Past Actions

May 14, 2026 – Future of News with Amber Payne – Melrose

Hosted by the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church Pro-Democracy Team, about 50 participants gathered for Thoughtful Thursday “Truth, Power and the Future of Local News”. This program was an exploration of the changing landscape of local journalism, why it matters for democracy and community connection, and how residents can support trustworthy, community-centered news and public media in places like Melrose and Greater Boston.

Amber Payne is a strategist and storyteller, creating bold content that drives conversation. She currently serves as Chief Experience Officer at Rocky Mountain Public Media in Denver, Colorado (where she will relocate to this summer). Most recently, she was Publisher of “The Emancipator,” a multi-media digital publication exploring solutions to racial inequity. In 2015, she created and launched NBCBLK, a section of NBCNews.com dedicated to elevating conversations about Black identity, social issues, and culture. She spent a decade at NBC Nightly News producing breaking news and feature stories. Amber and her husband run a small production company specializing in documentary and narrative-driven branded content. The Melrose Messenger attended and wrote a summary of the program. View a recording of the program.

April 18, 2026 – What’s Next? – Melrose

About 35 participants gathered at the Melrose Public Library to learn about some upcoming initiatives and brainstorm ideas! Signs of Fascism were displayed and location options for that action were considered. Feedback was collected on how to preserve democracy and civil rights locally, across the state and nationally. John Lippett presented on the MA State Legislature and the stipend reform campaign.

March 28, 2026 – No Kings 3 – Stoneham

On 3/28/2026 No Kings 3 took place in Stoneham with over 2,000 participants! See photos and videos from the event. Keynote speaker Professor Danielle Allen is James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University. She is also Director of the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at the Harvard Kennedy School and Director of the Democratic Knowledge Project-Learn, a research lab focused on civic education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is a professor of political philosophy, ethics, and public policy as well as a seasoned nonprofit leader, democracy advocate, tech ethicist, distinguished author, and mom. She is a contributing columnist at The Atlantic Magazine and was the 2020 winner of the Library of Congress’ Kluge Prize, which recognizes scholarly achievement in the disciplines not covered by the Nobel Prize. She received the Prize “for her internationally recognized scholarship in political theory and her commitment to improving democratic practice and civics education. ”No Kings Singers, Second Rain, and singers Patrick Synan and Jill Go theory and her commitment to improving democratic practice and civics education. ”No Kings Singers, Second Rain, and singers Patrick Synan and Jill Goldman performed. There were tables staffed by local advocacy organizations such as the Pro-Democracy Team of the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church and MIRA, LUCE, ACLU, BIJAN, Bearing WitnessNE, FixICE, POP Huddle, ISA and others. ASL interpreters assisted. For kids there was face-painting, chalk for drawing on walkways, bubbles, crayons and coloring sheets, balloon art and noisemakers! We commissioned a No Kings cat cartoon from award-winning cartoonist Mark Parisi! Proudly wear your contemptuous cat on a T-shirt, hat, button, sticker, mug or golf ball (take that Trump). Items include a donation to Indivisible Melrose Wakefield and Beyond. Or donate directly through Act Blue.

February 21, 2026 – Malden Community Conversation Show

On 2/11/26 Sue Herz and Aleda Freeman were invited to join the Malden Community Conversation monthly broadcast hosted by Malden Community Coalition‘s Chris Burgan and Shane Landrum produced through Malden’s Urban Media Arts. The resulting half hour video was released on 2/21/26 and includes interview footage and clips from our Signs of Fascism visibility events. We discussed the mission of Indivisible, specific examples of authoritarianism/fascism and democracy, our specific group’s events and how to get involved! Watch our video at the Malden Community Coalition YouTube channel.

January 29, 2026 – ICE-Out Letter Writing/Open House – Melrose

On Thursday 1/29 35+ plus people wrote 500+ ICE-OUT letters last night to the MA Hanscom Field Board, MA Governor Healey and 6 national corporations who are collaborating with ICE! Couldn’t make it? You can send emails and/or letters with easy clicks at these 2 websites: https://lexingtonalarm.org/stop-massport-ice-flights-campaign or https://iceoutforgood.org/#corporations or https://www.boycottcitizens.org/

Letters ask for these things:

1. Call for ICE to leave Minnesota now.

2. Demand any officer who kills a civilian must be held legally accountable. That starts with legitimate investigations and charges by local officials.

3. Exercise their 4th Amendment rights and publicly post signage denying entrance to on-duty immigration agents who do not have signed judicial warrants as required by law, as well train staff on how to respond when immigration agents arrive at worksites.

4. Demand a complete shut down of Trump’s ICE. No additional federal funding for ICE in the upcoming Congressional budget and ICE should be investigated for human and Constitutional violations of Americans and our neighbors.

5. Stop funding the private prison industry

6.  Immediately halt all large charter operations at Hanscom Field unless they have received a waiver from the Massport Executive Director in compliance with 740 CMR 25.00

January 23, 2026 – Target: Block ICE – Solidarity with MN – Saugus

On Friday 1/23 Indivisible in Melrose Wakefield and Beyond hosted an event in solidarity with MN at Target in Saugus. On January 8th Customs and Border Protection assaulted and seized two US citizens while they were working a shift at the Richfield, MN Target store. Target is Minnesota’s leading corporate citizen. It is the 4th largest employer in the state. Minnesota’s sports teams play in stadiums and jerseys with Target’s logo on them. Where Target leads, others follow. We need Target to stand with Minnesotans against these attacks.
Write to Target Join us in demanding Target:

– Publicly call for an immediate end to the ICE “surge” into MN and for ICE to leave the state;
– The officer who killed Renee Good must be held legally accountable. Demand a legitimate investigation with state involvement.
– Exercise their 4th Amendment rights and publicly post signage denying entrance to on-duty immigration agents who do not have signed judicial warrants as required by law, as well train staff on how to respond when immigration agents arrive at stores.
– Publicly call for Congress to freeze funding for ICE.
– Restore their commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and honor their commitments to the Black community.

January 10, 2026 – ICE Out for Good – Melrose

Members joined with 1,200 other events on this weekend of “ICE Out for Good” 140 people gathered to call for an end to ICE abuses. The mobilization comes in response to the escalation of ICE violence in our communities, the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old wife and mother of three, and the months-long pattern of unchecked violence and abuse in marginalized communities across America. See Sue Herz and immigration attorney Maria Muti on Fox 25 News Boston video!

January 9, 2026 – Vigil for Renee Nicole Good – Melrose

150 people gathered to remember Renee Nicole Good, murdered by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Also honored were other victims of ICE. Renee Nicole Good’s tragic death this week was not an isolated incident; over the past year federal agents have shot numerous people. Many, many more have had their lives shattered by detention, family separation, and deportation. See the Patch.com article about the event. Mobilize Melrose organized this gathering.

December 16, 2025 – Boston ICE Tea Party!

At least 6 members of our group attended Boston Indivisible‘s ICE Tea Party! On the 252nd anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, participants retraced the footsteps of this historic protest to declare once more – America has No Kings! 352 pounds of (clean, permitted) ice (the same as the number of chests of tea) were dumped into Boston Harbor, to declare loud and clear: No Kings! No Tariffs! No ICE! The Silence Dogood collective projected messages onto Old South Meeting House. The event was featured in several news stories, including Boston Channel 25 and The Guardian (with 4 of our members in the photo!)

December 14 (+ Sundays after), 2025 – Signs of Fascism – Melrose, Saugus, Wakefield

Signs of Fascism is a unique visibility event where specific examples on signs “Burma Shave-style” can help get through to people what’s being lost. For example “Ignoring Due Process”, “Controlling Media”. Indivisible in Melrose Wakefield and Beyond has a set of 24 different signs. See our video made by Gerry H from 12/14/25 set to the song Bella Ciao.

December 19, 2025 – Letter-making for Bridge Brigade

10 folks contributed hands to tracing and cutting letters so the Visibility Bridge Brigade banners can be made more quickly. Having this set of letters (we were able to produce 2-3 of every letter!) will make the overpass messages more timely too! Keep an eye out for an invitation in the next few days to sign up for a 1 hour shift at a bridge near you!

November 15, 2025 – What’s Next?

Approximately 50 dedicated individuals participated in our in-person (with coffee and bagels for fuel!) workshop. Several in-progress projects were explained, people chose activities to brainstorm and progress was made. If you signed up for more info for a project, keep an eye on your email inbox. Questions?

Bridge Brigades: (highway overpass messages): Gerry

Signs of Solidarity (Immigrants Welcome exterior / Staff Only interior signs anti-ICE for local businesses): Tug

Signs of Fascism (19 signs “Burma Shave” style explaining specific fascism issues): Aleda

Empower App (ways to get regular “todos” and reach out to your social circle about them): Paula

Courage Collectives (ways to think about your connections and make your own project) Are you a union member? College alum? Lawyer? Can you join with others to influence your network?

Wednesday Standouts (ongoing)

Every week people have a chance to gather locally with handmade signs, noisemakers and flags at rush hour to raise awareness of threats to our democracy. Check out photos from Marilyn Humphries from 11/29/26.

August 2025 – Bridge Brigade (ongoing)

A highly visible way to get a timely message out to the public!

Visibility Brigade Campaign

October 16, 2025 – Sign making for NoKings

Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church hosted a sign-making party so Indivisible in Melrose Wakefield and Beyond can lend signs to attendees at the October 18th NoKings event.