Saturday’s “No Kings” Rally

Dear Editor,

October 18th’s No King’s rally in Dodgeville was a great event! It was sunny and perfect weather. 800+ people of all ages and towns around the region attended. It was so well organized in coordination with our county sheriff and supported by over 10 designated volunteer trained peacekeepers and additional policemen. We had outstanding speakers: Senator Sarah Keyeski, journalist John Nichols, farmer and conservationist Dick Cates, and MC’d by union leader Ben Gruber. We enjoyed great music with local talent: Scott Steiber, Red Door Duo and the Phillips Brothers. With welcoming the crowd after the march through town, we recited the Pledge of Allegiance lead by Veteran Mark Sturnick. Very moving.

The rally was an opportunity for our Southwest Wisconsin region to exercise their right to peacefully assemble and express their dissatisfaction in our government’s behavior: cuts to public education and healthcare services which effects us all and also targets Medicaid and SNAP; concerns about our economy and the impact on each of us, including farmers and small businesses suffering due to tariffs; dissatisfaction with our immigration policies and deportations without due process, and inhumane treatment of our immigrants by aggressive implementation of ICE, to name just some of the reasons why people protested today. The list of unlawful actions by our government is long.

The protest Saturday was educational, joyful and part of the national effort to change the direction our government is heading. The people who attended believe in democracy, the constitution and the rule of law and feel it is being ignored by this administration including some of our state officials. Those who attended believe in kindness and taking care of each other, not marginalizing certain individuals and communities. All of us deserve leaders who serve ALL the people’s needs not serve themselves. The grifting, tax dollars spent on unnecessary indulgences (ballroom, rose garden, jet, golf outings etc) in the White House, nepotism and blatant non transparent deal making is wasteful and corrupt.

The rally Saturday was to demonstrate to our legislators to make needed changes NOW! When due process is denied for one, it can be denied for YOU. When healthcare coverage is cut for one, it can be cut for YOU. When our immigrant neighbors safety and security is undermined by untrained masked thugs given authority by ICE, so goes EVERYONE’S safety. So if you believe in self governance versus being told what to do by one guy with a criminal record, it’s time to stand up, speak out and demand our government does better. 7 million people spoke out this weekend across the nation!

This is a turning point. NO KINGS!

Debi Morton

Spring Green, WI