General Meeting Wed, Jan 14th

ByToby Sackton

In a few short months, Lexington Alarm!’s will be in it’s second year. It was remarkable and exciting to experience how quickly we first came together as a group around Patriots Day 2025 to proclaim “No King, No Tyranny” and “In America, the Law is King” during town celebrations. We clearly stuck a chord among hundreds and then thousands who were shocked by our democracy being attacked from within and felt the need to DO something. We distributed thousands of signs, hosted large rallies and standouts and collaborated with other groups organizing for rules of law, justice and humane treatment for all. On Oct. 18th we organized a second No Kings rally on the Battle Green that drew 6,000 participants–the second largest rally in the state.

But now we face the Valley Forge Years, the “winter of our discontent”. Many of the worst aspects of what we feared came to pass. Some did not. Many institutions and media capitulated rather than uphold the values they professed to still believe in. There was also resistance. But still, the same dark anti-democratic forces that we feared retained and used their power. It is hard to maintain commitment and enthusiasm when you have to pick and choose your battles and when change feels to move so slowly.

This meeting will give us a chance to reflect on our mission in 2026. What should be our commitment. Which should be our battles.

We have some business to attend to: staffing our table during the MLK Day Activator’s Fair at Grace Chapel on January 19th; planning a winter party; updating on our anti-ICE activities. But the bulk of the meeting will be a discussion about our role in standing for democracy in 2026. Please come and contribute your thoughts and ideas.

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