Lancaster Stands Up

A graphic reads: In the 1960s and 70s, momentum continued to gather in more and more countries. Lead by women in these countries, the issues being fought for diversified—resisting mandatory veiling in Iran, day care and literacy in Palestine, reproductive and civil rights in the US.

A graphic reads: Continuing today, on March 8th and beyond, woman all over the world organize to have their voices heard and continue to fight for dignity, justice, safety, and peace. So the next time some fast fashion brand posts to their IG story wishing you a Happy International Women’s Day, remember its origins and the struggle continuing today.

(2/2) Happy International Women's Day

A graphic in purples and yellows reads "What you may not know about International Women's Day". There is a vector graphic of silhouetted demonstrators and the Lancaster Stands Up logo

A graphic reads: Its roots are in the labor movement. And although not recognized as an official holiday in the US, the demonstration that would grow in to International Women’s Day, was organized by the Socialist Party of America in New York City in 1909.

A graphic reads: For decades, after 1909 and before being recognized by the UN in 1975, International Women’s Day continued to be marked by demonstrations in countries around the world. During this time, communist groups were the primary observers and organizers of these events, and they were mostly themed around labor—including equal pay for equal work.

(1/2) Thank you to all the women worldwide, now and in the past, who have courageously organized in the fight for dignity, justice, safety, and peace.

(2/2) With incentives promised and no money being received, it’s good to see local police and council working together and being clear on their priorities, which is the community. We applaud Police Chief Margevich, & Mayor Lastowski!

(1/2) “We’re working on what we need to do, which is provide a quality police department for our citizens. That’s my main priority.” - Police Chief Margevich

This is what we love to see, Millersville is willing to set the precedent, that we hope all other municipalities can learn and follow from.

A graphic reads: This bill affects you if: You have a name that differs from the name on your birth certificate If you do not have proof of citizenship readily available If you cannot present your documents in person when registering or re-registering

A graphic reads: REAL IDs do not necessarily prove citizenship. Passports are costly to acquire. Married women & trans people are more likely to have a name that doesn’t match the name on their birth certificate. Many, many Americans do not have proof of citizenship readily available. The ease & ability to register to vote is a factor in free and fair elections.

A graphic reads: In April 2025, the original version of the bill passed in the House but stalled in the Senate. A new & the current version of the bill, the SAVE America Bill was introduced in January 2026, passing the House in February. It needs 60 votes to pass the Senate. Call your senators FETTERMAN DC | 202.224.4254 Harrisburg | 717.782.3951 MCORMICK DC | 202.224.6324 Harrisburg | 717.231.7540

(2/2) Call Senators Fetterman and McCormick today to increase the pressure on them to vote NO on restricting our freedoms.

A graphic reads: WTF is the SAVE America Act?

A graphic reads: “S A V E” is an acronym. It stands for “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility.” But don’t let the name fool you.

A graphic reads: It is seeks to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 & functionally, would suppress voter turnout by creating unnecessary barriers to registration & re-registration (after something like a name change or a change of address). Citizenship is already a requirement to vote & instances of noncitizens voting are extremely rare. This bill aims to “solve” a problem that doesn’t exist.

(1/2) Don't let the name fool you - the SAVE America Act is designed to restrict our right to a free and fair election. If you changed your name for any reason, ie. after getting married or changing your legal gender, it would make it very difficult for you to vote.

A group of volunteers and community members are gathered around a table in a distillery, writing letters to their elected officials.

A chalkboard stands on the street outside of Lancaster Distilleries, welcoming Lancaster Stands Up Volunteers to the event.

Three community members sit and stand around a table, smiling, in the distillery event space.

A group of volunteers and community members are seated around a table in the distillery event space. They are all working on writing letters to their representatives. One person is looking at the camera and smiling.

(2/2) We wrote stacks of letters about important concerns like stopping ICE, funding affordable housing, and protecting LGBTQ rights.

Thank you to Lancaster Distilleries - Columbia for hosting us. We ❤️ inclusive businesses.

(1/2) We had a wonderful time at our letter writing social in Columbia. This was a great way to live out LSU’s co-governance value together by sharing our voice with elected officials.

A Black & White photo of a group of Black Panthers standing resolutely in front of a house. At the front of the group is a woman wearing sunglasses and a steely expression, flanked by two men.

The Black Panther Party gave wings to the Black Power movement and left lasting positive impacts on our communities – including the Free Breakfast Program, which led to many free meal programs at schools. Read more here: pastandsup.org/.../the-birt...

(3/3) Working teams include:
Electoral
Labor
Housing
Data Centers
Membership
Community Garden
Queer Solidarity and Liberation

The only way to fight back is to stand up.

A photo of 3 volunteers at a table with information about the Membership team.

A photo of meeting participants talking with LSU volunteers about joining our working teams.

(2/3) Now is the time to turn talk into action! To join a working team with others who are passionate about the same causes you are, click this link: pastandsup.org/lancaster/jo...

A photo of a packed audience at the LSU Mass meeting.

A photo of Dan, LSU volunteer and Electoral Team Lead, showing people the ways they can get involved in our work.

A photo of a packed audience at the LSU Mass meeting.

(1/3) Last Monday, 150 of us attended a Mass Meeting - in person and virtual - to stand together with our neighbors across Lancaster and Pennsylvania. We spent the evening learning about issues affecting all of us and how we can keep pressure on our elected officials.

An image taken by Lancaster Newspaper which shows a black and a white police car parked on grass. Underneath is the news story headline and brief description: "Quarryville police withdraws from ICE agreement: Quarryville Police Department has withdrawn from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement task force program, which bestows federal immigration enforcement powers on local law enforcement. Borough Manager Michelle Evans confirmed the move in an email Wednesday."

Quarrryville has withdrawn their ICE agreement! This is the first withdrawal in the county, may everyone else follow Quarryville’s lead on this one.

A black & white image of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. On top of the image it says: "INFLUENCE: People attribute her style of rock & roll to singers like Elvis and Johnny Cash, but she pioneered the genre. All these monumental musicians have cited her work as an influence, but she wasn't recognized for her work because she was a black woman. She defined the genre but white-dominated industries credited white, male artists, whome of which took inspiration FROM her."

A black & white image of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. On top of the image it says: "LEGACY: Sister Rosetta Tharpe IS the foundation of rock & roll. Her work and style was so ground-breaking that it inspired decades of rock music, giving inspiration to som of the greats. Since her passing in 1973, January 11th was officially appointed as "Sister Rosetta Tharpe Day" in Pennsylvania because of how much time she spent here! No matter how hard they fought for her to be forgotten, Rosetta Tharpe is still remembered and regarded as the "Godmother of Rock & Roll."

(2/2)

An image of a rocker playing electric guitar. On top of the image it says: "All about Rock & Rolls Pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe."

A black & white image of Sister Rosetta Tharpe singing her heart out on stage while holding an electric guitar. On top of the image it says: "HISTORY: Sister Rosetta Tharpe was born in Arkansas in 1915, raised in the church of God & Christ. Her religious background taught her how to lead musically, giving her opportunities to perform and experiment with her craft."

A black & white image of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. On top of the image it says: "CAREER: When the late 1930's rolled around, she was recording gospel songs with revolutionary guitar techniques that presented themselves in rock & roll records an entire decade later. Her picking style and distortion techniques are still used today and completely defined the genre in its entirety."

(1/2) For Week 2 of #BlackHistoryMonth, let's honor Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock and Roll!

Register for public comment here: www.cityoflancasterpa.gov/city-council...

A graphic with speech bubbles drawn in hand-drawn, cartoonish style. The bubbles say: "Join us on Tuesday, February 10th to support Vincent Derek Smith's application to City Council. 6:30 to 7:30 PM, 120 N. Duke Street."

(1/2) Our Membership proudly endorsed Vincent Derek Smith's run for Lancaster City Council. While he didn't win, one of the council seats is currently open - meaning he still has a shot! Come out to tomorrow's City Council meeting and voice your support for Derek!

a depiction of Eliza Parker blasting a horn to warn her neighbors about the presence of slave catchers.

"This #BlackHistoryMonth we take a look at the Christiana Uprising...This story is all the more relevant today as ICE kidnappings have a direct historical link to the slave catchers of the past."
Read the rest of our newest blog post here: pastandsup.org/lancaster/20...

A graphic containing an image of protest with copy on top that reads “For some, this violence at the hands of an agency may be new. Yet for our Black and Brown neighbors, state justified violence has always been their reality. Whether it is from the hands of police or at the hands of ICE; terror under any label is still terror. We must always stand up in the face of injustice, whether that is injustice for our neighbors or for those who may look like you. Remember injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

A graphic containing an image of protest with copy on top that reads “We call for the abolition of ICE, the rejection of the DHS funding bill, the impeachment and removal of Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller, Corey Lewandowski, and all other officials involved in the carrying out of these raids. We call for a proper investigation into every single death under ICE custody, and the prosecution of the agents involved in these murders.”

A graphic containing an image of protest with copy on top that reads “Yesterday was a moment of silence for the fallen, but we will not remain silent in the face of oppression. Onward, forward. ‘La valentía no es ausencia de miedo, sino el triunfo sobre él.’ ‘Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.’ NELSON MANDELA”

A graphic containing an image of protest with copy on top that reads “Yesterday, Lancaster did what we do best. We showed up for a stranger. With dozens of businesses releasing statements of solidarity and donations to CWS and Lancaster neighbor fund, as well as hundreds of people in sub-freezing temperatures to stand together against state sanctioned violence. Because one month into the new year, ICE has caused the deaths of nine individuals.”

A graphic containing an image of protest with copy on top that reads “Keith Porter, Renee Nicole Good, Luis Gustavo Núñez Cáceres, Geraldo Lunas Campos, Víctor Manuel Díaz, Parady La, Luis Beltrán Yáñez–Cruz, Heber Sánchez Domínguez, and Alex Pretti. This list does not include the 31 names of individuals who died in ICE custody last year alone, meaning within 13 months of this administration 40 individuals have died as a result of the actions of ICE and DHS. The only acceptable number of deaths is zero.”

A graphic containing an image of protest with copy on top that reads “ICE serves no other purpose than as the government’s private paramilitary police force. When terror is used as a weapon for compliance; when our neighbors are scared to leave their homes; when we can no longer protest in the streets without fear of government retaliation; when the state justifies violence against its own citizens and tears families apart because of the language they speak or color of their skin; it reflects the ideologies of a fascist government that we are obligated to stand against.”

Thank you to the community for showing up yesterday for our neighbors. Abolish ICE.

Together we want all of Lancaster to know we want ice out and that we mourn every life taken by the hands of ICE and this cruel system.

There is more than one way to stand in solidarity with those in Minnesota. Join us alongside organizations, @indivisiblelancastertogether @psllancaster @lanc.dsa @solidaritylancaster as we march from Reservoir Park to Penn Square, ending the evening with a vigil.

Tomorrow there is a call for a general strike in solidarity with the people of Minneapolis. This general strike calls for no school, no work, and no spending. We encourage all who are able to participate, but we know that this is not always an option for everyone.

A graphic with several photos of Lancaster Stands Up and PA Stands Up protests and actions. On top of the photos it reads: "Stand up, fight back: our time is now mass meeting. Get billionaires out of our lives & demand an affordable PA for all of us. Monday, Feb 9th 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Location: The Mix & Online via Zoom."

The time to act and organize our communities is now, but we can't do it without you. If you're looking for ways to stand up and fight back please join us at our Mass Meeting on February 9! Sign up here: www.mobilize.us/pastandsup/e...

A graphic with a picture of Martin Luther King Jr., along with one of his quotes which says: "The curse of poverty has no justification in our age. It is socially as cruel and blind as the practice of cannibalism at the dawn of civilization."

A graphic with a picture of Martin Luther King Jr., along with one of his quotes which says: "The whole structure of American life must be changed. America is a hypocritical nation and [we] must put [our] own house in order."

(3/3) If we learn from his example and bravery, there is nothing the Billionaires can do to stop us. Let's take a moment to honor #martinlutherkingjr.

A graphic with a picture of Martin Luther King Jr., along with one of his quotes which says: "I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Councilor or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to 'order' than to justice."

A graphic with a picture of Martin Luther King Jr., along with one of his quotes which says: "One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws, Conversly, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."

(2/3) United States establishment. He was assassinated because he exposed our government's hypocrisy and that was something they just could not stand. Now, with fascism back on the rise, his uncompromising vision is needed more than ever.

A graphic with a photo of Martin Luther King on the top. Underneath is one of his quotes: "I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values."

A graphic with a photo of Martin Luther King on the top. Underneath is one of his quotes: "Call it democracy, or call it democratic socialism, but there must be a better distribution of wealth within this country for all God's children."

(1/3) It is Martin Luther King day, so our office is closed but we want to take some time to honor MLK's legacy. One thing that many of us forget is that while Reverend King used nonviolent methods, he was also a radical who was a thorn in the side of the racist...

Join us in our fight to win back Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and our country. It will take all of us, we need each other more than ever.

This will be a hybrid event, so RSVP whether or not you intend to join in person!

www.mobilize.us/pastandsup/e...

A photo of Matt Rodriguez being sworn in to the Elizabethtown Borough Council.

Here’s to a 2026 of building #peoplepower!

A photo taken by Blaine Shahan of LNP, showing Amos Stoltzfus being sworn in to Lancaster City Council.

A photo of Ethan Byers being sworn in to Columbia Borough Council.

A photo of Jeanne Cooper being sworn in to Columbia Borough Council.

In case you missed it: our endorsed candidates were sworn in at the beginning of 2026! Congrats Amos S., Ethan B., Jeanne C., and Matt R.! We look forward to working with you on Stopping the Sweeps, Police Accountability, and more. (1st photo credit: Blaine Shahan, LNP)