POTTSTOWN — The more than 2,000 people gathered in the rain Saturday for a No Kings rally were among the millions who rallied across the country protesting the policies of President Donald Trump, and the military parade he commanded that made its way through Washington, D.C., on the same day.
“Huge, boisterous crowds marched in New York, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, some behind ‘no kings’ banners. Atlanta’s 5,000-capacity event quickly reached its limit, with thousands more gathered outside barriers to hear speakers in front of the state Capitol,” the Associated Press reported.
The nationwide demonstrations come on the heels of protests over federal immigration enforcement raids that began last week, and Trump ordering the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, where protesters blocked a freeway and set cars on fire.
“Light rain fell as marchers gathered for the flagship rally in Philadelphia. They shouted, “Whose streets? Our streets!” as they marched to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where they listened to speakers on the steps made famous in the movie “Rocky,” according to the AP.
In Pottstown, the backdrop was the slightly less iconic Pottstown Plaza shopping center, where protestors filled the parking lot to chant, wave signs and stand up for their right to protest all along State Street at its intersection with Wilson Street.
Across the street, the second day of Pottstown’s Soap Box Derby continued, with young racers whizzing their way down the Wilson Street hill.
Organizer Kellie Barlow was “amazed” by Saturday’s turnout in Pottstown.
“To see more than 2,000 people all come together for the same purpose is absolutely amazing,” she said.
“Continue having your voices heard and keep on fighting for democracy. Stand together against abuses of power and corruption,” she told the crowd as the event wound down. “And just remember this, perseverance is not just about individual achievement, but also about collective progress. It’s about our nation’s ability to learn from the past, adapt to changing circumstances and strive for a better future for ourselves and our country.”
The line of sign-wielding protestors stretched from the end of the sidewalk at the west end of State Street, all the way across the entrance to Pottstown Plaza, down the hill to the back entrance to the shopping center. Protestors also took up positions across the street in front of Highland Memorial Cemetery.
Down at the bottom of the hill, two protesters who gave their names only as Kevin and Jack, said they were motivated to show up and protest “because of the state of everything. Everything is being dismantled and torn apart,” said Kevin.
“Now we’ve got the Marines and the National Guard making arrests and pushing people around and down on the street. We’ve got to stand up,” said Jack. “We have to show that you can be patriotic and still express dissent.”
All the way at the other end of the line of protesters stood Amber Watkins and Daniel Melendez of Pottstown.
“Everything that’s happening seems to have a snowball effect, and if we don’t stop it, it’s going to get out of control,” said Watkins. “We wanted to show up and fight what this administration is doing.”
Melendez said he was galvanized by what he saw happening in Los Angeles, with the calling out of the National Guard against the Democratic governor’s wishes, and then doubling down by using U.S. Marines.
“It’s insane. We’re using the police and military against citizens. It’s unconstitutional,” he said.
Limerick resident Carly Schmidt and her sister Erica, who lives in Pottstown, said, “It’s good to come out, to speak up and show people that we do care about issues.
Liz and David Goldfarb came down from Amity Township to make their voices heard.
They came “because of the sad state the world is in right now,” she said.
Ash Ulrich and Ange Lafferty, both of Pottstown, were holding an American flag upside down, a sign of distress. They said they work at a facility that made that flag and that, ironically, many of the workers who make flags there are immigrants.
Source: Berkshire mont
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