To the Editor:

In response to the letter from the gentleman who attended our April 5th Rock This Democracy rally: I and our co-organizers completely agree with the point made in the letter that there is an “existential threat to our democracy posed by the current president.”

The letter stated that this threat was not addressed sufficiently at the rally. It seems the writer may have missed the words of some speakers. Having been there the entire time, I certainly heard several references to that fundamental threat, which was in fact the first topic by the first speaker.

In the course of mobilizing to oppose this threat it is only natural that the immediate impact we face on a variety of issues, which are relevant across party lines, must be addressed: social security, women’s rights, the environment, Ukraine, preservation of gun safety measures, DOGE incompetence, affirmative action, etc. To suggest that bringing in well-informed speakers, including the Lieutenant Governor, to address these various issues somehow made the event into a mere “Democratic pep rally” is incorrect.

In addition, given that Republican elected officials have so far failed to raise any concern regarding the reckless authoritarian actions of this administration, it is only natural that a gathering to address the threat will attract those typically in opposition to Trump since before he ever took office: many are Democrats, some are independent, and some are or used to be Republican. Rock This Democracy has always invited local and state level Republican elected officials to speak at our events.

This Saturday we will again address fundamental issues cited in the gentleman’s letter: at 7 pm our twilight sidewalk vigil with speakers at the flagpole on Main Street for Andry Romero, Albergo Garcia, and the rule of law is a call to action as we assemble in response to the threat at hand: The brutal, court-defying manner in which these two men were disappeared and imprisoned in El Salvador in an acknowledged administrative error and without appropriate due process.

Trump now refuses to facilitate their return in defiance of court order. This behavior by the administration poses a threat to the constitution and is an outrageous, Kakfaesque assault on basic decency. It is highly un-American. For info on the Saturday vigil and our upcoming May 1st rally see RockThisDemocracy.org.

We encourage all to get involved as our country confronts the threat of a constitutional crisis.

Jim Allen

Newtown