Weekly pro-democracy rallies on Friday afternoons in downtown Lexington will continue through the summer, said rally organizers last week.
Launched at the end of February as a way for local citizens to “stand up for what’s worth standing up for,” the peaceful rallies have become a weekly fixture at the corner of Main and Washington for the past 10 weeks. After an initial turn-out of 200 people on Feb. 28, the rallies continue to draw 50 to 100 participants per week, with a mixture of regulars and first-timers, including senior citizens, veterans, and children.
“It’s a family-friendly opportunity to bear witness for values and ideals Americans from all walks of life hold dear,” said the spokesperson. Based on a recent survey of the handmade signs, issues motivating the assembled include rule of law, respect for science, care of the vulnerable, support for Ukraine “and other essential values undergirding our democracy now under threat.”
While the group has remained decentralized and grassroots, the endeavor now includes a website, heartsfordemocracy.org.
“There was such a strong, positive response to the first ‘Hearts for Democracy’ rally that we felt a responsibility to share what we had learned with others,” said the spokesperson, noting interest from other communities across the nation.
A unique feature of the Hearts For Democracy rallies, she said, is their affirmative emphasis on what needs protecting. According to the website, the concept of the rallies is “upstream” from protests, focusing on affirming positive values and ideals that in turn motivate protest anger.
“This chapter in our nation needs protests too,” said the spokesperson, “but it’s both and sometimes anger can burn out; participating in these rallies strengthen all of us to stand up for what we believe for the long haul.”
According to organizers, the Friday afternoon rallies will continue to take place in front of the old courthouse, corner of Main and Washington, until the end of May, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., rain or shine. With renovations planned for Courthouse Square this summer, the rallies will relocate to Hopkins Green starting June 6. They will continue at Hopkins Green every Friday through Aug. 15, 4 to 5:30 p m.
“By mid-August, local folks from all walks of life will have publicly stood up for what matters for 25 weeks in a row,” said the spokesperson. “We all wish we didn’t have to do this, but for love of country, it’s our turn to do what we can to preserve our hard-won democracy.”
