It was a busy year for GRIT. Once we got over the shock of last years election, we sprung into action, with a new logo, and donations at every meeting to meet the needs of our grassroots efforts. People needed our group and our Facebook page as a way to voice their anxiety and grief, and come together as a community. A community that through action could give hope and options.
“When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to say something.” – John Lewis
We were energized in January by a talk by State Representative Jen Lunsford, who robustly reminded us that all advocacy is a volume game.
We attended our first 50501 NO KINGS protest on a blisteringly cold February 17th Presidents Day at Rochester City Hall. There may have been all of twenty five people there from across our county, and so it began.
GRIT organized our first protest outside the Federal Building in Rochester on March 4th and Jennifer and I were blown away when over two hundred people attended.
Our members attended other protests like the LGBTQIA rally, the March for Science, Stand with Ukraine, and Tesla protests and reported back to the group.
Our letter writing campaign was constantly in full swing, with letters to protest Avelo airlines for working with ICE, to states holding special elections, and by the end of the year writing voters in California to say yes to Prop 50. So grateful to all the donations that helped pay for postage for all those letters.
Members inspire members, and we showed up for local board meetings across our various towns and villages. Voice the Constitution started to take off in various libraries and other locations. And we collected food for local food banks.
In April we carpooled to the Hands Off Rally at Cobb’s Hill Park in Rochester. Several thousand protesters showed their power and disapproval of the Trump administration.
We carpooled to yet another Hands Off rally in April at Martin Luther King Park.
It was after these rallies and marches that we shared our concerns and feeling about the noticeable lack of security and marshaling. Once again our group sprang into action and started learning about how to train marshals. Thank you Sharon!
“Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” – John Lewis
In June for NO KINGS on Trump’s birthday, we did something really huge. GRIT organized and marshaled protests in Fairport, Pittsford, Brighton, Henrietta and Irondequoit.
The turn out at each of those locations was staggering. We listened to people who said they wanted to protest closer to home, and they turned out!
What was amazing about protests we didn’t organize like the Good Trouble Lives On rally in July, was that our marshals usually outnumbered all the other marshals. That is dedication.
GRIT hosted another protest and march in August called Outrage Against the Regime, and considering it was in the middle of vacation season, the turn out was robust.
What made that protest memorable were the larger than life-size posters of paintings by local artist Lorriane Staunch.
October 18 GRIT organized one more Fairport and Pittsford No Kings protest that brought out thousands of people and Inflatables! Every single protest has been totally and completely peaceful.
But we are more than protesting, and throughout the year we had elected officials speak at our meetings like Joe Morelle and Jen Lunsford. We invited candidates running for office to tell us what their platforms were. We gave out lawn signs and passed out literature and knocked on doors. We manned voter registration tables, and attended fundraisers.
By my count we have had at least 30 meetings throughout the year, and that doesn’t count all the marshal training meetings. We have organized or attended more protests than I can reliably count. Our numbers continue to grow, and we need every single voice.
“Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year; it is the struggle of a lifetime.” – John Lewis
We will go into 2026 ready to make sure that the midterm elections continue to reflect the real will of the people.
Until next time, remember all politics is local,