Calling it “the election of our lives” and “the last chance to begin to change this country,” members of the “Umbrella Brigade” — part of the Westville Indivisible political group — brought their umbrella signage and enthusiasm to rush hour traffic in Westville on Friday afternoon.
Amid blaring horns of support along the parade route, members said their walk originated in Edgewood Park and was headed to the early voting polling place at Southern Connecticut State University on Wintergreen Avenue.
“We’re trying to get as much visibility as possible on how important it is to vote right now,” said one of the parade’s participants, Tina Santoni, as she marched along Blake Street. “Now more than ever.”
Santoni said that the Umbrella Brigade has been around for about a year and a half, “trying to bring positive change to this country” and making sure “people get the message to vote.” Click here to read about their participation in an anti-ICE rally on the Green in January.
“Everyone needs to vote,” added fellow marcher Janis Underwood, a Ward 25 Democratic Ward Committee co-chair and member of Greater Westville Indivisible. “This is the election of our lives.”
Some residents along the parade group could be heard yelling their support from apartment windows; even the traffic monitor outside the Montessori School on Blake Street was proud to announce that she had voted early.
Getting out the vote was the focus of the most recent No Kings national campaign held on Oct. 17, to encourage voting participation ahead of the midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3. No Kings rallies across the nation sought to promote early voting and voter registration.
With warm temperatures and under bright blue skies, today’s march by the Umbrella Brigade used painted umbrellas to underscore the existential urgency of getting out to vote this election cycle.
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