Hundreds turn out for anti-Trump protest in downtown Morganton

More than 400 people turned out on a beautiful spring Saturday afternoon on the Old Courthouse Square in downtown Morganton for a protest against the ongoing policies of the Trump administration.

The April 5 event dubbed “Hands Off – Burke Fights Back,” was jointly sponsored by the Burke County Democratic Party and Indivisible Burke, a recently established chapter of the national organization, Indivisible. The Burke march joined a synchronized nationwide protest that realized about 1,500 march venues engaging over 500,000 people, according to national news reports.

After registering, the protestors marched twice around the Square then stood along the four sections of sidewalk that line the square, most of them carrying signs and occasionally chanting, “Hands Off!”

Bill Scudder, a nonagenarian who served in the Air Force during the Korean War, was unable to join fellow protestors on the sidewalk and instead watched from the shade of a tree, but he spoke forcefully when asked about his desire to participate.

“I’m against everything Trump is for,” he said simply. “As a veteran, I think Trump is trying to destroy everything that we fought for. We were fighting to preserve democracy. That man is doing everything in his power to destroy it.”

The signs which the protestors carried were as varied as are the issues of the day. Some proclaimed, “Hands Off Social Security.” Another, “Hands Off Public Education!” and others, “Hands Off Our Democracy!”

When asked her reasons for being at the protest, Mary Perkins replied, “I want to lend my voice to those who are trying to make people aware of the dangers that Trump’s policies pose to small children, to veterans, and to Social Security.”

When reminded that 70% of the Burke electorate voted for President Trump just five months ago, Perkins responded, “He is a gifted con artist. His supporters can’t accept just how much he lies.”

Casie Dorsett’s reasons for attending the protest: “I’m fighting for the rights of everybody. I’m very concerned about the lack of due process. If they can deport Green Card carriers, they can deport any of us.”

Although there was a heavy police presence at the protest — at least six uniformed City of Morganton public safety officers — the event was peaceful with only an occasional heckle from a passing car.

More threatening were the sultry temperatures — 85 when the protest began — and high humidity which pushed the “feels like” temperature close to 90 degrees.”

Burke Democratic Party Chairwoman Gena Singleton said the event left her “really pleased and really excited.” She said organizers were hoping for 200 people, but she began to suspect more would show up when four “sign-making parties” were held at Democratic headquarters rather than the one originally scheduled.

“Now,” she said, “our job is to convince people to put their anger and concern to work. To get involved. To vote and to get others to vote.”

Joani Richardson, a spokeswoman for Burke Indivisible, joined Singleton in saying she was “thrilled” with the number of people who turned out.

“My dream has come true,” she said. “I had hoped for 200 people, but I knew as soon as we started registering people that we were going to do better than that.”