10/18/2026
For Immediate Release
La Crosse No Kings Gathering Proves That Community Is Stronger Than Political Division
Approximately 200 people gathered, $1,300 in donations were collected for WINN, and neighbors demonstrated that compassion transcends political differences.
LA CROSSE, WI — October 18, 2026 — In a time when political divisions too often overshadow our shared humanity, approximately 200 people gathered in La Crosse yesterday for a No Kings visibility event organized by La Crosse Indivisible. What unfolded was a powerful reminder that democracy is not simply about elections, political parties, or the people who hold office. It is about us. It is about our neighbors, our families, our communities, and our willingness to show up for one another.
The gathering brought people together to raise their voices, encourage voter participation, and demonstrate a commitment to a future rooted in dignity, inclusion, and collective responsibility. Participants also collected an estimated **$1,300 in donations for What I Need Now (WINN)**, helping support people in the community who suffer from poverty and are unsheltered.
But perhaps the most powerful demonstration of the day had nothing to do with politics.
During the event, a vehicle crash occurred following a medical emergency. Participants and onlookers stepped forward to assist emergency responders by helping clear the area and support efforts surrounding the incident. In an unexpected moment of urgency, people put aside everything else and focused on what mattered most: helping others.
There were no questions about political affiliation. No debate over how someone voted. No requirement that people agree on the issues before they could act with compassion.
There were simply people who saw others in need and responded.
That is community. That is humanity. And that is the kind of solidarity our country needs now more than ever.
“La Crosse Indivisible demonstrated two incredibly important truths yesterday: small numbers of people can still make a meaningful difference, and no matter how you vote, this community cares for one another. We gathered to use our voices, but we were also reminded that our actions speak just as loudly. When our neighbors needed help, people stepped forward. That is who we are, and that is the community we must continue building.” (Tasha Lewis, organizer).
Small gatherings. Meaningful change. Shared humanity.
It can be easy to believe that individual voices are too small to matter, that a gathering of a couple hundred people cannot make a difference, or that the divisions in our country are too deep to overcome. Yesterday challenged those assumptions.
Two hundred people showed up. Donations were collected. Voices were raised. And when an emergency occurred, community members responded.
Change does not always begin with a crowd of thousands. Sometimes, it begins with a few people who refuse to remain silent. Sometimes, it begins with someone bringing a donation, showing up at an intersection, having a difficult conversation, or deciding that their neighbors deserve better.
Every person who participates adds something to the movement for a stronger community. Every act of generosity helps someone. Every voice that encourages another person to participate in democracy creates an opportunity for change.
We cannot afford to let political differences convince us that we are enemies. We cannot allow disagreement to erase our ability to recognize one another's humanity. And we cannot build a better future if we stop talking to one another, stop listening, or stop caring about people whose experiences and beliefs differ from our own.
This election is about more than a party. It is about each other.
As the election approaches, La Crosse Indivisible encourages community members to continue using their voices, exercising their right to vote, and finding ways to connect with people across political lines.
Our voices matter. Our votes matter. But so does what we do between elections, how we treat our neighbors, and whether we are willing to stand up for the dignity and well-being of others.
We can disagree about candidates and policies while still working together to address hunger, support families, protect our neighbors, and build a community where people feel safe, valued, and included. We can hold firm convictions without losing sight of our shared humanity.
Democracy is not strengthened by silence or indifference. It is strengthened when people participate, speak out, show up, and remain committed to a future in which everyone has a place.
La Crosse Indivisible extends its gratitude to everyone who attended the gathering, contributed to the WINN donation drive, and helped demonstrate the compassion that makes our community stronger.
We are not just voting for a party. We are voting for each other.
When we show up, we matter. When we give, we make a difference. When we help our neighbors, we show the world who we are.
We may not all vote the same way. We may not agree on every issue. But we share these streets, these neighborhoods, these schools, and this future. We share the responsibility to care for one another and to leave our community better than we found it.
The answer to division is not deeper division. It is a connection. It is courage. It is compassion put into action.
Yesterday, La Crosse showed what is possible when people choose to show up—not only to make their voices heard, but to make a difference in the lives of others.
Our voices can challenge those in power. Our votes can shape our future. And our compassion can remind us that, before we are Democrats or Republicans, progressives or conservatives, we are human beings sharing a community.
The work does not end when the gathering disperses or the election is over. We must keep showing up, keep speaking out, keep reaching across the divide, and keep choosing one another. Because the future of our democracy is not just something we vote on. It is something we build together.
And we will build it together—one voice, one act of kindness, and one neighbor at a time.
About La Crosse Indivisible:
La Crosse Indivisible is a community-based group committed to civic engagement, democracy, inclusion, and collective action. Through public events, community partnerships, and opportunities for neighbors to come together, the organization encourages residents to participate in democracy and work toward a more compassionate, equitable, and connected community.
**Media Contact:**
La Crosse Indivisible
Taz
indivisiblelacrosse.com
[email protected]
