“STAND UP, FIGHT BACK!” RALLY REPORT

Over 40 activists and allies came together in the village of Nunda to Stand Up and Fight Back against an unprovoked war in the Middle East. Is the war in Iran the president’s latest distraction from the Epstein files or from his sinking poll numbers? Regardless, it is emblematic of the chaos, cruelty, and corruption of the current administration, whether measured in lives lost or disrupted, or in dollars spent.

Most of the rally crowd focused on the message that the Trump regime should stop the war in Iran and that Congress should not approve additional funding for the war. There were also a number of messages demanding the release of the rest of the Epstein files and supporting human trafficking survivors.

We hope that all of our neighbors can agree that bombing Iran is a “war of choice” that should be stopped. Let Claudia Tenney know that if she is not opposing this war, she is not representing you! Online Contact Form; Tenney’s Canandaigua Office, (585) 869-2060 or Washington, D.C., Office, (202) 225-3665.

“In the Seneca language, Nunda translates as “Where the valley meets the hills” and residents and visitors still experience a thrill upon viewing the pastoral scenery of the Nunda valley from one of the surrounding hills. The Genesee River, Native American trails, the Genesee Valley Canal, and railroads all passed through Nunda, NY, leaving a rich history to be explored. Our unique and inviting 1830s village square, fascinating architecture, historic murals, trails, State Forests, golf courses, Swain Ski Resort, and the famous Letchworth State Park all allow visitors to experience the history, culture, and nearby outdoor recreation opportunities that make Nunda extraordinary.” Explore Nunda!

GENESEE VALLEY VOICES

From an anonymous Genesee Valley Voice, sharing the voice of Timothy Snyder:

“Stand out. Someone has to. It is easy to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without unease, there is no freedom. Remember Rosa Parks. The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.”

–Timothy Snyder, Epigraph to Chapter 8, On Tyranny, 2017

KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING

“Stand Up, Fight Back” Saturday – Warsaw, NY

“Stand Up, Fight Back” Saturdays goes on the road again this week, to support WyCoNY Indivisible’s rally in Warsaw, NY. They return us to “an older, but good” message from Representative John Lewis, “Make Good Trouble!” With “good trouble” in mind, the organizers ask for signs and messages that are uplifting and positive.

GVI Book Club’s Third Chapter

Book: Lessons from Bobby: Ten Reasons Robert F. Kennedy Matters
               by Chris Mathews

Synopsis, Review, About the Author from Goodreads

Discussion Session #1: April 16th, 5:30pm (before the weekly community meeting)
               Bring Your Own Dinner; St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall

Town Hall Featuring Candidates for NY Congressional District 24!

Alissa Ellman (D) | Ken Estes (I) | Diana Kastenbaum (D) | John McDairmen (R) | Claudia Tenney (R)

SAVE THE DATE — Tuesday, April 4 6:30 PM Little Finger Lakes Center, Hemlock

Stay tuned for more details!

Organized by Hemlock Rising Indivisible

NEWS OF INTEREST

Remember, No Kings 3 is on March 28th. Plan ahead and display your yard sign prior to the event! Think of this as an investment in resistance: there will be more No Kings events in the future; remove the yard stakes and carry the sign to the rally; display NO KINGS periodically throughout the year!

How to Order

As a result of Arnie Matlin’s lengthy relationship with the Syracuse Cultural Workers Coop, they gave us a $5 per sign discount! Phil will provide a $5 cash refund to all who have paid and will pay it to you at the GVI meeting on 3/12/26 or 3/19/26. If you can’t make either of those meetings, we can work something out when you come to pick up your sign on Phil’s front porch.

If you’d like more than 2 signs, simply change the donation amount on the form.

A Genesee Valley Visibility Brigade is Forming

The “Visibility Brigade” designation comes from the group in New Jersey who pioneered the strategy of holding signs or attaching banners to overpass railings along interstate highways. There are two “Brigades” in Monroe County. One operates on the west side of Rochester and the other sets up at east side locations. Some of our members are forming a crew to display our messages on overpasses over I-390 in Livingston County.

They will have full details to share soon: who, what, when, where; safety plan, number of volunteers needed, etc. In the meantime, they are asking for donations of used candidate campaign signs from past elections. They will cover the original message and reuse them. (They do not need the metal stands. The Artists Team may be interested in those.)

Dwight Yoder will take them off your hands at our Thursday evening community meetings.

Weekly Geneseo Wednesday and Friday Protests

Wednesdays and Fridays — 4:00–5:00 PM
Gateway Corner Park in Geneseo, NY (across from Wegmans)

NOTE: Summer Schedule, 4:00-5:00 PM, begins March 11th!

Join the ‘Geneseo Visibles’ – all are welcome, even if you can only stay for 10 minutes!

Weekly Hemlock Protest

Wednesdays — 3:30–4:30 PM (Winter Schedule)

Southeast Corner of Rt 15A and Rt 20A (aka “Dollar General Corner”)
Organized by Hemlock Rising Indivisible (hemlockrising8@gmail.com)

NATIONAL INDIVISIBLE NEWS

Virtual Training for No Kings 3 from Indivisible National

Safety and Deescalation Foundations, 3/11 

Know Your Rights: Protest Rights & Safety Practices 3/18 and 3/23 

No Kings 3 Kickoff Call (a virtual pep rally!) 3/19 

People Power: How to Have Conversations About No Kings That Move People 3/25

What’s the Plan? – Zoom Meeting

• Weekly, national, interactive Zoom with Indivisible co-CEOs.

• LIVE – Thursdays from 3:00–4:00 PM (2026 registration link)

• PODCAST – Available to listen on Fridays

UPCOMING EVENTS

GVI Weekly Community Meeting

Thursdays, 6:30–8:00 PM
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Geneseo, NY

Weekly meeting to share news, plans, and collaborations as we resist the imposition of autocracy in the USA, and affirm the principles of democracy upon which this nation was built.

If you have questions or suggestions for the Leadership Team, please contact any of us directly or email info@geneseevalleyindivisible.org.

Local Postcard Campaign

The Power of Postcards  (From Indivisible Rochester Newsletter March 2)

Do postcard campaigns really work? Here’s what we found:

• In a 2020 study by professors at three universities (Cal State, U of Maryland, and U of North Carolina), postcards containing information about voter registration were sent to over 2.2 million Pennsylvania unregistered voters in 2016. Results showed a 1% increase in registration (almost 2% among 18–21-year-olds) as compared with a control group that did not receive postcards. Of the new registrants, 85% turned up at the polls.

• In 5 randomized, controlled postcard studies, Postcards to Swing States reports, the vast majority (13 out of 14 cases) were correlated with statistically significant increases in voter turnout.

• A study by the Women’s Effect Action Fund found that postcards raised voter turnout by 0.4%, and that voters often came to the polls with postcards in hand.

Postcards have been found to be most effective in local, rural, or low-interest elections, but they can be the deciding factor in all tight races, large or small. By their very nature, they can be targeted to specific demographic groups, are more personal, can be seen as more trustworthy than emails, and might be more easily remembered.

There are many sources for postcarding, including:

• Reclaim Our Vote, from the Center for Common Ground, which is non-partisan. The Center for Common Ground is a non-partisan, Black, and women-led voting rights organization founded in 2018.

• Progressive Turnout Project: This group has news-boosting postcards. One side has a headline from a reliable source about the particular election, and a standardized message is written on the other side: They plan to start Get Out the Vote postcards May 1.

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