Emergency Rally to Stand for Democracy

PLEASE JOIN US TO STAND FOR DEMOCRACY

"What did the President know and when did he know it?”
– Senator Howard Baker (June, 1973)

• We are nonpartisan and support country over party
• We denounce the hacking of our free election by Russia
• We demand a thorough investigation into any connections between this crime and the president's administration
• We stand with the press in all their efforts to achieve transparency
• We demand the appointment of a special prosecutor to spearhead this investigation
• We demand that, given sufficient evidence, any and all individuals implicated in this crime be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM on Boston Common 54th Regiment Memorial
Sunday, February 26, 2017 - Speakers to be Announced

#StandForDemocracy

Speakers (check back for updates):
• Bob Massie (politician), American Episcopal priest, politician, author, and social activist
• Anthony Paul Farley, James Campbell Matthews Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence at Albany Law School, Member of the American Law Institute (title/institution listed for identification purposes only)
• Indivisible Metrowest Action (call to action)
• Olivia Hartranft, co-organizer and citizen activist
• Chad Wilusz, co-organizer and citizen activist (reading)

"What Did He Know and When Did He Know It?"

In June, 1973, then-Senator Howard Baker asked the nation "What did the president know and when did he know it?" Of course, Senator Baker spoke of a different president in another era, yet once again this question bears relevance, over 40 years later.
Over the last weeks, many editorials, including Cohen, 2-16-17, have discussed the illegal hacking of the presidential election by the Kremlin in order to sway the vote in favor of Donald Trump. Multiple U.S. intelligence agencies have now confirmed this stunning information. Yet the current president, who once called for Russian hackers to “find the 30,000 missing emails [belonging to Hillary Clinton],” has repeatedly refused to denounce these actions or answer questions concerning possible involvement of his administration and campaign.
The recent resignation of General Flynn is deeply troubling, especially in light of information that top White House officials were aware of Flynn’s actions and vulnerability to blackmail for three weeks, yet continued to allow him access to highly sensitive classified information. This is only a small part of what may be a much larger, darker issue.
The compromising of our free election by a hostile foreign entity weakens the very fabric of a democracy already challenged by evidence of voter suppression, gerrymandering and the influence of dark money. It should be viewed as the ultimate crisis behind the swirling chaos of the current administration and representatives and senators on both sides of the aisle should fight vigorously to investigate and denounce it.
If even the smallest possibility exists that the president's campaign or administration illegally conspired with Russian operatives, independent investigation through the appointment of a special prosecutor becomes a necessity. The actions of General Flynn are likely in violation of the Logan Act, and to determine so requires such an investigation; if the president or any other members of his administration knew of Flynn’s actions prior to the inauguration, they too must face legal inquiry. As Cohen suggests, there is little current interest in forcing the actions that will help get to the bottom of whether the current administration's actors colluded in the hacking of the election. It is up to us citizens to press, nationwide, on our legislators to achieve the actions needed that will help us answer Baker’s question for a new era. These include the release of Trump’s tax returns, public investigation along the lines of the 9/11 Commission, the appointment of an independent prosecutor, and the questioning of Flynn.
This is a perilous time in our nation, one where even a fragile democracy can no longer be assumed or guaranteed. There has never been a greater threat to these fundamental principles and we, the people, should not and cannot stand idly by, distracted by the daily culture of chaos. In the immortal words of President Lincoln, we must stand up for our democracy through vigorous journalism and citizen action to ensure “that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
On Sunday, February 26th from 1-3 on Boston Common, we are calling an emergency rally to highlight these issues. The speaker list is growing by the day. Please find details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1628829300757656/?ti=cl

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