Hundreds turn out to demand protection of Mueller probe
MEDIA >> The election is over; the protests are not.
More than 200 hundred people came out to the steps of the Delaware County Courthouse Thursday evening to protest President Donald Trump’s shakeup at the Justice Department, firing Attorney General Jeff Sessions and putting in his place Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker, who will have oversight of Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 election.
The protest was one of over 900 nationwide, organized by MoveOn.org and has been in the planning for a year. The group launched it at the point that national organizers concluded the president’s actions were, in their view, improperly moving toward shutting down the Mueller investigation.
Protesters voiced outrage that Whitaker has voiced opinions that they believe will threaten the independence of the Mueller investigation.
Two of the Delaware County organizers, Ruth Davidson of Folsom and Peggy Wilson of Drexel Hill, said an alert for the event was sent out Wednesday and quickly drew hundreds of responses.
“We’re worn out from the election, but we won’t back down,” said Wilson, a member of Delco Indivisible, another group that has been active in protesting Trump. “Trump does not have the right to obstruct justice.”
Protesters demand that the Mueller investigation be protected by the Justice Department and called on members of Congress to pass legislation to protect the investigation.
“The American people spoke loudly and clearly this week,” said Terry Baraldi, who calls herself the “Revolting Granny” as she read from a prepared text. “They put a check on Donald Trump. Congress must uphold its constitutional obligation to do its job and hold power accountable.”
“Don’t think this is just a bunch of old people,” said Rosie Faust of Lansdowne, who is in her early 20s. “High school and college students are speaking up. We are here to stand up Indictments? Final report?: to Donald Trump.”
“This is a critical time for our democracy,” said Jeff Kowalski of Havertown. “We need senators to stand up to the president.”
He (Trump) is not following the rule of law, he is not defending the constitution,” said Linda Floyd of Media.
Floyd also pointed out to the crowd that just across from the courthouse was the FBI office where in 1971 anti-war protesters took documents that showed the FBI was spying and disrupting antiwar activities.
The crowd, a number with children in tow, chanted slogans such as; “Show me what democracy looks like,this is what democracy looks like,” “Congress Do your job” and Who is not above the law, Trump is not above the law.”
Tina Stanton of Rutledge led the crowd in a song she wrote about the protests since Trump came into office. It included the lines, “I still believe in democracy, I still believe in Liberty.”
Following the speeches the protesters marched from the Courthouse to State Street and back.
“This is necessary and essential,” said Denise Pettit of Springfield, who was sporting her ‘pussy hat’ from the 2016 protests that followed Trump’s inauguration “People don’t want to come out after work and do this but we’ve got to protect our democracy. I fear our nation is heading towards fascism.”