Next Scheduled Meeting: Thursday April 23, 2026, at 7:00 pm
Democratic Office: 112 Winnebago St (new venue)
Masking Optional
Water Quality Monitoring Effort
Water Quality Volunteers of Winneshiek County are providing data from their water quality sampling and publishing it in the Decorah Newspaper of Record, the Decorah Leader. This group needs funds to continue this effort. More information at the April Central Committee Meeting.
In Iowa, we know the importance of planting seeds today for a better harvest tomorrow. That’s what the Sowing the Seeds Tour is all about — bringing neighbors together, listening to our communities, and growing the grassroots movement that will move Iowa forward. Come meet the Lindsay James and help us plant the seeds for change.
Location: Plumbers & Pipefitters 125 Union Hall, 5001 J Street SW, Cedar Rapids, IA
May 9th: Jeff Thurlow campaign kick-off and office grand opening!
May 11th: Candidate forum at Luther College (tentative)
May 16th: Attorney General candidate Nate Willems visits Decorah (details TBD)
Iowa State Democratic Convention
June 13th
Location: TBD
52 CONSISTENT WEEKS OF THE SIGN RALLY ON THE BRIDGE: ONE YEAR! THIS SATURDAY (12:00 – 1:00) MARKS OUR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF CONSISTENT PRESENCE ON THE BRIDGE – THANK YOU ALL!
Consistent, sustained nonviolent protest is highly effective, with studies showing peaceful campaigns are twice as likely to succeed as violent ones. Key benefits include building broad public support, shifting political loyalties, forcing government concessions, and achieving enduring policy changes by utilizing diverse, strategic actions. (* read below for more details)Hope you can make it tomorrow from Noon to 1:00pm to continue to show our support for the US Constitution, Democracy, Justice, and Freedom. And to show our disgust with this administration’s war crimes, cover up of the Epstein files, inhumane immigration policies, and so much more. YOUR VOICES MATTER! (Extra signs available at the bridge each week.)Then join others for lunch or a beverage at the Landing Market after the rally for community and conversation. Did you know that creating community can add an extra 7.5 years to your life?
* Key Benefits of Consistent Protest:
Policy and Political Change: Sustained protests can lead to significant policy adjustments, such as tax changes, or the removal of political leaders, as seen in global examples like Chile, Sudan, and Algeria in 2019.
The 3.5% Rule: Research by Erica Chenoweth indicates that nonviolent movements that manage to mobilize at least 3.5% of the population consistently are almost always successful.
Shifting Public Opinion: Regular protests keep issues in the public eye, turning “attention-grabbing” events into long-term shifts in awareness, opinion, and ultimately, behavior.
Building Political Coalitions: Protests act as a “gateway drug” to activism, building networks and organizing skills that can be used for future, larger campaigns, and broadening support for a cause.
Marginalized Voice Amplification: Protest provides a critical platform for marginalized communities to demand justice, challenge oppressive systems, and protect their communities.
Psychological Well-being & Empowerment: Regular participation can improve mental health by reducing feelings of helplessness, boosting morale, reducing anxiety, and creating a sense of agency and “meaning-making” during crises.
Community Cohesion & Emotional Synchrony: Protests often create “collective effervescence,” a joyful or energetic state of togetherness that builds social connection and solidarity.
At our Decorah rallies, we’ve achieved over 3.5% of the Decorah population each time! The most recent NO KINGS event on March 28 had over 700 attendees, while down from other events in 2025, it was still about 10% of the total population of Decorah and 3.38% of Winneshiek County’s population! There were over 3,200 other events all over the country that same day, and over 60 of those were in Iowa!
Immigration Action Network
VOLUNTEER WITH THE IMMIGRATION ACTION NETWORK The NE Iowa Immigration Action Network (IAN) is building a Community Defense Plan to support immigrant neighbors during and after ICE activity in our area. Volunteers are needed for a range of roles — providing rides, interpreting, emergency financial assistance, and connecting families to resources. No experience necessary. To learn more and sign up, complete the IAN Volunteer Form: Click to sign up
If you are concerned with what is happening to our neighbors to the north in Minnesota and are looking for ways to help, go to:
With the help of over 3,600 volunteers, this church has been delivering 900 boxes of food/supplies each day to families and individuals who are sheltering in their homes for fear of ICE illegally kidnapping them and sending them away from their families, regardless of legal documentations.
If you would like to donate check or cash, please contact SHIRLEY VERMACE at the College Drive Bridge Saturday (tomorrow) or drop off your Cash or Check donations at Blue Heron Knittery during business hours, they are closed on Mondays..
Please make checks out to: DIOS HABLA HOY CHURCH
WEEKLY BRIDGE RALLY! (43 weeks strong!)
Noon to 1:00pm EVERY SATURDAY
Leif Erikson Bridge (College Drive Bridge)
Dress warmly. Bring a sign of your own, or choose from the extras available! We are at the point of making a decision as a country, and we all know what it is:
DEMOCRACY or Authoritarianism?
Join Us!
Rallies at Effigy Mounds
We will hold a peaceful demonstration in support of the National Park Service and its employees, focusing on the cuts to staff and funding in the agencies of the Department of the Interior and others under the Trump administration and the MAGA Republicans in the various state and local governments.
We will gather at 10:00 am on Sundays and demonstrate for about two hours.
We can continue to discuss the vision of this group and any plans for next steps.
We will gather in the pedestrian walkway of the parking lot at the Effigy Mounds National Monument to show our support. Some sign-making materials will be available, though it would be great if you could bring your own or the materials to make one.
Show up. Stand up. Speak up. Resist. Repeat! Build a community of support and power!
-Scott Boylen, organizer
Donations are appreciated to help the immigrant community. Contacts for groups who assist:
We thank your group for reaching out to our Community Food Pantry and asking what items are needed, particularly in this uncertain time of possible SNAP benefit interruption.
Our Community Food Pantry has incredible community wide support and we appreciate all this community does to assist us in addressing the issue of food insecurity in NE Iowa.
Items our Community Food Pantry can always use and are often difficult to resource from the NE Iowa Food Bank:
Meat, ground: chicken, pork, beef in 1 pound packages.
Cash donations. We can often make bulk purchase deals for eggs, milk, etc.
We know there are concerns about the unknowns around this unprecedented situation facing the food insecure in our community. Our Pantry staff, volunteers, and community partners have built a supportive network over a long period of time, and throughout the area, to support families in need of food assistance. Your group’s willingness to join us in this work, particularly now, reflects the goodness of our community here in NE Iowa. Thank you!
Drop Donations 12:30 – 4:30 Monday, Wednesday, Friday
12:30 – 7:00 Tuesday, Thursday
Please contact the Decorah Community Food Pantry at this email with additional questions or for more information.
Matt Tapscott, Director
Decorah Community Food Pantry
Indivisible Northeast Iowa A local chapter of the nationwide Indivisible Movement, headquartered in Decorah, Iowa, but serving a larger area of the Driftless region. This local group will utilize the Indivisible Guide to resist the unconstitutional and immoral agenda of the Trump administration. The Indivisible Guide is a compilation by former congressional staffers of the best practices to make Congress listen to us. Links below: https://www.facebook.com/groups/indivisibleneiowa/ https://x.com/indivisibleneia
Reliable News Sources
During these uncertain times we need news sources we can trust. Below is a list some of those sources.
Please note: When you have accessed the site, which is the Decorah UCC, please change the first pull-down menu choice to “Give to Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund.”
