10/30/2025
In Ypsilanti, about 4,000 people gathered for the city's first No Kings demonstration earlier in October, said Gordon McAllister, founder of Ypsi Indivisible, the event organizer. Organizers called the event a success. But what’s next for creating an effective, sustained movement?
For Ypsi Indivisible, it looks like building and living in community, McAllister said. With the federal government still shut down, McAllister said he has concerns about the well-being of Ypsilanti residents who may be impacted by a disruption to services, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits.
He said that Ann Arbor Indivisible, a group with which Ypsi Indivisible collaborates, is organizing a food bank to help support residents facing food insecurity.
The key to sustaining a movement is to empower organizers who are engaging with the community, Annie Somerville said. She is the democratic Washtenaw County commissioner for District Six.
As a community organizer, McAllister said it's important to lean on others in order to build that sense of community. He recommended finding a group of like-minded people and giving everyone a chance to utilize their unique talents.
Click the link for more information:
https://www.easternecho.com/article/2025/10/no-kings-organizers-public-officials-call-for-community-building-amid-federal-cuts
Writer: Lilly Kujawski
Photo: Max Taylor / The Eastern Echo
