**We decide who represents us. We decide what comes next
** VISIBILITY FREEPORT NO KINGS VOTE EARLY!
VISIBILITY FREEPORT welcomes you to our NO KINGS VOTE EARLY event this coming October 17, 8-11am. Bring your sign, your American Flag, and family or friends. We will join together with the millions of like-minded Americans across the country. Starting at 8am, we will be among the first in the country kicking off this Day of Getting the Vite Out Early! reminding everyone to get out and vote! We will have people ready to guide you through having conversations with people a bout how and why the vote is so urgent this year! Canvass people in the crowd, we always have newcomers to demonstrating!
VISIBILITY FREEPORT is a volunteer run group that has organized weekly – Tuesday 8-10am – “Stand for Democracy” demonstrations since the first of March at 134 Main St, Freeport, 04032. We meet, show our signs and participate in peaceful protest of the attacks of the administration on our democracy. We are not affiliated with any one national protest organization, rather have found our space as an umbrella for peaceful protesters from many groups. We have also participated and brought thousands of people together for each of the last National Days of Protest large and small. This NO KINGS! will be the biggest, for sure. It needs to be! Everyone needs to get out the vote and get it done early and in person if possible!
Our site is in downtown Freeport, where there is significant traffic from workers, residents, and tourists. We run a peaceful, visible event, great people, great signs, great dialogue among like minded new friends. We have chosen to run a peaceful, safe, no amplified sound or yelling, no instruments or pots and pans. Reviews have backed our family friendly approach to protest, “I have never protested and have avoided rallies, this worked for me. I brought my elderly parents and my children.” Our events have gotten our point across to those driving by. Our consistency has grown our membership and momentum.
As noted in our name, VISIBILITY FREEPORT, our priority is to get our messages out visually. The message that we are sharing does not need to be loud. The passersby can’t hear us, our networking is enhanced by the ability to discuss issues, and to commiserate. We do not respond to disparaging hand gestures or people yelling from cars. We line the public sidewalk, leaving room for pedestrians. We disagree, but do not engage and expect the same from those who join us. We take being a “VISIBILITY” site seriously. We are not a rally, we are not a march, we protest, we represent with our presence and signs and flags.
Support our neighbors – bring non- perishables for the FCS Food Pantry, if you can.
We recognize that we have organically developed rules to protect and maintain the norms we have found work.
Here they are::
• Do not block roadway, driveway, crosswalk or views around corners so local traffic can move
• No shouting or noise making, no banging pots and pans –
• No responding to middle fingers or crass remarks – do not engage
• No interaction with intruders, avoid them, keep them isolated, do not make them feel comfortable –
• Prevent rogue actors wanting to initiate civil disobedience or disruption –
• Prevent others from redirecting the activities or purpose of our community (respect our boundaries) –
• Protect, no infringement on private property, respect our neighbors and local businesses –
• Dress for the weather – October is tricky starting cool and warming up is the possibility, so layers, and a red hat, if you have one! There are coffee spots and a Book Store to pop into! You are not “expected to “stand there for three hours.” Come and go as you can, but come!
See you Saturday, October 17, 8-11am
Get the message out – NO KINGS VITE EARLY!
Freeport, Maine
8AM First in the nation !
The VISIBILITY FREEPORT Team
For more than a year, millions of people have come together to reject the idea that power belongs to kings, billionaires, or politicians who believe they are above the people and the law.
Now, we are taking the next step, turning people power into voter power. Unlike previous No Kings actions, No Kings: Vote Early, is not purely a protest. Instead, on October 17th, it’s a day of nonpartisan voter participation: we are bringing **our community** together to make a plan to vote early and ensuring every eligible voter understands their options for how to vote and has the opportunity to make their voice heard.
Because no one person gets to decide our leaders before voters do. On October 17th, join us in local events across the country as we get out the early vote and say it loud: no thrones, no crowns, no kings.
*No Kings: Vote Early events are nonpartisan and are designed to increase participation from all eligible voters.*
*A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.*