Riverhead ‘No Kings’ Rally Urges Early Voting Ahead of Election
Downtown Riverhead drew protesters from across eastern Suffolk County on Oct. 17 for one of more than a dozen “No Kings” rallies held across Long Island, riverheadlocal.com reported. Focused on early in-person voting ahead of the upcoming election, the event closed Griffing Avenue to traffic between Railroad Avenue and Second Street as roughly 150 people gathered on the county courthouse steps.
The demonstration brought together local leaders, nonprofit organizers, and musicians to urge immediate voter turnout. Suffolk County Legislator Greg Doroski addressed the crowd following a downtown march.
Early Voting Timelines and Polling Logistics
Doroski pointed to the fast-approaching voting window for residents. Early voting starts Saturday, Oct. 21, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 1.
Voting by mail remains an option, but Doroski warned that ballots can face postal delays and may not get counted on Election Day. Close races invite games, according to the legislator.
“This year, in particular, we need to win so big that they can’t rig it,” Doroski told the crowd. He urged attendees to bring friends to the polls.
Other speakers included Butterfly Effect Project Executive Director Tijuana Fulford and Southold Democratic Committee Chairperson Kathryn Casey-Quigley. Fulford addressed the gathering despite battling a cold that left her voice raspy.
Overcoming Technical Malfunctions at the Courthouse Steps
As Fulford spoke, the public address system failed. When organizers could not restore power to the audio equipment, someone in the audience handed up a bullhorn, allowing her to continue without interruption.
“Outrage without action is a toxic condition,” Fulford said through the megaphone, pointing to societal issues like hunger and poverty. Nearly 48 million Americans lived in food-insecure households in 2024, according to the USDA.
Casey-Quigley followed by calling on demonstrators to make connections and encourage others to vote. Her 15-year-old daughter, Hannah, sang “A Beautiful Noise” by Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile a cappella due to the dead sound system.
Indivisible Long Island founder Allison Kanas spoke alongside her son Adler, warning against efforts to make voting more difficult or to challenge election counts. Musician Paul Henry closed the afternoon event with a performance of the Woody Guthrie classic “This Land Is Your Land,” while organizations including the New York Civil Liberties Union, League of Women Voters, and Planned Parenthood distributed literature across the street.