SHELBURNE FALLS — Two days before Election Day, Chuck Collins, an author and senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies Chuck Collins, and U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern spoke to more than 100 residents at an “Election Defense” event that organizers hoped would have attendees leave feeling empowered to make a difference and turn out to vote.
Lynn Benander, a member of the leadership team for West County Organizing and a member of Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution (FCCPR), explained that Sunday’s event at Trinity Church was among a series of monthly programs put on by West County Organizing. The idea for Sunday’s event began to take shape in July, prompted by residents’ concerns over the federal government’s impact on democracy.
“We can insist that this democracy … can persevere,” Benander said. She said she hoped those in attendance would feel motivated by Sunday’s program and empowered to make a difference, and that everyone should vote.
“We are here today to gather our courage for the days ahead,” Benander added.
McGovern shared that on his radio show “McGoverning with McGovern,” his co-host Christopher “Monte” Belmonte ends every show by asking McGovern what gives him hope. He told the more than 100 people in the pews, “You’re going to be my answer on Thursday.”
“They want you to feel like you can’t make a difference,” McGovern said, referring to MAGA (Make America Great Again) Republicans. “This is really hopeful to me. … People understand what’s at stake.”
Before McGovern took the microphone, Diane Johnson, CEO and founder of Mmapeu Consulting, asked those in attendance to discuss in small groups what their motivation was for voting in the midterms and attending Sunday’s event. Answers from attendees included their children and grandchildren; faithfulness to the principles of the Founding Fathers; how democracy is not something you have, but rather something you do; and “this wonderful community.”
With one resident raising concerns about nuclear strikes in the ongoing war with Iran, McGovern said that in the long term, the governments of the world should be working on a global plan to eliminate nuclear weapons. With a Democrat-led House of Representatives and Senate, McGovern said that leadership of the party would work toward ending the war in Iran, as declaring war is a power that rests with Congress.
When asked about voters potentially being intimidated enough to stay away from polling locations on Election Day, McGovern reflected on his experience sharing the House floor with John Lewis, who he called “a voting rights hero.” He said it’s going to take everyone voting so that the results are too overwhelming to ignore.
Collins expanded on this, saying that roughly 54 million people across the country have already submitted ballots, despite the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict voting by mail ahead of the midterm elections.
“Intimidation at the polls is real,” Collins said, adding that those in attendance need to be part of the response to voter intimidation.
Any step forward is because like-minded people came together, McGovern said. In his eyes, this isn’t just Democrats who are like-minded, but also Republicans who have grown weary of the Trump administration.
As the meeting took place on All Saints Day, Collins closed by asking the audience to reflect and think about who will be walking with them to the polls on Tuesday. Drawing from the Latin-American tradition of the Day of the Dead, Collins asked the audience to shout out which ancestors they would be calling upon as they vote.
“This is what patriotism looks like,” McGovern said in closing.
