Defend Democracy ICT | Defend Democracy Wichita

** SATURDAY PROTEST START TIME MOVING TO 10 AM

10 - 11:00/11:30 AM PROTEST | 11:00/11:30 - ? SPEAKERS, CONVERATION AND ORGANIZING

Defend Democracy ICT is a community-driven, nonviolent movement committed to fostering civic engagement, open dialogue, and collective action across Wichita and Kansas. Through peaceful and non-violent protest, we create a welcoming platform for all individuals to unite in defense of democratic values and to send a clear, unwavering message to leaders at every level:

the voices of the people matter, and our democracy must be protected.

Over the next two weeks, we have two opportunities to come together in different ways—both equally important. --- ## 📌 Quick Summary (TL;DR) ### 🎶 June 14 – Rise Up, Sing Out **🏡 Building Community. 🗽 Celebrating the First Amendment.** This is **not a protest.** We're encouraging people to gather with friends, family, neighbors, and community members to watch a national livestream concert celebrating the freedoms protected by the First Amendment. 🍽️ Host a potluck 📺 Organize a watch party 🎨 Make signs together ✍️ Write postcards or letters 🗣️ Have meaningful conversations 🤝 Meet new neighbors 🕠 **Sunday, June 14 • 5:30 PM CT** 🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/RiseUpSingOutWichita 📘 Facebook Event: https://bit.ly/RiseUpSingOutICT-FBevent 📺 Watch Party Link: https://bit.ly/RiseUpSingOutWatchPartyICT --- ### 🏳️‍🌈 June 27 – ALL OF US Wichita **💜 Celebrating Inclusion. 🌈 Supporting Our LGBTQIA+ Community.** Join us as we close out Pride Month and support our LGBTQIA+ neighbors, friends, family members, and community. 📍 Douglas & Broadway 🕙 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 🎉 Then head toward Main Street to cheer on and celebrate Wichita Pride as the Pride Parade begins at 11:30 AM. 🔗 Mobilize Registration: https://bit.ly/AllOfUsICT_Mobilize 📘 Facebook Event: https://bit.ly/AllOfUsICT-FB --- ### 💙 Why Both Matter 🏡 June 14 is about building community. 🤝 June 27 is about showing up together. One happens around kitchen tables and in living rooms. The other happens in public spaces alongside our neighbors. ✨ Both strengthen democracy. ✨ Both build relationships. ✨ Both remind us that real change happens when ordinary people come together, care for one another, and stay engaged. --- ## 🎶 June 14 — Rise Up, Sing Out ### 🏡 Building Community. 🗽 Celebrating the First Amendment. We're in the streets and on the sidewalks almost every day of the week. On June 14, we're doing something a little different. Instead of gathering at intersections, we're taking these conversations into our neighborhoods, homes, churches, and communities. The organizers behind *Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment* are encouraging people across the country to gather together for a national livestream celebrating free speech, free press, freedom of assembly, and the freedoms that allow us to organize, advocate, and participate in democracy. There is no right way to participate. Host a: 📺 Watch party 🍽️ Potluck 🎨 Sign-making gathering ✍️ Postcard or letter-writing party 🗣️ Community conversation ☕ Neighborhood get-together Gather in: 🏡 Living rooms 🌳 Backyards 🍴 Around kitchen tables ⛪ Churches 🏢 Community centers 🤝 Anywhere people can connect Invite a neighbor you've never met. Invite a friend who's curious but not ready to attend a protest. Invite someone who simply wants to listen. Whether five people gather or fifty, every conversation matters. If you're planning to host a gathering, we'd love to hear about it. Let us know whether it's public or private, approximately how many people you're expecting, and whether Defend Democracy ICT can help support your event. 💙 Because lasting change happens when people know one another, trust one another, and build community together. --- ## 🏳️‍🌈 June 27 — ALL OF US Wichita ### 💜 Celebrating Inclusion. 🌈 Supporting Our LGBTQIA+ Community. On Saturday, June 27, we'll join communities across the country for the next national day of action: **ALL OF US.** There may be no better way to celebrate inclusion than by celebrating Pride Month together. As we close out Pride Month, we're encouraging everyone to show up and proudly support our LGBTQIA+ neighbors, friends, family members, and community. We'll begin the morning with our regular gathering: 📍 Douglas & Broadway 🕙 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 🎉 Then participants are encouraged to make their way toward Main Street to cheer on and celebrate Wichita Pride as the Pride Parade begins at 11:30 AM and travels toward Century II. This year's theme—**ALL OF US**—is a reminder that democracy belongs to everyone. ❤️ Every race 🧡 Every religion 💛 Every identity 💚 Every background 💙 Every family 💜 Every neighbor We encourage participants to bring signs celebrating inclusion, belonging, dignity, and community. 💜 You Belong Here 💙 You Are Not Alone 💚 Everyone Belongs 🧡 Love Is Love ❤️ ALL OF US Means ALL OF US This is not about confrontation. 🤝 It's about showing our neighbors that Wichita is a community where people are welcomed, valued, respected, and supported. As always, our events remain committed to nonviolent action, respectful engagement, and creating welcoming spaces for everyone. --- ## 📱 Stay Connected & Get Involved 🌐 DefendDemocracyICT.com 📱 @DefendDemocracyICT 📧 [DefendDemocracyICT@gmail.com](mailto:DefendDemocracyICT@gmail.com) --- ## 🔗 Current Event Links ### 🎶 June 14 – Rise Up, Sing Out 🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/RiseUpSingOutWichita 📘 Facebook Event: https://bit.ly/RiseUpSingOutICT-FBevent 📺 Watch Party Link: https://bit.ly/RiseUpSingOutWatchPartyICT ### 🏳️‍🌈 June 27 – ALL OF US Wichita 🔗 Mobilize: https://bit.ly/AllOfUsICT_Mobilize 📘 Facebook Event: https://bit.ly/AllOfUsICT-FB --- ## 📅 Recurring Gatherings 📍 **Mondays** – Pop-up locations announced each Saturday 📍 **Tuesdays** – 12:00 PM – Douglas & Broadway 📍 **Wednesdays** – 11:00 AM – Delano Clock Tower 📍 **Thursdays** – 4:00–5:30 PM – 21st & Rock Road (SW Corner) 📍 **Fridays** – 4:00 PM – 13th & Rock Road 📍 **Saturdays** – 10:00–11:30 AM – Douglas & Broadway (Speakers at 11:00 / 11:30) --- ## 🙋 Want to Help? We're always looking for people willing to help organize, volunteer, provide resources, share skills, assist with outreach, support logistics, or help build community. 📝 Community Feedback & Volunteer Form: https://bit.ly/DDICT-Community-Feedback ### 💙 Support the Work Defend Democracy ICT is entirely volunteer-powered. Donations help support event materials, printing, equipment, rentals, community care efforts, mutual aid, accessibility needs, and other organizing expenses. 💙 Donate: https://bit.ly/DDICTdonations Thank you to everyone who contributes their time, energy, skills, and resources to help strengthen our community. --- ## 📣 A Few Reminders ☮️ These are nonviolent gatherings. 🚫 Do not engage with counter-protesters. 🤝 Help de-escalate conflict. 🚶 Keep crosswalks, sidewalks, and entryways clear. 🏢 Respect neighboring businesses and community members. 💙 Help create a welcoming environment for everyone. ### 🌱 Protest Is Only Part of the Work Building a stronger democracy requires more than showing up to a rally. It also means: ☎️ Calling elected officials 📧 Writing emails and letters 🗳️ Voting and helping others stay informed 🙋 Volunteering with community organizations 🏛️ Serving on boards, commissions, and committees 🤲 Supporting mutual aid efforts 🤝 Building relationships across our communities Movements are sustained not only by the people who march together, but by the people who know, trust, and support one another. Thank you for everything you do to strengthen our community. **💙 Stand Up. Speak Out. Stay United. Take Action. 💙** — Defend Democracy ICT

1/7

TL;DR:

Our recurring protests aren’t about reinventing the wheel—they’re about building on the momentum already in our community. We show up regularly to raise awareness, connect people and organizations, share resources, and keep our issues visible. Standing protests happen Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at Douglas & Broadway, Delano, plus 13th & Rock, and Kellogg bridge brigades. We’d love to expand into more rotating locations on different days—reach out if you want to help lead one!

The longer version:

The purpose of these recurring protests is not to reinvent the wheels already spinning in our community, but to build on them. Our weekly gatherings give people the opportunity to come together and see that others feel the same way they do. We raise our voices and awareness in our community, connect with those passionate about the same issues, and highlight organizations already doing the work while connecting them with people who want to support their efforts. These protests are also a space to share information about community events and ways to take action and stay engaged. When schedules allow, we feature speakers to engage directly with the crowd.

Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays are our standing protest days, along with the recurring protest at 13th and Rock Road outside the Koch property, and the Friday and Saturday bridge protests over Kellogg (and others as they’re able).

While those are our anchors, to those who are looking for additional protest locations, we would LOVE to make that happen. We have 4 intersections around town (N. E. W. S.) that would be great for a rotating recurring protest on Tuesdays, Thursdays and/or Sundays. If you're interested in helping with a location in one or two areas of town, please shoot me a message here or DefendDemocracyICT@gmail.com

Here’s a short list of the benefits to recurring protests in the same locations.

People know when and where to find us. Everyone knows exactly where to meet us every time. Our presence becomes recognized and tied to this location. The more we’re here, the more people notice, stop, and join us. Literally every week there are multiple people who stop and join us for the first time, and they tell their friends and they return.
We know the space. Each time we return, it gets easier to set up, stay safe, and stay organized. There’s plenty of public property for us to gather without conflict.
This spot is symbolic. In the heart of our city 2 of our 3 federally elected officials chose the center of our community for their Wichita offices. By choosing this location, we’re showing exactly who and what we’re holding accountable. When we’re outside their offices week after week, they know we’re watching.
Showing up regularly keeps the issues visible. The more often we’re here, the harder it is to ignore.
The media knows where to find us too. Consistent coverage helps amplify our message.
Parking isn’t a barrier. With both free and paid options close by, people can easily get here.
Accessibility matters. This location allows those with mobility or accessibility needs to participate fully and safely alongside us.