SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — ‘No Kings’ protests were held all over the country on Saturday and Scranton was no different.
According to one county worker over 1500 people came to the Lackawanna County Courthouse square. The crowd was there for hours holding signs, listening to the speakers, one of whom was Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, and dressing up. Some wore t-shirts while others wore inflatable frog costumes, a symbol used by anti-ICE protestors in Portland, Oregon.
Fox56 was able to talk to many of the protestors, and they had a lot to say.
Some explained why they were there.
Rachel Stark said, “We’re all just kind of here fighting for a better tomorrow, fighting to keep our constitution intact, and fighting to keep checks and balances in the government I love my country. It’s a place I want to be forever and, you know, I’m out here today because I want it to stay the amazing place it is for everybody.”
“I don’t even see this as a political thing,” said Paul Friedman. “It’s just, you know, I think we were all taught some version of right from wrong, you know, when we were kids and it just feels like the right thing to do. We speak out against bullies, you know, when we see things that are wrong so that’s why we’re here.”
Some explained their beliefs.
“Coming From a background of immigrants, explained Marcel Guardia, “I do not agree with MAGA. I’m neither Democratic or Republican. I’m for the people, the people of America. Immigrants are the backbone of this country, the backbone of this whole structure. Everything you see going on here today is really beautiful.”
Jenn Brothers, the democratic candidate for District Nine in the House of Representatives explained, “We are here pushing policies that are people first, and that’s what we need in America. We need to make sure that our people are taken care of.”
And some looked towards the future.
“I just hope it carries on, and I hope we beat them up real bad in the next several elections and I hope someday that the Republicans get enough guts to stand up to him (Trump),” said Don Sheridan, who held a sign that said “Stop Hitler Trump”.
“I hope that everybody’s going to stay peaceful,” said Steven Vale as the protest was winding down. “And I hope that everyone, you know, will do the right thing and get out and vote. That’s probably more important than anything.”
But everyone was there to support what they saw as right. And the protestors we couldn’t interview told stories through their signs and chants. Examples of signs read “Veterans Against Trump”, “I Love America that’s why I’m here”, “Hands Off Our Immigrants”, “Release The Files Stop Protecting Pedophiles”, and “No Faux-King Way”. People dressed up as Uncle Sam, inflatable eagles, and dawned all sorts of American clothing. One of the most striking examples was a bald woman who carried an effigy of Trump’s head on a stick with a poster below that read, “I Have Stage 4 Ovarian And Uterine Cancer and Kids – Without Medicaid, I Will Die!!!”
Several pro trump cars were parked around the courthouse square with a massive truck displaying many anti-democrat sayings and images set up right in front of the crowd and a tent was set up with cardboard cutouts of President Trump and flags spread around. After talking with counter-protestors, they said that there were a few incidents in which protestors and counter-protestors got into light altercations, but that the procession was almost entirely peaceful. Both sides butted heads and got into talks but to the counter-protestors, they expressed that while they don’t agree with the reason that people are protesting, they love the fact that we live in a country where you can.
“I think this is pretty good to express how people feel, how the Americans feel, and get to talk to other people who have other beliefs than you,” said Jack McCaffrey who wore a red “Make America Great Again” Hat. He explained that he was originally going on a walk with his friends but came to the protest to check it out and speak with protestors. He said he didn’t agree with them but that he enjoyed the conversations.
Lawrence LoSchiavo was another counter protestor we spoke to. When he heard there was a ‘No Kings’ protest on Saturday, he went to it wearing a “All Hail King Trump” t-shirt, explaining that if the protestors already saw President Trump as a king, he might as well ironically wear it to show that the movement’s point was illogical. He explained that although he was a supporter of President Trump, he didn’t understand the name calling and vulgarities he experienced from the protestors at the event and wished that more people would agree to disagree. Like McCaffrey, LoSchiavo said he disagreed with practically everything that was said during the rally but that the fact two parties of people can disagree but coexist is a core principle of America.
“Agree to disagree agreeably,” LoSchiavo explained, “We can be different. If we were all the same we’d be going around going ‘What do we do next? What’s your next order? I will obey.’ all right? Seriously! If we were all forced to agree; but this is what makes America great. End of story.”
After the main speakers finished in the square, people started to trickle out, but there was still a group at the courthouse waving signs and hoping that cars will honk for hours afterward.
We spoke to a lot of people at the event and what we heard from protestors and counter-protestors alike was passion. Everyone believed in a better future, they just disagreed on how we get there, but the one thing that they could agree on was that peaceful protest, the ability to speak our minds, and the right to agree to disagree is what makes the American experiment so great; and we’d be fools to ever forget that.