Explained: What’s Happening on the New Paltz Thruway Overpass?

My wife and I were taking the New York State Thruway from Newburgh to Kingston, NY when something caught our attention: there was some sort of commotion on the  Horsenden overpass in New Paltz.

As we got closer, the picture became clearer, with a large gathering of people holding up signs for vehicles driving on the Thruway to see.

Protests in New Paltz, NY

"Honk for Democracy", I was able to read before speeding by at 65 miler-per-hour. As it turn out, the gathering wasn't a random assortment of protesters, but an organized weekly event.

"Indivisible" Protests on Thruway Overpass in New Paltz, NY

The event was organized by the New Paltz chapter of Indivisible, an organization that describes themselves as a nationwide activist group "standing up against hatred and violence". Their event on the Horsenden overpass wasn't a one-time thing.

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"Visibility Brigades" on Horsenden Road in New Paltz, NY

Called "visibility brigades", the gatherings on the Horsenden overpass are a weekly event, happening on Friday afternoons at 5p.m. (rain dates are the following Sunday). All are invited to attend.

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"We win when [we] stand up and show up [for] our democracy/rights/protection of all our civil liberties! See you on the Overpass Friday", they recently shared on their event page. Interested parties are encouraged to RSVP before attending here.

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The event's location should make sense to many Hudson Valley residents as New Paltz has been the epicenter of many recent protests and demonstrations, including a recent Hands Off! march in April.