While many Wellesley College students are eager to find opportunities for civic engagement, one does not have to look far, as locals in the town of Wellesley recently gathered to make their voices heard. On Sunday, Sept. 21, around 50 people gathered outside Wellesley Town Hall to rally for solar power and protest the current presidential administration. Organized by the Wellesley Defends Democracy coalition, this action was part of a national “Sun Day” rally day of action. 

The action brought together the League of Women Voters Wellesley, UU Church Wellesley Hills, World of Wellesley, Immigration Justice group Temple Beth Elohim, Needham Resists, Neighbors United Indivisible, and Sustainable Wellesley. Speakers included local Wellesley Defends Democracy organizers, residents leading local climate action, and a student from the local public high school. 

The Sun Day rally was organized by local and national organizations across the country, dedicated to celebrating the power of clean energy during a political moment when hope seems impossible to find. Organizers believe the accessibility of solar energy over the last few decades is a reason to hope in the fight against the climate emergency. 

As stated on the rally’s website, “Sun Day is about driving home all the possibilities: of energy free from billionaires and oligarchs, of energy controlled by our communities, of energy that helps the planet instead of wrecking it. It’s about taking advantage of the fact that the sun pours unlimited clean energy down on this earth every day.” 

Sept. 21 was an intentionally chosen day for the action, as it is the fall equinox, the day when sunlight is distributed evenly across the earth. It’s why a speaker was playing sun-themed songs as people arrived outside the town hall, like The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun.” Some unique chants included a climate-themed rendition of “Bella Ciao,” a vocal round with three parts, and singing “You are my sunshine” in unison. A person dressed up as a polar bear could be spotted in the crowd, as well as many signs protesting the current presidential administration’s assault on climate science. Speakers emphasized the importance of continuing to attend events like these, resisting consumerist behaviors that contribute to the climate crisis, and shared positive facts about solar power. 

Coalition organizers spoke with the Wellesley News about the significance of their rally on Sunday as well as their actions throughout this year. They frequently join national calls to action on various issues, such as the Sun Day rally, and will rally again for the second #NoKings national day of action on Oct. 18, which will take place outside the Wellesley Town Hall. 

“We’ve come together to bring visibility to the ongoing crisis of government in the United States and the growing harm it is causing to people and communities in Wellesley, in neighboring towns, in our state and country, and in fact, all over the world,” shared coalition organizer Sarah Little. 

“Through peaceful, visible actions, we hope to bring motivation and courage to our neighbors to learn more, to join us in standing up, and to demand the qualities of truth, justice, compassion, selflessness, and integrity from our Judiciary, Congress, and the Executive Branch, and from our media, that are the bedrock of our American democracy,” Wellesley resident Raina McManus emphasized.  

“We must also defend our 250-year-old living Constitution and rule of law,” local advocate Laura Van Zandt voiced. “Without these, we will not be able to solve humanity’s myriad problems, including social injustice and environmental degradation.”

Contact the editors responsible for this story: Hira Khan, Chelsea Tarringer.