2025 Genesee Valley Indivisible Year in Review

Introduction

2025 was a powerful year for Genesee Valley Indivisible — we are a grassroots advocacy group in Western New York committed to defending democracy, advancing justice, and amplifying community voices. From May through October and into the winter season, members and allies organized, marched, rallied, and stood up for core democratic values locally and in solidarity with national movements.

📅 Rally Highlights & Events

✊ Weekly Rallies

Every week, weather permitting, at least a half-dozen Indivisibles and friends gather at Gateway Corner Park in Geneseo, NY, at the intersection of Volunteer Road and US 20A. They display signs protesting the authoritarianism in Washington and demonstrating their resolve to protect the U.S. Constitution.

🤫 Silent Sentinels

Throughout the year, Silent Sentinel pop-up protests appeared unexpectedly in Geneseo, Dansville, Avon, Mt. Morris, and Leicester. These brief but powerful actions brought a quiet, unmistakable presence to public spaces across the county, using silence and visual messaging to call attention to the growing threat of fascism in our country. By showing up without warning and sans speeches, Silent Sentinels underscore the urgency of vigilance and resistance in defense of democracy.

🌟 Spring Kickoff

“Hands Off!” Rally – Geneseo, NY – April 4, 2025
The 2025 rallies kicked off in early April with the “Hands Off Rally!” in Geneseo, marking the first major public action of the year. Co-sponsored by Genesee Valley Indivisible alongside local allies including Geneseo Peace Action and Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace, the event drew community members together to voice opposition to federal overreach and to defend democratic principles. Participants lined Main Street with signs declaring “Hands Off,” calling for protections of civil liberties, public services, and constitutional rights as part of a broader “Hands Off!” national day of action. The energy and turnout at this early-season rally set a strong tone for the months of advocacy and engagement that followed.

“Hands Off!” Rally – Livonia, NY – April 4, 2025
On the same day as the Geneseo action, community members also gathered in Livonia for a “Hands Off!” Rally, expanding the reach of the first major mobilization of the 2025 season. Standing visibly along public roadways, participants used signs and silent presence to call for protections of democracy, civil liberties, and essential public institutions. Holding rallies in multiple towns on the same day underscored the depth and geographic spread of local opposition to authoritarian policies and set an early tone of coordinated, county-wide engagement for the year ahead.

Mayday Rally — May 3, 2025 (Geneseo, NY)
The Mayday rally brought the community together to celebrate workers, rights, and civic engagement, setting the tone for a season of active advocacy.

“Save Our Healthcare!” Rally — May 28, 2025 (Canandaigua, NY)
In a coordinated effort alongside simultaneous events at other district offices, members rallied for accessible healthcare. This action aligned with one of the group’s foundational themes — holding elected officials accountable to community needs.

“Celebrate Democracy” Rally – May 31, 2025 (Dansville, NY)
A rally for democracy, our Constitution, and due process for everyone. There was a huge turnout despite the unseasonably cold and rainy weather!

⸻

🔥 Summer Momentum

“No Kings” Rally — June 14, 2025 (Leicester & Geneseo, NY)
GVI marched and rallied in both Leicester and Geneseo, reinforcing calls for constitutional fidelity and civic vigilance, and resistance to authoritarianism.

GVCP “Hands Off Iran” Rally — June 28, 2025 (Geneseo, NY)
A powerful show of solidarity with peace activists and coordinated with Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace, emphasizing community opposition to war and violence.

“Elbows Up!” Rally for Canada — July 5, 2025 (Caledonia, NY)
Cross-border solidarity and attention to regional issues showcased Genesee Valley Indivisible’s expanding engagement.

“Good Trouble” Rally — July 17, 2025 (Avon, NY)
Taking inspiration from civil rights discourse, this event brought community members onto major thoroughfares to call for justice and renewed civic energy.

“Liberty and Justice for All” Rally — July 26, 2025 (Dansville, NY)
GVI joined Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace in a rally supporting immigrants’ rights. We learned about the lives of local farmworkers and our immigrant neighbors and the ways in which they are suffering due to the actions committed by I.C.E. Raising our voices in opposition to such treatment, we reinforced the core themes of justice, equality, inclusion, and democratic participation for all.

💪 Late Summer to Fall

“Workers Over Billionaires” Rally — August 30, 2025 (Avon, NY)
Amplifying economic justice themes, this rally focused on workers’ rights and equitable economic policies, drawing participants from the broader Genesee Valley area.

Constitution Lecture Series — September 17 (Avon, NY)
GVI began its celebration of the 238^th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution by presenting a lecture by Dr. James Moore, Adjunct Professor of Constitutional Law and Political Science at SUNY Geneseo, who spoke at length on the origins of one of our most precious documents.

“No Kings 2.0” Rallies — October 18, 2025 (Geneseo, Lima, Livonia, NY)
These gatherings emphasized the group’s commitment to constitutional governance and opposition to authoritarian policies — a recurring theme in GVI’s activism.

“Die-In” Protest at Rep. Tenney’s Canandaigua Office – October 25, 2025
Members of Genesee Valley Indivisible and allies held a “Die-in” protest outside Claudia Tenney’s Canandaigua office to dramatize the real-world consequences of political inaction and harmful policies. Participants lay silently on the ground, using their bodies to represent lives lost or put at risk, while signs and visual messaging conveyed the urgency of the issues at stake. The action was designed to confront power directly, draw public attention, and underscore the fact that the policy decisions have human costs—especially for the most vulnerable members of our communities.

Constitution Lecture Series — November 6 (Geneseo, NY)
GVI continued its celebration of the signing of the Constitution by presenting a lecture by Dr. Judith Hunter, Historian and Former Senior Research Scholar for the History Department at SUNY Geneseo. Dr. Hunter focused on the importance of the 14th Amendment, which focuses on citizenship rights and equal protection under the law.

⛄ Winter 2025

GVCP’s 42nd annual “Buy Peaceful Toys” Rally — December 6 (Geneseo, NY)
GVCP’s historic event calls for the purchasing of peaceful toys for children in order to promote a more nonviolent world in their future. GVI joined the rally, in solidarity with GVCP and its co-sponsor, Veterans for Peace.

Solidarity Rally — December 13, 2025 (Avon, NY)
GVI gathered a broad coalition of community members and partner of groups — including Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace, Hemlock Rising, Wyoming County Indivisible, Veterans for Peace,  and 5&20 Alliance —  to join with us at a rally in Avon. Dedicated members of each group braved the winter chill to stand together in solidarity against the immorality, unconstitutionality, and corruption of the current regime. The turnout and shared commitment demonstrated that even in the harshest weather, collective resolve and mutual support remain strong, closing out the year with a powerful reminder that solidarity does not hibernate.

📸 Media & Community Engagement

The Rally Gallery page collected dozens of photos and videos from each event, all contributed by volunteer photographers. These images documented the breadth of community participation and the energy present at rallies throughout 2025. Special thanks are extended to all photographers for capturing these moments.

🤝 Community Events

Beyond rallies and advocacy actions, Genesee Valley Indivisible strengthened its community ties through a wide range of educational, outreach, and social events throughout the year. Members gathered for presentations and discussions at weekly meetings, including a talk by David Cay Johnston and two Constitution Lectures. GVI has welcomed an immigrant farmworkers organization, Alianza Agrícola, for a presentation that helped deepen our understanding of local immigrant and agricultural worker issues. GVI’s connection with Alianza has grown deeper through a drive to provide Halloween “goodie bags” for farmworkers’ children during their Dia de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) celebration, and through working with Alianza to create a rapid response network in Livingston County. For the Christmas season, GVI and Alianza members provided gifts and goodies for approximately 33 children of immigrant farmworkers in our area.

Outreach beyond meetings was also an important part of the year. Volunteers staffed a booth at the Hemlock Fair, hosted a table at in Mt. Morris, and connected with community members at Apple Umpkin Fest in Wyoming. These events provided opportunities to share information, build relationships, and make Genesee Valley Indivisible visible and welcoming in the broader community. The GVI Book Club has read and discussed On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder and Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson.

Just as important this year were the social moments that helped sustain the group’s sense of connection. Members gathered for Thursday night dinners during the summer, socialized with friends from Hemlock Rising and our hosts 5&20 Alliance in Lima in June, and came together for a postcard-writing picnic with grilled burgers and hots at a pavilion in Letchworth State Park. In December, we closed the year with a joyful cookie fest and holiday gift-wrapping extravaganza, in which members joined together to celebrate while wrapping gifts for the children of our Alianza families — combining community care with collective action.

Together, these events reflect the heart of Genesee Valley Indivisible: a group grounded not only in advocacy, but also in education, solidarity, and shared community.

✍️ Letter Writing and Postcard Engagement

While rallies made Genesee Valley Indivisible visible in public spaces, members also took action in quieter but equally powerful ways. Throughout the year, volunteers gathered to write letters and postcards to elected officials and voters, using personal messages to advocate for democratic values, fair policies, and accountability.

These letter-writing and postcard efforts (~5000 postcards sent!) helped sustain momentum between rallies, offering an accessible way for people to participate—whether from home or in small group settings. Each handwritten note represented a commitment to civic engagement and a belief that personal voices still matter in shaping public policy.

By combining public demonstrations with consistent, behind-the-scenes outreach, Genesee Valley Indivisible strengthened its impact and kept pressure on decision-makers year-round.

🌐 Broader Impact

Genesee Valley Indivisible’s activities connect local community organizing with the broader Indivisible national movement — which began as a grassroots effort to resist threats to democratic norms and has grown into thousands of autonomous groups advocating progressive values statewide and across the U.S.

In 2025, the Genesee Valley group not only maintained regular weekly rallies and community events but also helped coordinate larger, issue-focused actions that addressed national policy concerns and local priorities alike.

Looking Ahead

As the new year begins, GVI will be organizing new rallies and continuing our weekly ones, joining with other Indivisible chapters and like-minded groups in resistance against the current regime and its authoritarian, inhumane, and unjust policies. We will be scheduling new community events, widening the scope of support for Alianza Agrícola, creating new opportunities to stand up and speak out, and persisting in our efforts to support issues vital not only to our nation as a whole, but throughout NY State and our communities as well.
 
Our first opportunity for a day of action is coming up quickly: On January 6, in Canandaigua, GVI is joining with Finger Lakes Makers Collective, Rochester Indivisible, and others to take a stand against Claudia Tenney and her blind support for the administration’s disastrous agenda.
 
On the heels of that event will be actions in support of two important bills before the NY State Legislature: NY for All and the NY Health Act, and the third in our Constitution Lecture Series, covering the “Separation of Powers.”
 
All of these efforts demonstrate GVI’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and civic action — and we will be gaining momentum as the year progresses!

Are you planning for resistance in 2026? View the events calendar and find a rally and join us!