular meeting of the SDTC will be held at Town Hall and on Zoom. The SDTC is committed to promoting good government and democratic principles at every level of our civic life by recruiting candidates for local elective and appointed offices and supporting the most qualified Democrats to run in municipal, state, and national elections. Meetings are usually on the third Tuesday of every month. Please email Al Ginouves to receive a copy of the agenda and the link to the meeting.
Wednesday April 29 at 8pm: Greater Litchfield County Young Democrats - Monthly Meeting. Join fellow Democrats for this meeting on Zoom. For more information, please contact Daniela Larsson at nwctyd@gmail.com.
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TRUMP WANTS TO CUT YOU FROM THE VOTER ROLLS
The Trump Administration has been ramping up its illegal effort to get its hands on the voter rolls of every state. Shockingly, at least twelve states have reportedly complied—or plan to comply—with the Department of Justice’s demand that they hand over their voter rolls. Currently, the DOJ is suing at least twenty-nine states, including Connecticut, for failing to hand over their voter rolls. Federal courts have already dismissed the DOJ’s suits against California, Michigan, and Oregon, but the DOJ is persisting and is appealing those rulings.
Since last May, the DOJ has been pressing states to agree to a “confidential memorandum of understanding” under which states would hand over their complete voter files, and the DOJ would return lists of voters who should be removed within 45 days. It is the job of states—not the federal government—to maintain voter rolls and the federal government has no expertise in determining individual voter eligibility. Therefore, it is unclear how it could carry out such work and on what basis individual voters would be eliminated from the rolls. What is clear is the DOJ’s intention to interfere with states’ authority to run elections and to eliminate legally registered voters, especially in areas likely to favor Democratic candidates. The troubling scope of this federal overreach is well explained in a short article by the Brennan Center for Justice.
Beyond violating the rights of states to maintain their own voter rolls, the DOJ’s initiative could also jeopardize voters’ personal data. State voter registration lists often contain highly sensitive personal information, including birthdates, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers—data that creates significant risks of identity theft and misuse. This issue is highlighted in an article by the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
This episode highlights the importance of confirming your registration status. Connecticut allows registration on Election Day, but not all states afford voters this right. Tell your friends and family—no matter where they live—to make sure their registration is up to date well ahead of any deadlines. In most states, if you move, you must re-register at your new address—even if it is within the same county or city. Students may face special circumstances, as they often have the choice of voting either at their home address or their school address—but only if they register before the applicable deadlines.
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ADOPT A STATE: NORTH CAROLINA
In a recent issue, we wrote about the power of adopting a battleground state for your remote political activity. Having an ongoing focus on a state builds your knowledge of the state’s issues and the organizations working there. That, in turn, leads to a deeper personal investment that can translate into a more satisfying volunteer and/or donor experience. In our February issue, we recommended Wisconsin as a state worth considering for adoption. This month, we are suggesting an additional state: North Carolina. Here’s why and how you can get involved:
Ever since Barack Obama won North Carolina in 2008, Democrats have held out hope that they can do it again. Building toward that, in 2026, Democrats have strong prospects of winning a US Senate seat, thanks to the candidacy of the popular former governor, Roy Cooper. North Carolinians are angry about cuts to the highly popular Medicaid program and public-school funding, ICE and GOP gerrymandering, and they are hungry for change. In 2024, NC Democrats took two statewide seats away from Republicans. In the recent March 3 NC primary, 200,000 more people voted in the Democratic primary for Senate than in the Republican primary, even though former Governor Cooper was essentially uncontested. Unaffiliated voters who chose a Democratic ballot (as allowed under NC election law) doubled from 2022, while those who chose a Republican ballot decreased by 40%.
The NC Democratic Party under Chair Anderson Clayton – the youngest state chair in the country – is building a year-round organizing program and has a focus on running candidates in every race – a change from the past when many races were considered out of reach for Democrats. She is also focused on engaging diverse and previously ignored voters in rural and urban areas. As a native of rural NC, she speaks passionately about the vital importance of improving the lives of average North Carolinians.
One way to get involved is through All In North Carolina (AINC), a New England-based volunteer group with a strong track record of recruiting volunteers and raising money.
AINC recruits people from all states to donate their time, treasure, and talents to NC work. Among other activities, AINC runs weekly phonebanks in conjunction with NC-based groups that are doing the local work to engage specific communities of voters, such as Latinos and Asians, and raises money specifically to support those grassroots organizations. Learn more and sign up to help by emailing AINC chair Jeff Blum at mafornc@gmail.com.
Special event: Heather Cox Richardson has been so impressed by the strategic, targeted efforts of AINC that she will be hosting a Zoom call on May 27 at 6:30pm. Fundraising has begun for that event, and you are invited to join by clicking on this link: AINC Fundraiser with Heather Cox Richardson.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
SCOTUS Hears Dangerous GOP Bid to Restrict Mail in Voting. Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case brought by the Republican National Committee (RNC) that could have a profound impact on mail-in voting—and potentially reshape voting rights more broadly ahead of the 2026 midterms. At issue in the case, Watson v. Republican National Committee, is whether states can continue to count ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but arrive afterward, a practice currently used in multiple states to ensure votes are not lost due to mail delays. A ruling in favor of the RNC could force states to reject thousands of otherwise valid ballots and upend long-standing election practices. Voting rights advocates warn that eliminating these “grace periods” would disproportionately affect seniors, rural voters, and military personnel—while increasing confusion and barriers to participation. Read an excellent analysis from Democracy Docket.
Trump's $1B payoff to stop offshore wind is even stranger than it sounds. As Revolution Wind, an offshore wind project off the coast of Rhode Island, has officially come online and begun supplying power to the New England grid, and federal judges have blocked five previous attempts to halt wind farms under construction along the East Coast, the Trump administration just handed nearly $1 billion of taxpayer money to French oil giant TotalEnergies — not to build anything new, but to walk away from offshore wind leases along the Atlantic coast that the company wasn't even using—in exchange for fossil fuel investments it had already planned. As Grist reporters Jake Bittle and Rebecca Egan McCarthy reveal, the deal is as murky as it sounds, and the people left holding the bag are ratepayers in states that were counting on that offshore wind capacity to meet their energy needs. Read the story in CT Mirror's partner content.
Florida Shocker: Democrats Flip Two Seats in Special Legislative Elections. In striking upsets in Florida, Democrats flipped two legislative seats in special elections on March 24 held in districts that had recently leaned Republican. In the Florida Senate District 14, Democrat Brian Nathan, a Navy veteran, union organizer, and first-time candidate, narrowly defeated Republican Josie Tomkow, despite the district having gone heavily for Donald Trump in 2024. Meanwhile, in Florida House District 87, a district that includes Mar-a-Lago, Democrat Emily Gregory, another first-time candidate secured a narrow but decisive win. Together, these victories suggest a shifting political landscape and renewed Democratic energy in areas once considered out of reach. Read the full story in the Florida Phoenix.
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THE LITTLE BOOK WITH BIG LESSONS ON DEFENDING DEMOCRACY
At a moment when democratic norms are being tested, one short book stands out as essential reading: On Tyranny: Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder, a historian of Europe and the Holocaust. Published seemingly long ago, in early 2017, just as Donald Trump was first taking office, this book is more relevant and useful than ever. In drawing lessons from the 20th century—from Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, and other authoritarian regimes—the book delivers a clear warning: tyranny does not arrive all at once. It grows gradually, when people stop paying attention, tolerate small abuses, and assume “it can’t happen here.”
What makes On Tyranny so powerful is its simplicity. In just twenty short lessons, Snyder provides a practical handbook for citizens who want to defend democracy in their own time. Here are some of his key lessons:
Democracy is not self-sustaining. Democratic institutions do not protect themselves. They endure only when citizens actively defend them. Complacency, not crisis, is often what allows them to erode.
Authoritarianism thrives on passivity. Small acts of compliance—accepting falsehoods, ignoring corruption, or tolerating intimidation—create the conditions for larger abuses of power.
Stand out. Authoritarianism relies on conformity—dissent disrupts it.
Truth is a battleground. Democracy depends on a shared commitment to facts. Tyranny depends on confusion and misinformation. Seek out reliable facts, support independent journalism, and resist the pull of cynicism. When truth erodes, so does democracy.
Institutions matter—if we stand up for them. Courts, legislatures, and a free press are essential—but they are only as strong as the people willing to defend them. When these institutions are attacked, silence is not neutral.
Courage begins with small acts. Defending democracy doesn’t always require grand gestures. It starts with everyday actions: speaking up, refusing to repeat falsehoods, helping others, and maintaining personal integrity.
Snyder’s ideas are not abstract. They are practical steps that ordinary people can take to protect democratic values in their own communities. His lessons emphasize that democracy is protected not just by laws and institutions, but by the everyday actions of ordinary citizens.
| | 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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DEMOCRATS ABROAD: ENSURING AMERICANS OVERSEAS CAN VOTE
SDTC member Kip Carter, who lives with his family in Madrid, Spain, wrote to share that he is actively involved with Democrats Abroad, the official arm of the Democratic Party for the millions of US citizens living outside the country. The organization works to ensure that Americans overseas can register, vote, stay engaged in US politics, and help Democrats win from wherever they live.
Democrats Abroad operates 52 country committees across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. These committees help US citizens navigate absentee voting rules, stay informed about elections, and participate fully in the democratic process.
If you have family or friends living abroad, encourage them to visit the Democrats Abroad website to register to vote, request their ballots, or get involved. Kip Carter is happy to answer questions at carterkip9@gmail.com.
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NEW ART AT A.R.T.
Each month, we are planning to feature a work from Art Rejects Tyranny (A.R.T.), a local, collaborative creative project to inspire people to create something out of the destruction being wrought in Washington. Works can include, but are not limited to, painting, drawing, collage, photography, sculpture, scrapbooking, or poetry.
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Fire and Ash
Image montage, found objects and acrylic on canvas
36" x 60"
Victoria Selbach, Artist, Salisbury, CT
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OUR ANNUAL APPEAL - PLEASE DONATE
You may have noticed our very modest appeal letter in your mailbox recently. We don't waste money on fancy mailers because we know we can count on you. When democracy is under attack, local action becomes essential. That’s why the Salisbury Democratic Town Committee is stepping up and fighting back — and why your financial support is so critical right now. We’re mobilizing our community to protect democracy.
You can donate by credit card at salisburydemocrats.com/donate or use this QR code.
Please give generously — the stakes couldn’t be higher. The SDTC has no paid staff, so every dollar you contribute goes directly to supporting our critical work. If you have already given, thank you for your generosity.
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DID YOU MISS A NEWSLETTER?
The entire archive of past newsletters is available at the Salisbury Democratic Town Committee website.
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SHARE YOUR NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please send us any news or announcements that you would like us to share with our community. We publish on the first of each month, so please send us any submissions at least one week in advance. Please submit to the editor at salsdemsnews@gmail.com.
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TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
We love hearing from you, our readers. Every edition of our newsletter is created with you in mind — to inform, engage, and inspire. But your feedback helps us do our job better. Drop us a note — even a few lines can make a big difference. Reach us anytime at salsdemsnews@gmail.com.
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If you've read this far, it's probably because you like this newsletter. Please feel free to forward it to your friends and family. Let them know that they are welcome to join our mailing list no matter where they live. We are delighted to have readers from anywhere – Salisbury, the Northwest Corner, or elsewhere in the world. They can sign up with the QR code or click here to sign up or go to salisburydemocrats.com and click below to join our mailing list.
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