Last Saturday, a group of 20 bikers gathered in Paul Revere Park, sporting bright colors and pro-democracy signs for the Ride for Our Republic.
This anti-Trump event, which takes place on the last Saturday of every month, is a way for protestors to “ride to sound the alarm of tyranny and fight for our democracy,” according to their website. Their bike route, 12.7 miles through Cambridge and Somerville, is inspired by Paul Revere’s midnight ride of 1775.
“We’re doing a little bit the same thing that he did,” said Jacob Deck, an organizer of the event. “We’re riding to warn our fellow citizens about what’s coming down the road.”
The movement began on April 26, drawing inspiration from bike protests in other countries. The same month, student protesters from Serbia biked to France to condemn corruption in the government.
“I noticed that a lot of people have been using bike riding as a protest and political tool,” said Deck. “This is a great way of spreading a message and staying active and engaged in the community.”
The ride stops in Davis Square and Arlington Center to allow new bikers to join or others to stop early, before ending at Minuteman Bikeway in Lexington Center with a picnic lunch. Organizers describe the movement as a “resistance party on wheels.”
Deck says they’ve had a positive response from the communities they bike in, often getting car honks in support or cheers. The movement has allowed people to “feel less alone,” and find a community with a common goal.
“It’s a great way to meet people and see what they’re involved with,” Deck said. “[We] sing and chant and talk and [I’ve met] some of the most valuable connections that I know.”
On this ride, they stopped at Arlington Center for a Standout, a term for a protest that aims for visibility, with Indivisible LAB to raise awareness for the No Kings protests taking place on Oct. 18. Ride for Our Republic hosts several smaller rides throughout the week, but their next large event will take place on Oct. 25.
Organizers for the event have been trying to improve outreach to students in the future by building a social media presence. Deck said that the majority of participants are older Arlington residents, a point that has been discouraging to some of the participants due to the lack of younger protesters. But Deck has hopes that more students will be drawn to the event.
“I hope that we can continue to get people and continue to get a bigger [audience] every time,” said Deck. “And more than that, I hope that we can accomplish our goals of really building awareness and spreading information to the public about other protests and being visible.”
