JANESVILLE — The Town Hall Coalition and Indivisible Rock County are expanding protest opportunities in Janesville from three to four per week.
Organizers say they have made the change to encourage voting in the upcoming fall elections and in the wake of President Trump’s poorly planned war on Iran, rising consumer prices and continuing stonewalling on full release of the Epstein files, among other crucial issues.
“We want to reach more residents whose lives are affected by the president’s mismanagement of government services; his attacks on immigrants, education and diversity; and his continued undermining of trust in government through corruption and outright lies,” said Town Hall Coalition co-president Christina Hall.
According to a news release, the protests also are intended as a message to members of Congress to do their job, which includes acting as a check on the power of the executive when a president defies the law or is unfit to serve, Hall noted.
A protest that was held near the Town Square last year will re-start at the first Janesville Farmers Market of the season, this Saturday, May 2.
The 9-10 a.m. protest will be near the sculpture of the bicyclist, across West Court Street from the farmers market. The market and the protests will continue on Saturdays through October.
“Last summer at the farmer’s market site, we had some very meaningful converations with people going to the market. Being able to talk to each other is crucial at this time,” protest organizer Edie Baran said.
The protest at 10-11 a.m. Saturdays along Highway 14 near the Highway 26 intersection will also continue.
Rock County Indivisible and Town Hall Coalition also support the longtime Wednesday protest in front of Rep. Bryan Steil’s office on Main Street and the Friday protest in front of the post office on Milton Avenue. These will continue at their usual time, 4:30-5 p.m.
This makes four weekly protest sites, which are opportunities for those opposed to the president’s policies and actions to raise their voices in protest and reach out to their fellow citizens.
A guiding principle of all these events is nonviolent protest, as protected by the
Constitution, organizers say.
In addition to taking stands on crucial issues, these protests and other Town Hall Coalition activities in coming months will emphasize participation in the voting process.
Voter registration information will be available at all the protests. To learn about elections, including voter requirements and your registration status, contact your municipal clerk or go online to the state of Wisconsin’s voter information portal, myvote.wi.gov.
The coalition and its partners want to thank the 800 or so concerned citizens who turned out for the March 28 No Kings protest. Videos of the protest are available for viewing on their YouTube channel, TownhallcoalitionWI.
Town Hall and Indivisible members will also participate at the May 1 gathering at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Marvin Roth Pavilion in Lower Courthouse Park, downtown Janesville.