EASTON, Pa. — A grassroots political organization is encouraging “we the people” to join it in Easton this weekend for a demonstration against injustice and pushing for the preservation of democracy
Easton United for Democracy said it will hold a March for Democracy starting at noon Sunday, March 30, in Centre Square.
It will urge the public to use their voices, money and determination to protest the current state of politics and the effect it is having on American citizens.
“Because our government has failed to hold the president and his accomplices accountable, it falls to ‘we the people’ to do it."Easton United for Democracy, in a statement
“Because our government has failed to hold the president and his accomplices accountable, it falls to ‘we the people’ to do it,” a statement from the group reads.
State Rep. Robert Freeman, former Congresswoman Susan Wild, WABC-TV African American journalist Melba Tolliver, community leader and educator Baron Vanderburg, Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. and historian and re-enactor Christopher Black all are scheduled to speak at the event.
Marchers are encouraged to meet in Centre Square at noon, with speakers set to start at 12:15 p.m.
Speeches will take about a half-hour, and be followed by a coordinated march around the circle on the sidewalk.
Organizers have warned no roads will be closed for the demonstration, and are advising participants to be cautious.
'And now we're not getting it'
Wild confirmed her participation of the even on Friday, stating she will be there "In the interest of democracy."
Panto said he was inspired to speak because he wants to ensure that the country, and by default his city, will be safe in the years to come.
Citing his history as a teacher, Panto expressed concern over the dismantling of the U.S. Education Department, and a recent Community Development Block Grant for $100,000 which was canceled by the federal government.
“That’s what we paid our assistant forester with, and we had to lay her off,” Panto said.
He said he's concerned there could be further federal cuts, and it could hurt Easton’s residents and economy.
“These are not proactive [grants], these are retroactive," Panto said.
"And I understand that any president can come in and do what they want to do, but he’s doing this to grants that have already been approved and given to the cities.
"And we counted on those grants in our 2025 budget, with the anticipation of getting these federal dollars. And now we’re not getting it.”
'Different ways of going about it'
Vanderburg said he wants to make the most of the march by reinforcing the idea that people of opposing political views still can work together for the best of the community.
“One of the primary things that I want to talk about is the myth that Republicans and Democrats don't want the same thing," Vanderburg said.
"We have to get out of this, this polarizing thought that we don't want the same things."Community leader and educator Baron Vanderburg
"And I think our desires have been kind of bastardized in a way.
“We all want our safe borders, but one party believes in achieving that without breaking the dignity of hard-working people.
“We all want great education progress for our kids. But one side, you know, would like to do that without dismantling the one of the primary funding bureaus of education.
"We have to get out of this, this polarizing thought that we don't want the same things, but we have different ways of going about and getting what we want, and one side is a little bit better for humanity than the other.”
