The local grassroots organization SOMA Action has announced a “No Kings: Vote Early” Day of Action for October 17, to take place in South Orange’s Spiotta Park.
The event marks the fourth “No Kings” protest event led by the group in the past year. But it differs in that the group aims to shift the focus to mobilize local residents to canvass in the neighboring NJ-7 congressional district for Democratic candidate Rebecca Bennett (Bennett faces imcumbent Tom Kean Jr., a Republican, in the November 3 general election).
Photo by Max Fraidstern. From a No Kings event in Maplewood in March 2026.
Read the press release from SOMA Action here:
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – SOMA Action will hold a “No Kings: Vote Early” Day of Action on Saturday, October 17, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. at Spiotta Park in downtown South Orange, The event will be followed by door-knocking in Summit, a town in the neighboring swing district of NJ-7. This is the organization’s fourth local No Kings event and the first focused entirely on early voter mobilization.
Unlike previous No Kings rallies, which featured speaker lineups and marches, the October 17 event is designed as a community-wide push to ensure every eligible voter knows their options, has a plan to vote, will vote early if possible, and is ready to make their voice count. Volunteers will fan out across downtown South Orange for what organizers are calling our “most epic Honk & Wave yet,” carrying signs that promote early voting, remind residents to check their registration, and encourage participation in this critical midterm election.
SOMA Action has been a local organizing partner of the national No Kings movement since June 2025, when more than 1,000 participants took to the streets of South Orange as part of what became the largest single-day protest in U.S. history. Successive events have grown in size, with last spring’s march and rally in Maplewood drawing over 3000 participants. For Co-President Erika Malinoski, the shift from protest to voter mobilization reflects the natural evolution of what No Kings has become in South Orange and Maplewood.
“The energy that brought a thousand people into the streets since we first organized No Kings in June 2025 hasn’t faded — it’s sharpened,” Malinoski said. “We’ve marched. We’ve rallied. Now we’re channeling all of that into the single most powerful act of democratic participation there is: voting. October 17 is about making sure every person in this community has a plan to cast their ballot — and encouraging them to cast it early.”
Co-President Allison Posner emphasized that the Day of Action is rooted in a fundamental democratic principle. “In America, leaders do not get to choose who votes, whose voices matter, or what future our communities deserve — the people choose their leaders,” Posner said. “For generations, ordinary people have changed the course of this country by organizing and voting. That’s exactly what we’re doing on October 17. Power belongs to the people. Let’s use ours.”
No Kings: Vote Early events are nonpartisan and are designed to increase participation from all eligible voters. A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. All participants are expected to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation, act lawfully, and help maintain a safe and welcoming environment. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, are prohibited. SOMA Action is committed to accessibility and inclusivity; participants with accessibility questions are encouraged to contact organizers directly.
NJ-7 Canvass: Get Out the Early Vote for Rebecca Bennett
Following the Honk & Wave, as part of SOMA Action’s annual Day of Action/Night of Fun, the group’s Democracy Action Committee will organize volunteers to carpool to nearby Summit to knock doors for Rebecca Bennett, the Democratic candidate in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. This House race is one of the most closely watched in the country, and SOMA Action is mobilizing boots on the ground to turn out early voters and help flip the seat currently held by Rep. Tom Kean Jr. “Tom Kean Jr. pretends to be a moderate, yet has voted with Donald Trump 100% of the time. He is best known for hiding from his constituents and from the press,” said Amy Higer, co-chair of the Democracy Action Committee. “NJ-7 constituents deserve a representative who actually fights for them. Rebecca Bennett is that candidate. Bennett is a veteran who speaks out powerfully against Trump’s war with Iran. She’s a parent of young children who understands the struggles of ordinary families. She is a fierce defender of women’s rights. And, most importantly, unlike her opponent, she has integrity. Every door we knock gets us closer to sending Rebecca Bennett to Congress and to regaining checks and balances in Washington.”
Canvassers will meet at Spiotta Park at 1:30 p.m. for carpooling. The canvass will run from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. For more information about the canvass, contact SOMA Action at [email protected].
Join Us — Here’s How to Get Involved:
- Register for the October 17 No Kings: Vote Early Day of Action at: https://www.mobilize.us/somaaction/event/1031105/
- RSVP for the NJ7 Canvass: https://www.mobilize.us/somaaction/event/1033874/
- Volunteer to help organize the event. SOMA Action needs help with outreach, setup, and day-of coordination. Contact [email protected] to get involved.
- Join SOMA Action’s email list and become part of the region’s most active progressive organizing community: www.somaaction.org
- Stay engaged. Democracy defense is year-round work. Follow SOMA Action on Instagram and Facebook for updates on rallies, town halls, civic education, and more.
About SOMA Action
SOMA Action’s mission is to drive progressive change. We believe change will happen through transforming structures to open democracy for all; creating a just and equitable society and government at all levels; advocating for climate justice; and building a more educated, informed, and politically active community.
