Via Community News Service, in partnership with Vermont State University Castleton for the Rutland Herald
As Arlene Zivitz joined a large group of people to protest the Trump administration on Thursday afternoon at Main Street Park in Rutland, she offered this: “It’s about time people smarten up,”
“This is nothing new. This is not the first for me. I’ve been doing this since the ’70s,” she said.
Sponsored by Castleton Indivisible, the “Protect Our Rights” march, drew about 200 people to the park where they gathered before setting out down West Street toward downtown.
Many of those marching were veterans and seniors citizens who said they were concerned about their future, noting Trump’s proposed cuts to Medicare and Veterans Affairs.
“I keep looking at my Social Security,” Fran Oken claimed.
But for most, the reasons were many.
“You have to be here today if you’re paying attention,” Paul Millette said.
Some said they fear the future their children may inherit.
“I’m here for the future generations,” said Tracy Hayes, an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. “We have two boys with autism. My daughter is non-binary.”
Hayes noted her concern for schools, saying bullying is only encouraged by President Donald Trump’s behavior.
Another protester shared his general dislike for all the Trump administration’s policies and actions.
“It’s the … corruption, it’s the taking of our services. It’s locking people up and scaring everybody,” Eric Solsaa claimed.
Some concerns over the immigration policies also came up in discussion.
“What he’s doing to immigrants; I feel bad for them,” Kayla O’Brien said.
Another protester said he joined the march because he simply did not feel right about remaining silent.
“I feel the most important thing I can do is be present, be present with a group of people exercising their First Amendment rights,” Rosco Stark said. “I will die on my feet before I let any fascist take over my country.”
The crowd marched around the block, holding up their signs and chanting, “The people united will never be divided.”
Although the march drew mostly honks and shouts of support from passersby, one citizen drove by shouting, “Trump all the way,” which went unheard by much of the group.
Jean Yeager, another protester, drew comparisons between an authoritarian country and what our country could become under Donald Trump’s rule.
“I just came from a country where all that was taken away,” he said while talking about his recent trip to Hungary.
Yeager also mentioned the 50th anniversary of the end of war in Vietnam having been this week, which he cited as one reason so many showed up for the protest.
Yeager also noted how important it is to stay informed and how community is a great way to communicate and educate.
“Walks are a good reminder for a lot of people,” he said. “Things can only change in a community.”