South County Resistance hosted a President’s Day protest in Wakefield that marched from the intersection of the bike path and Main Street to downtown, where over 100 people gathered at all four corners holding signs and joining in song with Singing Resistance.
The theme of the protest and march was “President’s Day Legacy - From Statesmen to Stooge.” Among the marchers were people dressed as Presidents
George Washington,
Abraham Lincoln, and
Donald Trump. President Trump was dressed in a prison jumpsuit.
Meera Raphael, singer, songwriter, and worship leader in Peacedale, is one of the organizers for Singing Resistance. She led the group in songs that originated on the streets of Minneapolis, from the Peace Poets and resistance movements across the country. These songs, said Raphael, are meant to “nurture the spirit of peace, love, solidarity, and unity.”
“We need to stand together and come together,” said Raphael. “It’s the only way we’re going to get through this… we need more music. Music brings us together and brings harmony in a world full of dissonance.”South County Resistance is one of the biggest protest groups in the state. They helped launch the Grassroots Congress, which has successfully linked most regional resistance groups in Rhode Island. The group works closely with Cranston Forward, Indivisible RI, and Indivisible Metro, among many others.
In addition to marches and rallies, South County Resistance does a bridge brigade on the Wakefield overpass every Saturday, regularly holds postcard writing events, and has held fundraising events to help the State’s Deportation Defense Network. [401‑675‑1414] The group organized five busloads of protesters for October’s No Kings event and collaborated with the RI Resistance Coalition to organize it.
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