Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont internship, for Rutland Herald
RUTLAND — On Saturday morning, dozens of impassioned locals stood in front of Main Street Park, waving their handmade anti-Donald Trump signs at cars passing by.
Rutland County Indivisible has been hosting weekly rallies for months — rain or shine — in hopes to unite community members under their shared disapproval of the Trump administration.
To build anticipation for the No Kings 3 demonstration on March 28, RCI leadership upped the ante with a march down to City Hall and a nod to the fable “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”
RCI member Marsha Cassel, who proposed incorporating the story, said the arts are an effective way to help communicate their message.
“We’re basically turning to the arts … to compel people to rethink things or to think for the first time about something. This classic story by Hans Christian Andersen just lends itself so well as a metaphor for denying what we are seeing and hearing,” Cassel said.
The story tells of a vain emperor who is deceived by two conmen to believe he is wearing clothes, when, in fact, he is wearing nothing. The emperor then proceeds before his city naked where the crowds sheepishly ignore his indecency, until a child yells, “But the emperor has nothing at all on!”
“It’s such a great metaphor of saying you don’t have the authority, you don’t have clothes, you don’t have the constitutional backing, you don’t have the intellect, you don’t have the humanity to be doing what you do — and calling him out on it,” Cassel said.
Larry Walter, another RCI member, said Trump, like the fictional emperor, surrounds himself with “yes-men.”
“He takes no criticism, he only takes praise,” Walter said.
Rallygoers were not deterred by the 30-degree, cloudy weather, but instead cheered themselves with hot chocolate, the playing of drums and tambourine, and music from a loudspeaker. Songs like “War” by Edwin Starr and traditional African-American hymn “We Shall Not Be Moved” played.
The welcoming environment was juxtaposed by attendees’ political frustrations.
“I think he’s a terrible man,” said Rutland resident Beth Barra. “If we don’t go into a depression, it’ll be amazing to me. The way he’s doing the tariffs, the war, the Strait of Hormuz — all of the oil tanks are being surrounded. He’s awful.”
Though signs depicted a variety of messages, many called on the abolishment of ICE.
“Look what just happened just this week up in South Burlington,” said Orwell resident Frank Spina, citing violent clashes between local protesters and immigration enforcement during a raid on March 11.
Dave Coppock, co-leader of RCI’s Direct Action Team, said the city has taken a step in the right direction with the Rutland City Board of Alderman’s recently adopted resolution on ICE, which calls for agents to display badges, show a judicial warrant before entering a home and follow the rule of law in Rutland.
However, he was upset by the several weeks it took to evaluate.
“It is appalling to me that it should be such an uphill battle,” Coppock said. “To me, it’s just democracy 101.”
Following the rally, Cassel led the crowd — dressed in a suit and mask to portray a naked Emperor Trump — down West Street and Merchants Row to City Hall. All the while, Cassel waved her arm and emperor’s staff powerfully.
At City Hall, people gathered around the emperor, who stood on a bench making grandiose gestures, while RCI leader Mary Droege read “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” She then invited everyone to No Kings 3, happening March 28 at Main Street Park.
Coppock said RCI is confident that No Kings 3 will break previous attendance records.
“We’re confident that No Kings 3 will break (past) records by far because of the currents and the real anger toward the Trump administration about the way things are going,” he said.