June is going to be a very busy month across the country and in McHenry County and environs. Two major events are the United We Resist rally in Woodstock Square sponsored by McHenry County NOW this Sunday, June 8 from 1 to 3 pm and the return of Pride Fest to the streets and Square of Woodstock on Sunday, June 15 starting with an extended parade at 11 am and the festival from Noon to 5 pm with food, entertainment, vendors, and more.
The United We Resist rally is a follow up to the hugely successful road side events in Crystal Lake and Algonquin each of which drew over a thousand participants. The inclusive events drew people resisting the attacks on core democratic values, immigrant and refugee rights, LGBTQ+ rights and safety, attacks on Federal employees and slashes to essential and life saving programs, threats to Social Security and Medicare, tariff war insanity, tax cuts for billionaires, public health quackery, environmental rapine, cuts to veteran services and health, and abandonment of Ukraine, and threats to the sovereignty of Canada and Greenland in addition to protection of women’s reproductive and other rights. This time participants will be able to hear from advocates and activists on these issue in a program in the Square’s Gazebo. Members and friends of Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation (TOLUUC) in McHenry are sure to be there. Check out the Facebook event.
Local folks won’t be alone. Hundreds of events of all types are scheduled for the same weekend around the country.
Pride Fest and Woodstock Pride are marking their sixth year as McHenry County’s premier LGBTQ+ event. In the conservative and Republican county many folks remained in the closet out of fear and there had been few public events for the community. But the first Pride Fest in 2019 astonished every one including the conservative establishment, press, and organizers themselves when thousands swarmed the Square in a colorful day long event. After having to scrub the 2020 event because of the Coronavirus pandemic it made a strong return and has grown every year.
Always a joyous and colorful event, the current MAGA administration’s vicious attacks on the very idea of LGBTQ+ inclusion; stripping government web sites, museums, and publication of all mention of the existence of non-traditional heterosexuality; purging the armed services, special persecution of Trans, genderqueer, and gender fluid children, youth, and their families, and threats to schools, local governments, and agencies that continue to support loving inclusion necessarily make this year’s event an act of defiance and resistance.
As usual the Festival will feature a parade through Woodstock before activities begin on the Square at noon, including speakers and entertainment; children’s activities; venders and booths by supporting organizations, agencies, and religious groups; and food trucks. This year for the first time panels from venerable AIDES Memorial Quilt will be on display at Unity Spiritual Center, 225 W. Calhoun Street. And there are associated events all month. Check out.
Tree of Life will hold special Sunday services with Chaplain Dave Becker by its parade entry before it takes off at 11 am. Members of TOL’s Welcoming Congregation Committee and Social Justice Team will staff a booth all day.
There are also other Pride events this June. The Crystal Lake Pride Walk was on Sunday, June 1. Pearl Street Market’s Pride Night in McHenry will be this Thursday, June 5 from 5 to 8:30. TOL will be there too. Check your local community sources for other possible Pride event.
The very active Indivisible of NE McHenry County is joining the No Kings Nationwide Day of Defiance on Saturday, June 14—10:00 am to 1:00 pm on west side of Route 31, north of McCullom Lake Road in McHenry. Indivisible NE McHenry County writes:
In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings. NO KINGS is a national day of action and mass mobilization in response to increasing authoritarian excesses and corruption from Trump and his allies. We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts. They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.
On Saturday, June 14, we’re taking to the streets nationwide. We’re not gathering to feed his ego. We’re building a movement that leaves him behind. The flag doesn’t belong to Donald Trump. It belongs to us. We’re not watching history happen. We’re making it.
Indivisible NE McHenry County meets at the Tree of Life church building, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry. Their next General Meeting where plans for the No Kings event and other actions will be discussed will be held there this Saturday, June 7 at 1:30 pm.
Finaly, if ICE and other Federal agents show up here to attempt to snatch and kidnap our immigrant and refugee neighbors McHenry County has an active Special Response Team. Report activity you observe to 855 435-7695 or at McHenryCoRRT@gmail .
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