Even in smaller and conservative areas resistance is strong
Among the resistance rallies across the country there were also ones in some smaller locations, like my city Prescott, Arizona. While there may have been 50,000 around the Washington monument (I think George would be pleased with the support of democracy) in D.C., here in our city, where the whole city population is around 50,000, we had what I estimate to be 1,500 at the town square.
It’s considered a conservative area, and by majority votes it is. Most of the elections go to conservatives. But the roots of the city go back to a mixed population. Ranchers from the surrounding areas as well as many independent souls who came to be artists, creatives, and free thinkers. So conservative, yes, but there have been some members elected to city council who were quite conservation minded and inclusive in their outlook. And in numerous elections the voters have chosen those candidates and won ballot initiatives for open space and other green issues.
The town square and the courthouse steps here have been famous for some conservative events. It’s where Barry Goldwater started his campaign for the presidency, and where John McCain repeatedly started his campaigns for office. But it’s also where many events of a different kind have happened. Anti-war rallies before the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Earth Day events, peace vigils, and even our own, small Occupy Prescott meetings.
The Hands Off rally on Saturday was one of the biggest the square has seen. One attendee, Meg Bohrman, is a local, a musician and activist. She said, “I’ve been at social justice demonstrations in this town since 2000. The amount of them has increased dramatically. This rally is the biggest I’ve experienced in Prescott. We are gearing up for the long haul. The more we stand up, the more people will come to join us.”
Resident Beth Cottle carried a sign that on the back showed a graph. It was the S&P 500 for Trump’s first 100 days, compared to the same for Obama and Biden. She said it represented what’s happening to her 401k. She said, “It’s great to see family and friends and neighbors out to support democracy”.
Steven Ayres, editor of 5enses art magazine, said, “There is more energy than the women’s march in 2017, and a very neighborly air. It’s encouraging to see so much going on in this red district”.
Gerry Garvey, a retired nonprofit leader, said she was there, “to remind people that we are the fourth and most powerful branch of government, ‘We the people’, and so need to realize we have choices”.
What the rally seems to indicate is that it doesn’t matter where you are. There is a very strong current of resistance, and perhaps of growing dissatisfaction even by those who didn’t start off that way. Making that known brings out everyone else who in turn make it ever more known. Remember that the popular vote was lost by less than 2%. Rallies like this, even in an area with a reputation as conservative, show that regaining sane control of democracy is ready to be won.
4 Comments
Thank you Tom for a well written and honest appraisal of the event and our town. Dee Cohen
Great article. Thrilled to be apart. Thank you for all you do Tom.♥️👍
Excellent and hopeful.
I live on Orcas Island,WA. Our village green had a couple hundred. In this remote place that is sparsely populated (we are vastly outnumbered by tourists in good weather),I call it a good turnout.