While midwinter Wednesdays aren’t typically celebratory, on Jan. 20 Dartmouth residents joined a small gathering of South Coast Democrats at the corner of Routes 6 and 140 to commemorate Joe Biden’s inauguration day.

During the rally, around 15 masked attendees held Biden-Harris signs and waved American flags at passing drivers. Donations of non-perishable food were also collected for a local food pantry. 

“It’s just so fun, and I’m so excited to see people so happy,” New Bedford-based event organizer and labor activist Lisa Lemieux said. 

Dartmouth Democratic Town Committee Chair James Griffith noted that there were some “down thumbers” at the start of the rally, but that there were certainly more honks of approval as the event went on.

“This is where we traditionally did our visibilities during the campaign,” Griffith added. “But this is better.”

The Dartmouth Democrat said that he is looking forward to the new president’s agenda, adding that he is “very pleased” to see Biden re-enter the Paris Climate Accords and have a “more aggressive” vaccination program.

“So far it has been atrocious,” he said, noting that the Dartmouth Board of Health told him that there’s been very little communication from the state and federal government with regard to vaccines. “That’s going to change as of today.”

Griffith added that he believes the change in leadership will bring governors more support from the federal government.

“That will help Massachusetts and by extension that will help Dartmouth,” he said.

The inauguration wasn’t the only milestone the group celebrated. 

To end the morning rally, State Rep. Antonio Cabral (New Bedford) presented Lemieux a certificate from the Massachusetts House of Representatives’ Black and Latino Caucus, honoring her as a “Latinx trailblazer” for her “outstanding work as a labor organizer fighting for the rights of all working people.”

“We’re all celebrating, so why not celebrate one of ours as well,” Cabral said.

With the change in the Oval Office, Lemieux said her focus will continue to be with organizing around the South Coast.

But for now, she said, it’s all about celebrating the start of a new administration.

“We’re really excited about them coming into office and getting on with business.”