LOGAN – With the midterm election just 10 days away, the nationwide anti-Trump movement has shifted its tactics from attention-grabbing public protests to voting rights activism.
Here in Cache Valley, that activism manifested itself on Oct. 17 as a “No Kings: Vote Early!” rally at the Cache County Historic Courthouse square.
That event inspired a portion of the rally crowd estimated at more than 500 residents to cast their mail-in ballots in a parade to the nearby voting dropbox in the parking lot of the County Administration Building.
Participants in the local rally were by no means alone, with similar events taking place at 11 other locations throughout the state, including Ogden, Clearfield, Salt Lake, Park City, Heber City, Provo, Price, Ephraim, Kanab, Cedar City and St. George.
“Why do we show up?” asked Kathy Biele, the president of the League of Women Voters of Utah during the “Vote Early” rally in the Avenues neighborhood of Salt Lake City. “Because voting is our voice and ballots send the message that the people matter.
“We are the force of the electorate and today we cast our ballots to ensure a free and secure election,” she added.
The local rally was organized by We The People Cache Valley, an arm of national Indivisible organization, a progressive grassroots movement designed to combat authoritarianism and promote democracy by organizing local activists to pressure Congress to resist Trump administration policies.
The “Vote Early” rallies throughout Utah were part of more some 3,000 similar day of action events nationwide, according to Jim Evans, a rally speaker and spokesperson for We The People Cache Valley.
In addition to recalling the usual list of complaints about the Trump administration, rally speakers also read excerpts from the nation’s founding documents — including the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights – to cheers and applause from the crowd.
Candidates challenging Republican incumbents at state and national level were also present, mingling with the crowd to signal their support of the rally’s goals. They included Democratic congressional candidate Peter Crosby of Providence and Independent legislative candidate Patrick Belmont.
Originally founded in 2016 by Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg, the national Indivisible group was launched to emulate Tea Party tactics for resisting the Trump agenda by focusing on lobbying, public demonstrations and accountability.
Despite claims of non-partisanship, the list of partner organizations that joined Indivisible Salt Lake in the day of voter participation revealed close links to Utah Democrats.
Those groups included the League of Women Voters of Utah, the Salt Lake Democratic Socialists of America, the Utah Progressive Caucus, the Utah Overpass Action, the 71% Coalition, the Utah Democratic Women’s Caucus, the Salt Lake County Democratic Party, the Women’s Democratic Club of Utah, the Salt Lake County Democratic Women’s Caucus, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People of Salt Lake, Moms Rising Utah and Mormons with Hope.
Crosby is opposing incumbent U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-1st Dist.) for the seat representing Utah’s 2nd District in Congress.
Belmont is running against incumbent Utah Rep. Jason Thompson (R-River Heights) in House District 3.