A crowd of 375 people lined downtown Potsdam for a second rally this month protesting current administration policies. NCNow photo.

North Country Neighbors for Civic Engagement, a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving democracy and strengthening local communities, is organizing May Day Strong protests on Thursday, May 1.

The rallies will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at two locations: at the intersection of Route 37 and Main Street in, near Kinney Drugs in Massena;, and in Potsdam on Main Street, across from the movie theater.

Formed in January 2025, North Country Neighbors, often referred to simply as "North Country Neighbors"—has quickly mobilized local residents for action.

“We are a grass-roots organization that formed in January to respond to the risks to our democracy and community posed by the incoming administration,” said spokesperson Lisa Torrey.

The May Day protest is one of several recent events held by North Country Neighbors, including rallies on March 15, April 5, and April 19.

"We’ve organized protests in March and April, and now we’re coming together again for May Day," said Torrey.

“A core group of us write a weekly newsletter to encourage local bite-sized action,” said spokesperson Lisa Torrey. “Over 300 people have joined our mailing list; most are from the Canton-Potsdam area, but some are scattered across the larger North Country.”

In their statement for the May Day event, the group said, “Across the country—from fruit fields in California to classrooms in Chicago, from kitchens in Queens to loading docks in Atlanta—working people are rising up. We are demanding a country that puts our families over their fortunes—public schools over private profits, healthcare over hedge funds, housing over homelessness.”

For more information about the event or to contact organizers directly, individuals can visi thttps://www.mobilize.us/commoncause/event/779680/ or reach out to Lisa Torrey at 608-658-2371 for details about the Potsdam rally.