Several hundred protesters showed up in front of city hall in downtown Salisbury on Saturday.
The principle rally was called by opponents of President Donald Trump’s policies in particular on immigrant rights and the travel ban that affects seven Muslim majority countries.
City council member and former Mayor Jim Ireton told the crowd that people must “…rise up against this Muslim ban and this ridiculous wall.”
That latter refers to President Trump’s promise to build a wall along the U.S./Mexico border.
There were signs declaring “No Ban, No Wall”, while other protesters were holding symbolic green and yellow flamed torches as held by the Statue of Liberty.
Amber Green with the Phoenix Youth Project said, “I know my country stands for unity. My country stands for rights. My country stands for love. And, if my administration doesn’t fit with what my country stands for then I am not behind that administration at all.”
Meanwhile, Reverend John Wright with the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Salisbury said, “I think it is silly to assume that somehow immigrants from seven (Muslim) countries are more of a danger than from other countries. I think it is ridiculous that so much of our economy on the backs of immigrants -- both legal and illegal – and yet we are deporting people.”
Trump Supporters Stage Counter Protest
But there was a smaller contingent of Trump supporters …who stood silently in the back of the crowd.
They held signs declaring, “Secure the Border” and “Extreme Vetting” along with Trump campaign signs.
Julie Brewington is with the Wicomico Republican Central Committee said, “I just wanted to make a point that I support our president. I voted for him. This county voted for him. All the counties on the Eastern Shore voted for him. And, I just want to stand up and show of a man who got duly elected and is fulfilling his election promises.”
Another organizer of the Trump supporters was Matt Adams. He is chair of the Somerset Republican Central Committee and and founder of trumpnation.com.
“The day for this bickering about the leadership was November 8th. There’s winners and there’s losers. The losers need to get in line and enjoy the peaceful transfer of power.”
