Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship
BURLINGTON – At noon Saturday, the chants and songs of protesters drowned out the bells from Burlington’s City Hall, as crowds of demonstrators gathered to protest President Trump.
Three marches converged at City Hall Park, part of more than 50 No Kings protests that took place across the state.
Many participants dressed up. One donned an inflatable capybara costume and declared themself a “capybara against kings.”
Others carried cardboard signs calling for peace. A woman dressed as the Statue of Liberty held up a poster with the poem inscribed on the base of the statue: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
Protester Beth Truzansky said our government is going in the wrong direction.
“I feel like our world can be a better place with different leadership, where we care for all people and take care of them,” Truzansky said.
Truzansky began the morning at Roosevelt Park as part of the North End march. The group snaked their way through the neighborhood before heading down Church Street. Passing cars honked and rolled down their windows, waving to show support.
This was not the first time out for Truzansky, who said she also attended the previous No Kings protest.
“I feel like it’s important to show up for what you believe in, and numbers matter to show that the majority of people in the U.S. want something different,” she said.
Unlike the June 14 protest that brought thousands to the waterfront, organizers chose not to arrange speakers this time. They hope that the decision highlights the importance of the protestors themselves.
“We chose not to have speakers because we wanted to reflect that every single one of us is a leader, and that it takes the power of all of us to resist fascism and to strengthen democracy,” said Jasmine Lamb, a member of Queen City Indivisible.
Instead, demonstrators were invited up to lead the group in singing. Local band Brass Balagan played from the base of the stairs at City Hall, with drums and an assortment of brass instruments. According to their website, Brass Balagan was born out of the Occupy Wall Street movement to “support community organized protests with well-played street music.”
“I’m here mostly just because what I think is going on in the country right now is really wrong for a lot of reasons,” said trumpet player Sarah Mazur. “I’m especially concerned about ICE and what’s going on with immigrant communities.”
As the event wrapped up, Lamb encouraged demonstrators to walk away ready to take more action and to engage with their community.
“I want to deeply encourage everyone to celebrate joy and community every chance you get,” she said.
