Impressive Rally in Prescott, Arizona
The Prescott, Arizona area has a population of about 130,000. Out of that they gathered quite a rally. One of the organizers said they were estimating 3,000. It was a passionate crowd. Both in response to speakers and spontaneous chants, but also in the overheard conversations. These things often have a mix of chat about what ever issue the rally is about, plus people who are just happily glad to see each other or meet new like minded folk. At this one a lot more of the conversation was on the seriousness of the situation and less just cheerful visiting.
With many people talking about the shootings of Democratic elected officials in Minnesota this same morning, and the Democratic state Attorney General as a speaker, it’s unfortunate to even have to think but the conversation around that seemed nervous about the possibility of similar happening even here.
State Attorney General, Kris Mayes, who grew up in Prescott, rallied the crowd, but especially at two points in her talk in particular. One was when she pointed out that the dictionary definition of liberal includes being tolerant. She though that was a mistake. She said she was a liberal but there was a lot now she will not tolerate and she rattled off a list. She would not tolerate a president acting as authoritarian, the military used to achieve that, science being replaced with weak theories in medical safety, and others. With each of those the crowd cheered louder.
She closed her part saying change could come by way of the three Cs, Crowds, Courts, and Courage. Crowds, which she said this rally had covered, courts which she pointed out the many victories of her office thwarting Trump had covered, and courage.
Another of the strongest moments was when Kathleen Sauer, Chair of the local Democratic party, discussing how everyone needs to make connections as part of efforts to take action, asked everyone to turn to their neighbor and introduce themselves and give some idea what their beliefs are. People took to that whole heartedly. The crowd had a loud rumble of conversation that overwhelmed the speaker for a time.
Lots of attendants had something to say if asked. Susan McElheran, a local book shop owner, said, “One of the things that makes America great is our constitution. The current president and his admin are undermining it.” And then she added, “Another thing is we are a nation of immigrants. The president that MAGA elected is trying to undo that greatness too.”
Michael Brown, a locally recognized potter, said, “I think if everyone is loyal to the constitution we’ll get through this turbulent time in our country. Local Beth Cottle said, “It’s a great event to see people who love the USA standing up for democracy.”
Retired Superior Court judge Ralph Hess said it was an impressive rally, both in turnout and in the peacefulness of it despite the passion. Local business owner Dana Murdock had an interesting alternate reaction to some of what Trump is doing. She thinks it could, “rekindle the flame of ‘power to the people’. I’m sure this was not Trump’s intention but by trying to destroy our democracy, the places needing repair will ultimately be the strongest.”
The rally ended with an energized crowd. Typically the feeling at such an event is a crowd just happy to have made a show of their feelings. As this ended the sense and comments seemed more focused on finding what would be the next way to take action.
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