Ridgefield 'No Kings' Rally To Join Statewide 'Call For Democracy' On Saturday

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Ridgefield residents will gather at Veterans Park this Saturday, Oct. 18, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. for a “No Kings” rally and march — part of a statewide movement urging the protection of democracy and resistance to authoritarianism.

The local event, organized by a coalition of community groups under the auspices of Indivisible and led by Ridgefield Resistance, joins similar demonstrations planned in towns across Connecticut this weekend. Each is inspired by the national “No Kings” initiative, which organizers describe as a collective stand against political corruption, threats to democratic institutions, and efforts to undermine the rule of law.

Ridgefield Resistance founder Ed Federman, a town resident and psychologist, said the gathering aims to “activate and validate” people who feel discouraged by recent political developments.

Related: ‘No Kings’ Protests Planned This Weekend Across Connecticut: What To Know

“Many people are feeling that the onslaught is so powerful and so relentless that they feel kind of hopeless,” Federman said. “We want to show that they’re not alone — that there’s a community here that believes democracy is worth defending.”

Local Voices And Themes

Federman said the rally will include presentations from:

• Juan Fonseca Tapia, co-founder and organizer for Greater Danbury Unites for Immigrants
• State Sen. Julie Kushner, who represents the 24th District
• Rev. Whitney Altopp, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Ridgefield
• Celeste Cobb, founder of Redding, Easton and Bethel activist group REBs
• Ira Joe Fisher, Ridgefield Poet Laureate

Attendees are encouraged to wear black in solidarity — though Federman noted with a laugh that “someone told everyone to wear yellow yesterday, so we’ll see.” Participants may also consider attending in"Handmaid’s Tale" cosplay, a symbolic nod to the themes of government overreach and personal freedom, Federman said.

From Anxiety To Action

Federman said one focus of the event will be the “250 Minutes for Democracy” campaign. The initiative asks participants to dedicate 250 minutes each month to civic engagement — from writing letters to voting outreach — in honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.

"We want to empower people to take small, consistent actions,” Federman said. “It’s about transforming frustration into forward motion.”

Statewide Movement

“No Kings” rallies are scheduled in over three dozen Connecticut towns this weekend, including New Haven, Hartford, and Danbury. The coordinated demonstrations mark the anniversary of the 1774 passage of the Connecticut Charter, emphasizing that “the nation’s founders rejected monarchy — and we must, too.”

In Ridgefield, Federman said the rally will close with a short march and a call to continued participation.

“The work of democracy isn’t something that happens every four years,” he said. “It happens in every community, every day.”

The Ridgefield No Kings Rally takes place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Veterans Park, located at the corner of Governor Street and East Ridge Road.