CANCELLED: Protect the Results/Count Every Vote Rallies Today

***CANCELLED***

The national Protect the Results coalition has decided not to proceed with any mobilizations at this time, and the 5pm rally in Pittsfield has been cancelled.

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Berkshire County is joining over 500 communities around the country to stand up and demand that every vote be counted before declaring a winner of the presidential election. Two such 30-minute rallies were scheduled in Pittsfield today.

According to a media release from the Berkshire Democratic Brigades, a coalition of local organizations are collaborating locally, including Indivisible Pittsfield, the Four Freedoms Coalition, Greylock Together, the Berkshire County branch of the NAACP, the Berkshire Democratic Brigades and others to host protests to ensure all votes are counted before a presidential winner is declared.

The first of the two rallies took place in Pittsfield’s Park Square today at noon. If you missed that one, the second such event is scheduled for 5pm, also at Park Square.

A coalition of local organizations are collaborating locally, including Indivisible Pittsfield, the Four Freedoms Coalition, Greylock Together, the Berkshire County branch of the NAACP, and the Berkshire Democratic Brigades. The nationwide actions are being organized by Protect the Results, which is a coalition of over 100 groups that was formed to protect the results of the election.

According to the media release, the rallies are being held in order to ensure that every vote be counted, and the United States has a peaceful transition of power.

Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito released the following statement today in alignment with the ideals of today’s rallies:

“The United States of America depends on every American having the freedom to cast their vote and for every vote to be counted. Every American, regardless of political affiliation, especially the President and every candidate on the ballot, should be united in supporting this process. Regardless of who wins this election, the challenges facing the Commonwealth and the nation remain: defeating the pandemic, rebuilding the economy, and supporting those who need help in these difficult days. When the results are finally determined, we are hopeful that all candidates, especially the two running for the most powerful office in the world, set aside partisanship to improve the lives of all Americans. While many anxiously await the results of this critically important election everyone must exercise their First Amendment right peacefully if they choose to do so, and we ask everyone to be respectful of one another."

Another event is taking place in Boston this afternoon at 3 p.m. More than 3,000 people will join the ACLU of Massachusetts, the NAACP Boston Branch, Indivisible Mass Coalition, Massachusetts Peace Action, and other groups today at the Boston Common to ensure that every vote is counted in the 2020 election.