Lancaster Stands Up

Volunteer-driven working groups began forming around pressing issues like immigration, healthcare, and political accountability. Lancaster Stands Up quickly began developing into a vehicle for everyday people to have a political voice. In short, we are building independent grassroots progressive political power. Over the past several months, hundreds—sometimes thousands—of Lancastrians have turned out for town hall meetings, public demonstrations, and other activities to hold our elected officials accountable. Two thousand of us stood together at Penn Square to oppose Trump’s Muslim Ban. We rallied hundreds to stand up for healthcare for all, and we occupied Rep. Lloyd Smucker’s downtown office. Mobilizing unprecedented numbers for this area, Lancaster Stands Up has garnered local, national, and international attention and media coverage. We have consistently emphasized Lancaster values, and consistently centered the stories of those who are most vulnerable to the current Administration’s rhetoric and policies—whether that’s the impact of immigration policy on our undocumented neighbors, or health care policy on individuals who rely on Medicaid for their basic survival. We believe the time is ripe for everyday Americans—of every race and creed, immigrant and native-born, sisters and brothers—to stand up together as one united people. We see incredible opportunities for our community to intervene as a force for real change. To do this we need to be intentional, strategic, creative, and bold. But most important, this effort needs the involvement of everyday working people. Lancaster Stands Up needs you. Thank you for all you do!