IMPEACHM EN T FR AY
DELCO, CHESCO FOLKS RALLY AS TRUMP LASHES OUT AT PELOSI; HOUSE VOTES ON ARTICLES TODAY
PHILADELPHIA >> Of the thousands rallying along John F. Kennedy Boulevard Tuesday evening were groups from Delaware County intent on showing the world that “Nobody is Above the Law.”
More than 2,300 signed up to participate in the “Impeach & Remove: Nobody is Above the Law” rally at Thomas Paine Plaza to send a message to legislators and to the world their stance that President Donald Trump’s actions are unacceptable and action should be taken now to remove him from office.
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to approve two articles of impeachment today. Among those who said they will vote in favor is U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5 of Swarthmore.
“We will not be silent while our democracy is under siege,” Indivisible Upper Darby proclaimed on its website in rallying troops to participate in the Tuesday event. “We vote for impeachment and removal from office. Use your power - show up and stand for democracy and in favor of impeachment and removal!”
The rally organized by a multitude of Indivisible groups, mostly Indivisible Philadelphia with Indivisible Lower Merion; Indivisible NW Philly; Indivisible Upper Darby; DelcoPA Indivisible; H-CAN (Havertown-Area Community Action Network); Indivisible Main Line South; Bowling Green Patriots; PA Statewide Indivisible; and Social Justice Indivisible.
“This is a message to the whole world that we are not going to stand for this,” organizer and Indivisible Philly member Victoria Miller said. “We are the United States. We are not a banana republic.”
The Philadelphia rally was one of more than 600 occurring simultaneously across the country.
“The message is the president has abused his office,” Mike Balay of Newtown Square said. “The evidence is uncontrivable.”
Balay, a member of Indivisible Main Line South who participated, said he followed the public hearings, watched the 14 witnesses and read a large amount of material related to the proceedings.
“(Trump’s) taken advan
tage of his office and taken that power for personal advantage, trying to get dirt against (Democrat Joe) Biden,” he said, adding that the president’s actions fundamentally undermine the Constitution. “He will literally give no information to Congress. Our democracy is at risk.”
He said to allow this behavior to occur with no consequence sets a precedent.
“No person is above the law – which is what this country is founded on,” Balay said.
Miller agreed about the grave nature of the situation.
“This is a very, very serious issue,” she said. “We are very serious about it. Nobody wants to be impeaching all over the place.”
For her, the report by former special counsel Robert Mueller, who probed Russian interference in the 2016 election, was damning.
“The obstruction of justice was horrifying,” Miller said. “All of the contracts with Russia, it was insane. It was more than I realized.”
And, she added, “(Trump’s) asking for foreign countries to be involved in our elections. He’s still doing it right now. (Rudy) Giuliani just got back from Ukraine talking to a bunch of thugs.”
At issue is that American voters get to decide elections - not foreign countries.
“We knew as soon as this Ukraine scandal broke, the dam had broken, we had to do something, “Miller said. “We could not let that stand.”
So, in early November, she and other Indivisible groups across the country mobilized with Move On to begin organizing this coordinated rally.
“We will not sit idly by while our democracy is under siege,” Miller said. “We are going to rise up and show the country and the world that this has to stop.”
At the rally among the signs and participants were 14 people who each held a 2 by 3-foot sign. On each were one letter constructed with stringed lights and put together read, “Impeach and Remove.”
Balay said having the rally the night preceding the vote was key.
“The direct message is to our legislators,” he said. “I think the biggest target in my mind is (U.S.) Sen. (Pat) Toomey.”
The impeachment issue is anticipated to pass through the Democraticmajority House and then be sent to the U.S. Senate, which has the final say in the president’s removal. In the current Senate Republican-majority makeup, the case stands a tough battle.
Miller said the event was also meant to provide an outlet for people.
“There’s a lot of anxiety out there,” she said. “This is a way for people to express that. They’re worried about 2020 plus they’re furious. It’s a way for them to express that.”
And, she said, it’s a call to action for that presidential cycle.
“To do the work that needs to be done literally to save our democracy,” Miller said. “The whole world is watching.”