Blue Wave Festival celebrates democracy

CHESTER — In response to policies coming out of Washington, citizens from across the lower Connecticut River Valley and shoreline will come together Sunday for a day of civic engagement to explore and challenge the current policies impacting democracy, and emphasizing the importance of everyone exercising their right to vote. The Blue Wave Fest will be held on Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Chester Fairgrounds in Chester. Learn more at bluewavefest.com

Speakers include the endorsed gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont; Secretary of the State, Denise Merrill; State Sen. Beth Bye; political pundit Bill Curry; musician Tyler Suarez, whose aunt Dawn Hochsprung was killed in the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School; lifelong activist and author Miriam Butterworth; the Rev. John Selders, co-founder of Moral Monday and the Poor People Campaign-CT; Po Murray, cofounder of Newtown Action Alliance; Will Kneerim of Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services; and candidates for the General Assembly seats in the region.

Members of the Connecticut Congressional delegation scheduled for the Blue Wave Fest program have responded to the emergency of 2,400 children and infants separated from their parents, and are expected to depart for the Mexican border to visit sites of incarceration.

“We live in an unprecedented moment when civil discourse, freedom of the press, constitutional norms, protection from foreign interference in our elections, and even widely-shared facts about science are under daily attack,” said Marta Daniels, a Chester resident and Chair of the Fest. “The traditional institutional brakes on government are completely absent. Our first opportunity to remedy these assaults on our democracy is coming in November when citizens can go to the polls and vote. The Blue Wave Fest had its origins in this idea,” she said.

The Blue Wave Fest features local musicians, 20+ issue speakers, state and federal legislators, state and local officeseekers and 35 information exhibitors offering valuable insight into how citizens, communities and organizations are taking action to face the most pressing challenges affecting our democracy today. This big tent event is co-sponsored by the 15 Democratic Town Committees of Chester, Deep River, Essex, Clinton, East Haddam, Haddam, East Hampton, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, Westbrook, Madison and Colchester. All are welcome. There is no admission fee.

For the Blue Wave Fest line up of Presenters/Speakers, Exhibitors, Guests and Musicians, and all the issues to be championed, visit: www.BlueWaveFest.com