The Civil Rights For All banner in the 4th of July parade 2022
We will all wear black.
My daughter Margaret suggests that people who march with the banner wear black. It’s a great way to make a statement.
We’ll meet at the brook side of the Preston lot on Flat Street, opposite the transportation center, 9 am to 10 am. Look for the bamboo pole with the surveyors tape tied to it. That’s us.The parade committee recommends parking at the Coop.
March begins at 10: up Main Street to the Brattleboro Common.
What we have to do is put the banner on a bamboo carrying pole. First we assemble the 4 pieces that make up the pole, then tape the pieces together, then slide 19 clothesline loops onto the pole, then attach the banner to the loops. and secure the banner on pole by tapeing the end loops to the pole. the pole weighs about 20 Lbs.
It takes about 8 people to carry the banner. The rest of us will walk behind with our signs and songs.
We will hand out postcards of previous banner raisings to spectators as we march along.
Jesse Lepkoff will lead the group singing We Are Marching For Democracy and other traditional protest songs. We will also sing Bye Bye Democracy based on the Everly Brothers song Bye Bye Love. This is still in the works. It starts Bye bye democracy, hello tyranny. I think I’m gonna cry, etc.
And we have a few other songs from previous marches. If you want to practice songs come at 9. We will practice as we set up the banner.
Please read the parade rules at the end of this posting.
Thank you all!
Songs:
**WE ARE MARCHING FOR DEMOCRACY simple
Come sing with me, I’ll sing with you ,
And we will sing together,
yes we will sing together
Oh we will sing together
Sing with me I’ll sing with you
And we will sing together
as we march along
We are marching for Democracy, Democracy, Democracy
We are marching for Democracy, and civil rights for all
Come march with me, I’ll march with you
And we will march together,
Yes we will march together,
Oh we will march together
Come march with me, I’ll march with you
And we will march together
as we march along
We are marching for Democracy, Democracy, Democracy
We are marching for Democracy, and civil rights for all
Come talk with me, I’ll talk with you,
and we will talk together,
yes we will talk together
Oh we will talk together,
Talk with me I’ll talk with you
and we will talk together
as we march along
We are marching for Democracy, Democracy, Democracy
We are marching for Democracy, and civil rights for all
Come dance with me, I’ll dance with you,
and we will dance together,
yes we will dance together
Oh we will dance together,
dance with me I’ll dance with you
and we will dance together
as we march along
We are marching for Democracy, Democracy, Democracy
We are marching for Democracy, and civil rights for all
Come dream with me, I’ll dream with you
and we will dream together,
yes we will dream together
Oh we will dream together
Come dream with me
I’ll dream with you
as we march along
We are marching for Democracy, Democracy, Democracy
We are marching for Democracy, and civil rights for all
Come march with me, I’ll march with you
And we will march together,
Yes we will march together,
Oh we will march together
Come march with me
I’ll march with you
as we march along
We are marching for Democracy, Democracy, Democracy
We are marching for Democracy, and civil rights for all.
Other songs Jesse suggests:
If I Had a Hammer
If I had a hammer
I’d hammer in the morning
I’d hammer in the evening
All over this land
I’d hammer out danger
I’d hammer out a warning
I’d hammer out love between
My brothers and my sisters
All over this land,
Oh If I had a bell
I’d ring it in the morning
I’d ring it in the evening
All over this land
I’d ring out danger
I’d ring out a warning
I’d ring out love between
My brothers and my sisters
All over this land, oh
If I had a song
I’d sing it in the morning
I’d sing it in the evening
All over this land
I’d sing out danger
I’d song of out a warning
I’d sing out love between
My brothers and my sisters
All over this land, oh
Well, I’ve got a hammer
And I’ve got a bell
And I’ve got a song to sing
All over this land
It’s the hammer of justice
It’s the bell of freedom
It’s a song about love between
My brothers and my sisters
All over this land
It’s a hammer of justice
It’s a bell of freedom
It’s a song about love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land
STUDY WAR NO MORE
I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield,
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield,
Down by the riverside
Study war no more
I ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
I ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
I’m gonna walk with that Prince of Peace,
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I’m gonna walk with that Prince of Peace,
Down by the riverside
Study war no more
I ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
I ain’t gonna study war no more,
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
I’m gonna lay down that atom bomb
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
I’m gonna lay down that atom bomb,
Down by the riverside
Study war no more
I ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
I ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more
Ain’t gonna study war no more. I ain’t gonna study war no more REPEAT.
Let us get together
Let us get together
right down here
Let us get together
right down here
Let us get together
right down here
Let us get together children right down here
-Let us do our living
right down here etc.
Let us shout together
right down here etc.
Let us sing togther
right down here etc.
Let us come together
right down here. Etc.
Let us do our walking
right down here etc.
Let us join together
right down here etc.
Let us Love each other
right down here
These are simple songs from past parades that we could sing since Woody Susan Margaret and Rose and some of you may remember them.
1. What the world needs now is love sweet love, that’s the only thing that there is just too little of. repeat.
2. Nonviolence is the power of the people who occupy the word. We’re going to stand together, all the people going to stand together. We’re going to unite we’re not going to fight. We stand on common ground.
3. Democracy is love, Ba pa da da da. Democracy is love. Ba pa da da da. Democracy is love, love, Democracy is love, love is democracy democracy is all we need. repeat.
4. I am because we are. I am because we are. I am because we are. Ubantu. Ubantu. Ubantu.
5. May the love that is democracy be our way. That is what we have to say. Yes, yes, yes, oh yes. Let it be our way. repeat.
6.I am coming when I hear the call, to help the people one and all. Help help help, help everyone, help every one help help everyone. repeat.
7. Listen to your heart beat, come together, we are one.
8. Put one foot in front of the other, and lead with love. Put one foot in front of the other and lead with love.
We have these signs- but there are many more that could be carried in the parade considering recent supreme court decisions. We don’t have to carry all of them:
4th Parade Signs
– NON VIOLENCE IS THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE
⁃ DEMOCRACY SHARES THE WEALTH 6
⁃ DEMOCRACY STANDS UP TO BULLIES 2
⁃ DEMOCRACY NEEDS YOU 3
⁃ DEMOCRACY IS LOVE
⁃ LOVE IS THE WAY FORWARD 1
⁃ DEFEND DEMOCRACY 5
⁃ JOIN THE LOVE BRIGADE 2
⁃ DEMOCRACY DEMOCRACY DEMOCRACY
⁃ JOIN THE PARADE
⁃ DEMOCRACY IS PEOPLE POWER
⁃ UNITE UNITE UNITE UNITE
⁃ MARCH FOR DEMOCRACY
⁃ SING FOR DEMOCRACY
⁃ TALK ABOUT DEMOCRACY
⁃ STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS RIGHT NOW
⁃ WORK FOR DEMOCRACY
⁃ I DREAM OF DEMOCRACY
⁃ EVERYONE HELP-HELP EVERYONE
⁃ THINK ABOUT DEMOCRACY
MAKE YOUR OWN SIGN
Suggestions:
ILLEGAL SUPREME COURT
NO VIGILANTES
DEMILITARIZE THE POLICE
EVERYONE HELP-HELP EVERYONE
OVERTURN THE SUPREME COURT
THIS IS NOT DEMOCRACY??
JUSTICE-JUSTIC-JUSTICE
SOLIDARITY
FAIRER-JUSTER-NICER
EQUALITY FOR BIPOC
BLACK LIVES MATTER
END GENOCIDE
DEMOCRACY CARES FOR THE PEOPLE
GET THE JUSTICE DEPT UP AND RUNNING
THE TRUTH WILL SET US FREE
GAY RIGHTS
FREE ASSANGE
PRESS FREEOM
INCLUSION
VOTING FOR ALL PEOPLE
DOWN WITH SUPREMACY
The parade committee wants all participants to read and follow these parade rules:
PARADE RULES
All entries must be capable of safely navigating the route (Flat Street to Main Street to the Common) and no more than 12 feet in height so not to snap overhead wires. All drivers must have valid licenses and vehicles have proof of liability insurance. All bicyclists/skateboarders/unicyclists/other riders of self-propelled devices must wear helmets.
Participants shouldn’t stop to perform but instead maintain a steady forward pace so spectators don’t face large gaps. (Brattleboro Community Television asks that everyone slow down and “give us their best smiles” when marching past the live cameras on Main Street.)
NO STOPPING OR PARKING AT THE COMMON OR ADJACENT STREETS. Either exit onto Chapin Street or Route 30 or, if you must stop and park, continue to the American Legion lots on Linden Street.
Participants must walk street-side to distribute candy, flags, balloons or other family-friendly items. Our liability insurance policy prohibits throwing anything from moving vehicles, as someone may be hit or encouraged to get too close to turning wheels.
Absolutely no unofficial sirens, flashing lights, smoke, flames, special effects or conduct that could cause a spectator and/or safety official to believe there’s an emergency.
All participants are urged to protect themselves by bringing sunscreen, shade hats and water. In the hopefully unlikely event that police/fire/rescue units must respond to an emergency, all marchers/vehicles should MOVE RIGHT to clear the left lane for authorities.
