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Showing posts from March, 2018

Calm but Powerful: Enfield’s ‘No Kings’ Protest — People Are Flowing In

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No Kings Protest Enfield What may be most striking about Enfield’s No Kings protest is how peaceful and calm it is. People are carrying homemade signs, some with dogs in tow, hugging people they know, and many waving small American flags. Drivers are blowing their horns in appreciation and support, which enlivens the crowd. Enfield’s No Kings protest began at noon. People were here well before the start, and many are still flowing in. It’s hard to say how many, but it’s in the hundreds and rising. It might top July’s protest, which reportedly drew about 700. I’ve never seen this level of political engagement and activism in Enfield. This is a classic suburban town, not prone to drama except on Facebook, but in normal life focused on school sports and things for kids to do. What are the implications of this? From a national perspective, it adds something to the conversation; from a local perspective, Democrats are hoping the anti-Trump backlash will translate into a local victory on ...

The rough and unfair criticism of the Enfield March for our Lives protest

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After the March for our Lives posted this on the Enfield Open Forum on Facebook . There was a lot of negative comments about student activism in Enfield. But Facebook forums are Facebook forums. They don't reflect the broader community. Here's what I wrote: Why are so many people on this Enfield forum so interested in tearing down the town's kids? Belittling their advocacy? There were a fair number of adults and families at today's Enfield event. It was very touching. There were several student speakers, whose names I don't know, who delivered articulate, passionate assessments of the problem. I was very impressed by them. Enfield has always had a little bit of an off-center streak to it. When I was growing up here, I knew a fellow who was involved with the John Birch Society. They had an office in Thompsonville. Early 1970s. There's always been a conservative streak to the town, and a strong liberal one, rooted in the New England, Catholic tradition. ...