By LAND OR BY SEA VIGIL AUGUST 30 TO FOCUS ON RECORD OF “CHIEF INJUSTICE” JOHN ROBERTS
Port Clyde – Members of a Knox County creative action group are inviting the public to participate in a nonviolent “By Land or By Sea” vigil on the shore and water of Port Clyde this Saturday, August 30 (rain date: August 31). Leaders of The Audacity say their goal is to call the community’s attention to the troubling record of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Participants will gather at the Port Clyde public landing at 9:30 AM. Those bringing rowboats, kayaks, and paddleboards will be in place in the water at 10 AM. Others will hold signs on shore, dispersing peacefully after a half hour and heading to Rockland for the group’s weekly Chapman Park singing demonstration at noon.
“We Mainers try to be polite,” says Connor Theroux, a vigil planner. “The problem is that John Roberts’ leadership actions have been worse than impolite: his decisions have hurt millions of people and undermined our nation’s foundation. It’s our duty as Americans to speak up about that. Our community needs to know.”
The Audacity invites the community to participate. Park is available in public spaces in Port Clyde and at Drift Inn Beach; organizers will operate a shuttle. “If you’re taking to the water, we’ll have a safety guide on hand, but please bring your PFD and dress for the weather,” advises organizer Susan MacNeil-Densmore. “And please, no profanity or incitement to violence. That’s not what we’re about.”
When asked to respond to claims from right-wing media that a similar July floating vigil violated federal law, participant Kimberly Kresja chuckled. “The supreme law of the land is the Constitution, which guarantees our right to peaceably assemble to point out problems, which is exactly what we’re doing,” she said. Kresja adds, “The law they’re talking about requires intent to interrupt a judicial proceeding or threaten a judge to try and influence their rulings. That’s not our intent. We’re not here to change John Roberts’ mind. We’re here to remind everyone else about what he’s done. His rulings show he is committed to undermining worker safety, poisoning the environment, taking away women’s rights, and making Donald Trump into some kind of king.”
The Audacity is a new local group that formed in January 2025 to plan and implement creative collective action to counter the erosion of democracy, equity, and inclusion in the United States. The group works together across differences in philosophy, values, and methods within a broad commitment to nonviolent resistance. All members of the public who support democracy and who oppose the current turn toward bigotry, corruption, exclusion, and authoritarianism are welcome to join the group online at audacitycat.com or by emailing contact@audacitycat.com.