Write a commentThe first year of Donald Trump’s second term forced Americans to confront a truth we once believed unthinkable: a president committed to sidestepping the Constitution and weakening the system of checks and balances that has guided this nation since its founding.
Although Trump won with less than half the vote, he declared it a mandate and moved quickly to concentrate power. Federal agencies were purged, programs dismantled, and political enablers were installed throughout the government. Congressional Republicans, including our Congresswoman, Claudia Tenney, passed a sweeping budget bill that extended tax cuts for the wealthy while slashing Medicaid, food assistance, and health insurance subsidies.
But the law and the public began to push back. And nowhere was that pushback more vivid, more determined, or more hopeful than in Oswego County.
In February, ten neighbors gathered around a kitchen table because they felt they had to do something. That small meeting became Indivisible Oswego County (IOC), and over the course of 2025, IOC grew into one of the most active, community-rooted grassroots organizations in the region.
IOC organized monthly bridge rallies where residents gathered rain, shine, or snow, to show solidarity and resolve. IOC held town halls and community meetings to explain what was happening in Washington and what could be done locally to fight back. Residents wrote letters, made phone calls, and flooded local news outlets with articles expressing their concerns.
Increasing numbers of people showed up, again and again, at county legislature meetings, pressing representatives to adopt a “no collusion” resolution after evidence emerged that the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office was cooperating with Border Patrol and ICE in ways that violated community trust.
And in November, seven Democratic candidates, a seismic shift in a county long dominated by one party, were elected to the Oswego County Legislature. It was a reminder that democracy remains alive and strong when people stay involved.
IOC’s commitment only deepened as the year unfolded. In 2026, it will remain a strong, vibrant, nonpartisan grassroots organization focused squarely on the issues that affect the people of Oswego County. Plans are already underway for a welcoming Community Meeting in the coming weeks to set the agenda for the year ahead. IOC aims to help neighbors learn about local resources, enjoy time together, and take meaningful action that makes a difference. The primary goal for 2026 is to expand practical, hopeful civic work—the kind that strengthens a community from the inside out.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we are reminded that our founders rejected the idea of kings. This year, over 1,000 Oswego County residents joined together for No Kings Day. Plans are already in place for a second event in the spring.
Indivisible Oswego County welcomes all who believe in our democratic republic and in the power of ordinary people to shape its future. Individuals like you truly can make a difference. Become part of this movement. Join with us in making 2026 a better year for everyone.
