Above: Locals with signs will again use flags and signs to raise awareness with drivers passing through a Rte 9 intersection in Southborough about their call to “Stand Up” for democracy. (images L-R of flyer and from Google Maps)
An organizing member of “Stand Up Now (SUN)” asked me to share an announcement with readers about the Southborough-based “pro-democracy group” and upcoming events it is holding “to respond to anti-democratic action and extremist rhetoric”.
One event, a monthly public demonstration with flags and “polite” signs in keeping with the cause, is taking place in town this afternoon (Friday, January 9th).1
Last April, I shared news I had discovered about a group of residents planning a “HANDS-OFF our EVERYTHING!!” protest. The public was invited to join them holding up signs on the four corners of the sidewalks at the intersection of Route 9, Oak Hill Road, and Central Street during rush hour.
Apparently, they continued to hold those demonstrations on the 2nd Friday of each month.
I’m guessing the change in sunsets are behind the change in hours planned for January through March. Those events will run from 3:00 – 4:00 pm. And the events have morphed from being labeled Hands-Off to promotions for Stand Up Now.
Below is SUN’s announcement:
Over the past year, you may have seen Southborough residents holding American flags and signs on the corners of Route 9, Central Street, and Oak Hill Road each month. They’re part of Stand Up Now (SUN), a new local pro-democracy group based in Southborough.
The founders of SUN were stressed and concerned by the news over this past year, and wanted to take action to respond to anti-democratic action and extremist rhetoric. In early 2025, they started holding standouts on Route 9 in Southborough and connecting folks to larger regional events supporting democracy – other standouts, postcard writing, and attending regional rallies. The group is affiliated with Red, Wine, and Blue, but we plan our activities locally. We are not affiliated with any political party.
We are launching our 2026 events – we welcome Southborough and Metrowest residents to join us! Feel free to get on our mailing list at https://bit.ly/sunsboro.
– If you’re interested in joining our stand out at Route 9, Central Street, and Oak Hill Road, please join us on Friday, January 9th; February 6th; and March 6th, from 3:00–4:00 PM. Please bring signs that are pro-democracy, patriotic, and polite! We hope to see you there!
– This year SUN will be starting monthly coffee socials for people to get together, learn about local events and activities, and do activities like postcarding to voters. For more info, join the email list.
– SUN will give a heads up about pro-democracy events in Metrowest and Boston, organize rally poster parties (SUN had lots of fun making posters this past year) and attend regional events together to represent Southborough’s support for democracy.
SUN appreciates anything that individuals do to support democracy, and invites you to join us!
I looked for more information on the group, and discovered the public description below, plus the flyer with more details on upcoming events:
We are a local group, ready to Stand Up Now (SUN) to take action to preserve those values , beliefs and institutions we value. Our goal is to help us all get through the next 4 years through support, sharing of information, events and strategies to engage. We are a safe place to scream, rant, be sad, but also to celebrate our successes and good things in our lives. Thank you and looking forward to Standing up Now
Again, to sign up for info on future events, click here.
- I apologize for the short notice to readers. I had been waiting for a response to emails, so this slipped off my to-do list until I realized the event is today. (Although, I did include it in last Friday’s calendar listings for this week.) Fortunately, it’s not the last opportunity readers will have to join the effort to stand up.
