<p>On a day when hundreds of thousands marched across the country as part of the Women’s March on Washington, Islanders gathered to add their voices to the protest.</p>
Rally at Five Corners Saturday.
Rally at Five Corners Saturday.
On a day when hundreds of thousands marched in cities and towns across the country as part of the Women’s March on Washington, Islanders gathered at Five Corners in Vineyard Haven Saturday afternoon to add their voices to the protest.
Many others had traveled to the mainland to march in Falmouth, Boston and Washington, D.C., on the day after the inauguration of President Trump.
In Vineyard Haven the crowd of about 160 people was big enough to spill onto two street corners.
“I have a number of friends with young families who wanted to participate, but logistically, couldn’t make it to Washington or Boston or even Falmouth,” said Susan Desmarais of Oak Bluffs, who helped organize the protest rally.
Susan Desmarais, one of event organizers, dressed in pink.
Susan Desmarais, one of event organizers, dressed in pink.
“Since the election, we feel our voices haven’t been listened to, haven’t been heard. I hope this will empower people, so we can effect the change we want.”
Protestors waved colorful signs and drivers honked their horns and waved in solidarity. Some sang protest songs like This Land is Your Land, and We Shall Not Be Moved.
“There are a lot of people out there who are very afraid of Trump’s program for America,” said Ilka List of Oak Bluffs.
More photos of the rally at Five Corners.
Crowd spilled onto two street corners Saturday.
Comments
Thank you Susan Desmarais and
Barbara Welsh Oak BluffsThank you Susan Desmarais and others for organizing. I share this with anyone who might identify with it as much as I do.
"I listened as they called my President a Muslim.
I listened as they called him and his family a pack of monkeys.
I listened as they said he wasn't born here.
I watched as they blocked every single path to progress that they could.
I saw the pictures of him as Hitler.
I watched them shut down the government and hurt the entire nation twice.
I watched them turn their backs on every opportunity to open worthwhile dialog.
I watched them say that they would not even listen to any choice for Supreme Court no matter who the nominee was.
I listened as they openly said that they will oppose him at every turn.
I watched as they did just that.
I listened.
I watched.
I paid attention.
Now, I'm being called on to be tolerant.
To move forward.
To denounce protesters.
To "Get over it."
To accept this...
I will not.
I will do my part to make sure this great American mistake becomes the embarrassing footnote of our history that it deserves to be.
I will do this as quickly as possible every chance I get.
I will do my part to limit the damage that this man can do to my country.
I will watch his every move and point out every single mistake and misdeed in a loud and proud voice.
I will let you know in a loud voice every time this man backs away from a promise he made to them.
Them. The people who voted for him.
The ones who sold their souls and prayed for him to win.
I will do this so that they never forget.
And they will hear me.
They will see it in my eyes when I look at them.
They will hear it in my voice when I talk to them.
They will know that I know who they are.
They will know that I know what they are.
Do not call for my tolerance. I've tolerated all I can.
Now it's their turn to tolerate ridicule.
Be aware, make no mistake about it, every single thing that goes wrong in our country from this day
forward is now Trump's fault just as much as they thought it was Obama's.
I find it unreasonable for them to expect from me what they were entirely unwilling to give."
Author unknown.
"Now it's their turn to
Juleann West Tisbury"Now it's their turn to tolerate ridicule."
And the whole world goes blind.
Barbara Welsh for President!
James Logue Rosemont, PA and Chilmark, MABarbara Welsh for President!
I have little to add to
Carol Lampson formerly ChilmarkI have little to add to Barbara Welsh's excellent comment. I was at the Oakland, California Women's March today (around 84,000, per the OPD) - it was wonderful. Want to stop the fascists? Google The Indivisible Guide and read it. Then join a local Indivisible group (or start one). Or Organizing for America. Send a donation to a nonprofit media outlet (Mother Jones, Propublica, the Nation).
I'm so glad the Island represented, as they say. I clicked on the Gazette website today to check for that. Lovely. Good job, former neighbors.
Right on!
Sandi OBRight on!
I'm a former Cape Codder
Tom Gorton Nanning, Guangxi, ChinaI'm a former Cape Codder living in China. As far as it is from MV, it's not far enough away from the fascist, racist, sexist, self-involved, xenophobic, divisive liar named Trump and his right winged Cabinet that will serve the needs of but a few Americans, isolate us from the 21st Century world, tell us what a hoax climate change is, stop believing in science (unless they need medical care), remove healthcare, reinforce the military-industrial complex, ignore nuclear proliferation, damage our credibility, kiss up to the criminal Putin and push China farther away instead of promoting a solid working relationship with them. Here comes fascism. Start the Revolution or say goodbye to freedom.
It amazes me how people won't
Islander East Part of the IslandIt amazes me how people won't give the man a chance. Grow up will you. I don't remember many protests 8 years ago. America gave him a chance 8 years ago and decided they couldn't live with the same type of values in the oval office so they spoke and elected someone else. Lets stop the protesting and see where it takes us. You might like it.
There are degrees that people
Stevie d VhThere are degrees that people land on this issue.
The overall point of these actions is to put the new president on notice that he will meet a lot of resistance if he tries to turn back the clock on much of the progress that we've made in the area of civil rights.
That can only be good for us as a country!
I had some hopes for him,
Art Washington, dcI had some hopes for him, because he ran as a populist. But he's appointed an EPA head who ignores the overwhelming consensus of climate scientists, a Secretary of Education who has spent years promoting a plan that undermines public education, a Labor Secretary who has never liked the federal minimum wage, an HHS Secretary who seems bound and determined to take health insurance away from millions ... How far should we let this go before we speak up?
I liked the sign "IKEA makes
Juleann West TisburyI liked the sign "IKEA makes great cabinets".
This is unpresidented, I
MarieThis is unpresidented, I agree. But Trump is an unusual person. He has treated people with disdain, he makes things up and he is unstable. He needs to know where he stands. He may really believe that most Americans like him
Just look at his hissy fit when told that his turnout was not huuuuuuuge. Kellyann Conway called trump's numbers "alternative facts". Another way to say he made it up.
Grow up? Don't remember the
Dan ObGrow up? Don't remember the protests? Remember the whole birther movement, claiming obama wasn't born here and trying to strip him of his legitimacy? That lasted for months. Remember the burning of fake Obama bodies, and the hang nooses with signs that said "Obama hang in there"? Hateful, racist, mean actions carried out by neadrothols. The protests are just beginning. It's day one. Pay attention. You might learn something. The impeachment of trump is coming...
I can't give this horrific
Chris Mara EdgartownI can't give this horrific person a chance. It's so not the same as 8 years ago or even 16. In 2000 I didn't like the results of the election but I respected them. This man is a blight on our country and must be opposed at every opportunity. That's why I took my daughter to Washington.
Well said Chris. This man has
Glenn Koetzner SharonWell said Chris. This man has shown us who he is over the last 40 years. It's time America believed him.
To the people who say "grow
Jennie Driesen ChilmarkTo the people who say "grow up" to those of us who marched (I went to DC -- so, so great!) or have serious concerns about Trump and his administration -- this is the kind of patriarchal, dismissive, divisiveness we're protesting. Instead of saying "grow up," how about saying something like "tell me why you are protesting?" or "can we discuss this over coffee?" We are your fellow citizens. We can respect your differing opinions right up to the point where your opinions act to take away our rights.
These people are exercising
charlie callahan so boston /edgartownThese people are exercising their rights which is great and a lot of us served and fought and died so we have these rights. But a lot of these people protesting Trump are afraid they are going to lose their free ride AKA WELFARE. Trump was born with a silver spoon, but he always worked. Maybe not real work, but he always worked, and millions of freeloaders think they are deserving of a free ride and if they are not legitimately disabled, that ride may be coming to an end
I was in the he Washington
Art Washington, dcI was in the he Washington march yesterday. Your perception of who was demonstrating, and what they were demonstrating for, is completely off- base.
Charlie, here are the facts-
Dan ObCharlie, here are the facts-
"The highest federal aid recipients are: Mississippi (45.3%), Louisiana (44%), Tennessee (41%), South Dakota (40.8%), Missouri (39.4%), Montana (39%), and Georgia (37.9%). As you may have noticed, almost all of these are “red” states controlled by the Republican Party (Missouri is an exception)."
All trump supporters. Your theory is wrong and debunked by real facts.
Well, Trump supporters live
Juleann West TisburyWell, Trump supporters live everywhere. Just like Hillary supporters. The states you listed receive high levels of federal aid because they have very high rates of poverty -- not because they are "red" states.
When it comes to federal aid recipients I think it's important to remember the states who gain from military and defense contracts. Virginia, Hawaii, Alaska, Alabama, Kentucky and Maryland are all high on the list -- four red, two blue.
And, of the poorest U.S. cities -- Detroit, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Miami, St. Louis -- four are run by Democrats, two by Republicans. Broad generalizations are just that -- broad . . . and general.
A man who brags about
Susan Desmarais Oak BluffsA man who brags about sexually assaulting women, bullies people and denigrates the disabled doesn't deserve a chance.
I cannot understand what is
Mark Lucier EdgartownI cannot understand what is being protested. The guy entered into an election and won the election. Good, bad, or ugly, he is our president. Should I now rescind my vote for the satisfaction of a herd of misguided Women?
Uh....Mark, is there any
Gil Sanford FalmouthUh....Mark, is there any other kind?
A herd? Seriously? By the
Carol formerly ChilmarkA herd? Seriously? By the way, Mark Lucier, he got in on a technicality (Electoral College) with the help of a corrupt FBI director and Putin. Even then, Trump lost the popular vote by a whopping 2.8+ million.
The electoral college exists
deshandra brown mvThe electoral college exists so that the election is not decided by the highly populated states such as CA and NY. I am more than willing to change the system so that the popular vote would elect the president. As it now stands my vote here 'does not count'. And the candidates would certainly spend more time campaigning differently rather than putting emphasis on OH and PA. That being said, get over it your flawed candidate lost, despite HER campaign being funded with foreign donations. (which the lamestream media chooses to ignore)
How come pro-life women were
deshandra brown mvHow come pro-life women were not welcome at this protest? Tolerance? What a bunch of phonies.
Is this one of the
Fred Roven EdgartownIs this one of the administrations "alternate facts"? Although am anti-choice group was removed as sponsor (because it was in opposition to the stated mission) you can find many examples of their attendance in posted photos.
As citizens we all have the
Jennifer Barnes Allgood West TisburyAs citizens we all have the right to freedom of speech and to protest. The citizens at Four Corners were not there because they are losing their free ride but because they have a voice. They had something to say because they have the right to their beliefs.
As far as the remark earlier that, good, bad or ugly he is our President .... isn't that a cowboy movie? And that herd of misguided women was over a million. And they were supported by many men.
And for the record you can't rescind your vote. Because if you could you would be shadowed by millions to reverse the current President.
"If ever the time should come
S.C. edgartown"If ever the time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin"
Samuel Adams 1722-1803
Right on Vineyard women, men
Jill Nelson NYCRight on Vineyard women, men and children!
No surprise you were holding our rights down and
taking us higher! My feet marched in NYC, but my
soul was with you on that magical island.
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