Northern End Stands Up has announced a rally to be held on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM on Main Street in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. The group states the purpose of the rally is to “demand an end to the attacks on our public institutions” and to protest against what they describe as the “gutting of our social services” allegedly led by Elon Musk.
According to a Facebook post by Northern End Stands Up, the rally aims to advocate for the protection of programs such as social security, healthcare, veteran benefits, and public education, asserting that these are essential for the “basic dignity” of families, children, and the elderly. The organization is calling on elected officials to take “immediate action to protect our jobs and public services,” emphasizing the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for all Americans. The rally’s slogan is “Hands Off Ephrata!”
Northern End Stands Up is affiliated with Lancaster Stands Up, an organization known for its progressive political advocacy. Lancaster Stands Up has openly supported pro-abortion policies and LGBTQ+ inclusion initiatives. Northern End Stands Up has also been known to oppose local Christians who promote the Bible as the standard of justice. In a public statement released last spring, the group addressed individuals they describe as “far-right extremists” – specifically naming Chris Hume, Joel Saint, and Luke Saint, all associated with Future of Christendom.
In their statement, Northern End Stands Up accused Hume and the Saints with attempting to “divide our community” and spreading “dangerous ideologies” and “intolerance.” The statement indicated a deliberate decision not to engage in debate with these individuals, aiming to deny them a platform. Northern End Stands Up asserted its commitment to values of “love and inclusion of everyone,” regardless of background, gender, or sexual orientation, and encouraged supporters to join organizations like Lancaster Stands Up, Lancaster Pride, and POWER Interfaith, to further these goals.
Future of Christendom, the organization with which Hume and the Saints are affiliated, in based in southeastern Pennsylvania and describes its vision as seeing “the advance of Christ’s kingdom in southeastern Pennsylvania (and beyond) as evidenced by people practicing righteousness in their personal lives, proclaiming the truth in local churches, and establishing justice in the public square.”
The upcoming rally on April 19th is expected to draw community members concerned about the future of social services. However, the affiliations and past statements of Northern End Stands Up may influence how some individuals and groups perceive the event and its underlying motivations.
