Via Community News Service, in partnership with Vermont State University Castleton for the Rutland Herald.
Dark rain clouds hovered over the town and soon released a chilly rain.
The day was cold, wet, and gray, but the honking of horns, lively chatter and pure energy would make you think it was a hot sunny day.
Enthusiasm filled the air as protesters gathered at the intersection of routes 7 and 104 in Wallingford last Saturday.
The protest, organized by Wallingford locals and activists Carol Tashie, Dennis Duhaime, and Sarah and Grey Wicker, is aimed at raising awareness about threats to democracy and growing concerns about the country’s future.
“So, we looked at each other and said, OK, it’s time to get back on the street again.’ … We put the word out. We put it on Front Porch (Forum). We love Front Porch. We put it out there, and the next week, we had about 30 people, and then we had about 60 people, and last week, we had about 90 people,” Tashie said.
The protest has reached individuals beyond Wallingford, with activists showing their support and traveling from neighboring Danby, Middletown Springs, Shrewsbury, Tinmouth and Rutland.
Locals at the event stress that Saturday, recurring weekly from noon to 1 p.m., protests are nonpartisan, with an overwhelming message that they are standing for democracy.
“I find the news so upsetting. To me, that’s not news to conservative or liberal or Republican or Democratic; it’s, do you believe in the rule of law? Do you believe in the Constitution? Should everybody be accountable? To me, those are really basic questions,” Grey Wicker said.
The protest began after watching a Zoom meeting involving U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, and U.S. Sens. Peter Welch and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Inspired by Balint’s call to action, long-time activists Tashie and Duhaime felt it was time to return to the streets.
“We watched the town hall meeting, and Becca started talking about taking to the streets, getting out there, and not getting discouraged,” Tashie said. “We thought about Black Lives Matter, women’s rights, civil rights, gay rights — there’s been a long history, and we shouldn’t get discouraged. We should get back out here and make our voices heard.”
What started as a four-person group with an idea, gradually expanded to almost 100 people in their third weekend. A sense of community quickly became reinforced among residents.
Nancy Birdsall, a Tinmouth local who has been active at the protests, touched on how an event like this brings a sense of community to town.
“I think it is just being a part of the community and recognizing that we’re not alone in what’s happening right now … I heard somebody say, ‘This is my social world now,’ And now we come down every weekend to be a part of it,” Birdsall said.
Similarly, Chris Heintz, of Wallingford, has not been to a protest since Donald Trump’s second term began and attended his first since then on Saturday.
“It’s really important to realize that each one of us is not alone in this. To see a group like this in your little hometown, it lets a lot of people know that even if you’re sitting home screaming at your television set, you’re not alone in how you’re feeling,” Heintz said. “It forms a connection between people here. I’ve met people I’ve not met before, and it connects in spirit the people in other places that are doing this.”
Some see the protest as a necessary means of opposing a frightening environment. Wicker, who handled the outreach of the protest on Front Porch Forum, stressed the necessity of nonpartisan unity.
“This is just for anybody that believes that you gotta follow the law. We gotta follow the rules,” Wicker said. “My unscientific survey is that about 70% of the cars that go by blow their horns and give the thumbs up. I think most people agree with us.”
Gabriella Netsch, a Wallingford resident, emphasized the importance of speaking out against perceived intentional political attacks, particularly on underprivileged communities.
“What’s unique for me here is this unending assault on trans people. It’s meaningless, all the lies that are said. Trump admitted he just uses it to fire up his 25% of right-wing extremists. And that gets them all riled up,” Netsch said.
With the movement gains more traction every weekend, those participating stay dedicated and loyal to their goal. While some will attend upcoming protests in Montpelier and Washington, D.C., others who have been contributing will continue to hold their ground in Wallingford to ensure their message gets through.
“Even if it causes one person who drives by to think about what’s going on, then that’s one person,” Birdsall said. “Energy breeds energy.”
As the weeks pass, the momentum of the protests shows no sign of dropping numbers. For many, these gatherings have become more than just protests; they have provided a sense of hope, connection, and solidarity.
With growing political uncertainty, the group finds comfort in one another and hopes that raising their voices together can make a difference.
“What we try to do is to let people know that what we’re doing is standing there for democracy. There’s a lot of people that would be partisan here, but the overwhelming message is, democracy matters,” Tashie said. “This is not about one specific policy or even one specific person. It’s about, do we believe in the Constitution?”