Letters

June 14 was Flag Day, and a nationwide No Kings Day of Defiance, in which millions participated in more than 2,100 marches and rallies across the country in support of democracy, the rule of law, due process and freedom of speech — all in opposition to a presidential power grab unprecedented in our history. The actions took place during Donald Trump’s lackluster $45 million taxpayer-funded military/birthday parade in Washington, D.C.

In Riverhead, more than 1,000 residents voiced their vehement opposition to autocratic rule by the Trump administration at a peaceful No Kings rally organized by the Southampton Democratic Committee, the Riverhead Democratic Committee and a coalition of pro-democracy partners.

Attendees at the Riverhead rally held signs demanding respect for the Constitution, the rule of law and civil rights, and voicing their anger about the corrupt monetizing of the presidency, cuts to Medicaid and the Veterans Administration, the administration’s flouting of federal court orders, and Trump’s abuse of presidential powers.

New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado gave a rousing speech, stating that “democracy is under attack — not just in Washington, but also in communities like ours. When immigrant families are targeted by armed raids and fear becomes a tool of governance, that’s not law and order — that’s control through cruelty. We say no to tyranny, no to fear, and no to any leader who thinks they can rule like a king.”

Congressman Dan Goldman emphasized that “America is a democracy, not a monarchy … Trump is methodically and steadfastly working to undermine the rule of law, dismantle our democracy, terrorize immigrants, eliminate all forms of accountability, and abuse the power of the presidency for his political and personal gain.”

This is what democracy looks like — people united, refusing to be ruled by a monarch. Citizens showed this president that defying federal court orders, disappearing people off the streets, slashing essential services and handing billions to his cronies is unacceptable in America.

But this activism will matter only if we vote in every election and work hard to elect pro-democracy candidates who will act as a bulwark against authoritarianism that is not knocking at our door but is in the room actively destroying our freedoms.

No one has the luxury of sitting out politics anymore. Enough is enough.

Alex Margolis

Remsenburg