Hundreds of people gathered in Perry Square for an afternoon filled with speeches, music, and information on pro-democracy values and the power of collective action. Waving signs and chanting in unison, attendees made their voices heard in support of No Kings Day in Erie.
The energy of the crowd reflected both purpose and positivity. Karis Turk, the lead organizer of 5051 Erie said, “Protesting is about action, but it’s also about joy and so we love to see people come out and getting to meet new people that may not have been involved before.”
For Turk, getting involved was about being part of something bigger than herself. After joining 5051 Erie, she stepped into a leadership role to help organize events like this. As Turk explained, “I felt like instead of staying at home I really needed to do something, so I linked up with the old co-lead and started organizing last year.”…