Please join us for our 56th consecutive community rally to Defend Democracy in beautiful downtown Bethel at our Municipal Center, 1 School Street. While our overall theme is Defending Democracy, each week we pick a specific focus. On Saturday, March 28th, 11am – 12:45pm, our focus will be:
*No Kings: Activism is Our Superpower*
**We have the power and are claiming it together.**
**No Thrones.**
**No Crowns.**
**No Kings.**
What began in 2025 as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading from small towns to city centers and across every community determined to defend democracy. Our peaceful movement is bigger than ever.
When our families are under attack and costs are pushing people to the brink, silence is not an option. We will defend ourselves and our communities against this administration’s unjust and cruel acts of violence.
We’re not watching history happen—we’re making it. Join us.
*A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.*
You’ll get some answers to the question we hear most: What can we do?
Click here for the photos of the speakers https://docs.google.com/document/d/11Qf3XcymjrxiMF0OR7N8e4IlJ5Xckc4ggp0CIA2MV6Q/edit?usp=drivesdk
Three activist speakers,
our featured musicians and singers,
the new Bethel Resistance Singing Group, and about a dozen local organizations will inspire you into additional actions!
Justin Molito is a lifelong union organizer and the Director of Organizing of the Writers Guild of America,East.(WGAE). The WGAE is the union for over 7,000 film, television, and digital media writers and journalists. Locally he is active in Danbury Unites for Immigrants, and is a co-founder of the Greater Danbury Area Justice Network. He will speak about organizing in this moment: covering the importance of connecting anti-authoritarian/maga work to state and municipal fights for economic inequality and defending against the federal regime’s attack on our Civil Liberties. He will also speak to the importance of strikes, boycotts, mutual aid and solidarity.
Celeste Cobb is the founder and leader of REBS (Redding, Easton and Bethel – Moving Forward). After spending her career as a communications and marketing professional in the insurance industry she started REBS, a grassroots opposition group, in December 2024. With currently just under 500 members REBS is focused on preserving our democracy and civil rights for all. REBS is engaged in a variety of activities to push back on the wave of totalitarianism in this country. Please join us!
Celeste will speak about “Making an Impact: Why This Work Matters”.
Isabel Schenkel is a Music Education major from Western Connecticut State University. She has lived in Bethel for 5 years and has been involved with Student Government. Isabel has advocated for women’s and LGBT rights, protested for an end to gun violence and better funding of public schools, and for making sure that local school-run food pantries always have the funds they need to serve struggling students. In her free time Isabel enjoys playing bass, crocheting, and grabbing a bite with her friends at the school’s coffee shop.
Isabel will talk about what inspired her to become an activist, and how we can help ensure students learn and grow. There are many organizations at WestConn looking for volunteers and donations. You don’t have to be a student to get involved!
B-Vocal Southwest Connecticut (SWCT) is the new Bethel resistance singing group.
Songs have been a part of resistance movements throughout history. Singing is one of the ways to amplify and spread our message. In response to the king-like behavior of those in power, the people of Minneapolis became the catalyst for the resurgence of singing in troubled times and formed the Singing Resistance. Now these songs of protest are being shared and sung across the country. Including right here in Bethel. Join us as we learn some songs old and new. Bring your energy and your joy to the Singing Resistance as we sing together for compassion, peace, harmony, and an end to oppression. No Kings in the United States!
A sampling of the organizations available for you to talk to include:
Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence
Bethel Blues
The Association of Religious Communities (ARC)
Bethel Pride
REBs
Veterans table
Moms Demand Action
CT Students for a Dream (C4D)
Danbury Unites for Immigrants (DUFI)
The League of Women Voters
and more…
We’ll have tons of fun buttons and wristbands and button key chains (while supplies last) and a sign making tent as well as sidewalk chalk if you are feeling artistic!
You’ll also get the chance to sign our giant We The People banner and pick up an ACLU mini-constitution (while supplies last).
We also will have a special Photo Prop tent so that you can get that special picture and post it immediately to several No Kings sites.
Everyone will receive a door prize ticket with a chance to win one of the many door prizes! Must be present to win. Drawing at the end of the rally.
Approximate Rally Schedule
10:30-11:00 Pre-rally Music and Singer
11:00-11:40 Program
11:40 – Noon Resistance Sing-a-Long Noon – 12:30 March
12:30 – 12:45 Wrap up and Raffles
Featured Musicians and Singers
Dean Snellback is a lifelong musician, singer/songwriter, and entertainer based in Connecticut, with roots in New York and Chicago. He performs a diverse range of music, including original, contemporary, popular, rock, blues, and country.
Dean is the founder of several vital music projects:
Dean Snellback Music
A music management company that promotes Dean’s original music and live performance schedule. It serves as the umbrella organization for the following initiatives:
BluesyLand Music
As the founder and leader of The BluesyLand Band, Dean collaborates with talented musicians and songwriters to perform across Connecticut and neighboring New York. They entertain at concerts, festivals, private events, wineries, breweries, and music venue restaurants.
JourneyBack Music
Dean believes that “music has magic and healing” and can transport us back to joyful places. His passion for sharing music with senior living communities began when his mother moved into one many years ago. Dean performs for dozens of communities, either solo or with his band, conveying a message of humor, energy, and joy to residents of independent living, assisted living, memory care, and healthcare facilities.
Twilight Time Music
“The moment between light and darkness is where we feel a special kind of peace.” During the COVID-19 shutdown, Dean organized unique “safe distance concerts” with inspiring songwriters. He now brings transformative, inspirational music to individuals navigating transitions, such as loss, health challenges, loneliness, or other life difficulties. He performs at group events, retreats, workshops, faith ceremonies, and also volunteers for home performances for those with limited mobility.
For more information, feel free to contact Dean via text or phone at 203-364-7655. You can also reach him on Facebook or Treelink.
Erik Rabasca https://linktr.ee/erikrabasca (https://linktr.ee/erikrabasca) is a musician, producer, singer/songwriter and founder of the independent label Highest Frequency Records. Rabasca fuses a wide range of styles -from folk, jazz and indie to reggae and country- in creating something uniquely his own. He leads or co-leads a number of projects (Strike Generation, Lions Gate, Human Tribes Collective, Light Warriors and more) since founding his label in 2016. He has toured the country, performed internationally, opened for Grammy-winners Jon Batiste, SOJA and Mike Farris, toured as an opener for Easy Star All Stars and reggae legends The Meditations, Culture, Sugar Minott, among others and has collaborated with dub legend Mad Professor. He is currently working on his solo debut which sounds like Bob Marley and Tom Waits going alt-country.
Lorraine McGuire is a local talent, and some of you have heard her before, at the Bethel rallies or maybe when dining out in local restaurants. Lorraine’s love of singing and performing started at an early age and included a love of musical theatre. In her college years, she mastered touring New York City schools performing with the Oswego State Singers. In CT she was Karaoke State champ twice and the FM Productions Danbury winner.
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The rally is non-partisan. What this means is that like-minded people from diverse backgrounds are participating and are vital to our rallies. Defending Democracy crosses party lines: we have registered Republicans, Unaffiliated, Democrats, and non-voters, all coming together to fight for the rights of “We the People” to determine the type of society we want to live in.
Never miss information about upcoming rallies by registering for our rally newsletter, bit.ly/BethelRalliesNewsletter (case sensitive). You can also provide feedback on what you’d like to see at future rallies.
Questions and feedback are also always welcome anytime at:
BethelDefendsDemocracyRallies@gmail.com.
Visit BethelRallies.org to find videos and pictures from our past rallies.
Note: Rally is rain, snow or shine. Please bring your own lawn or camping chair.
We collect for Bethel’s food pantry each week. All non-perishable items are greatly appreciated, but the food pantry especially needs: canned fruit, regular coffee and small sized laundry detergent bottles.
Please park at one of the four public parking lots, except for the Library parking lot due to a special fundraiser they are having on 3/28. We ask that you leave the limited street parking spots open so they are available for patrons of downtown businesses – but definitely enjoy our beautiful town’s restaurants and shops after the rally!
Please note that the Bethel Library is holding a fundraiser 10am-4pm. Please avoid parking in the Library parking lot and be sure to check out the fundraiser before heading to the Danbury March.
Bring your voice, your spirit, and your friends. Let’s make change visible.
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After the Bethel Rally, your day of activism is not over!
No Kings Danbury March
Join us as the Greater Danbury Area converges in unity and solidarity in downtown Danbury for a mass march at the end of this historic day!
https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/905608/
Dining for Justice
After the Danbury march lets continue to support the community by eating dinner in a local restaurant.
https://www.mobilize.us/actlocalnwct_/event/920995/?referring_vol=