COURT HOUSE – About 600 people representing numerous causes and demographics came together in front of the Cape May courthouse Saturday to send a message – there is no room for a king in the United States of America.
The crowd, large by county standards, was sometimes boisterous and at all times peaceful, cooperating with the Middle Township police, who were keeping the protesters safe – even telling people to park at a nearby lodging facility or they might be towed.
The crowd was sometimes led in chants, including “86-47,” a call to remove President Donald J. Trump, and “Down with the King,” a reference to Trump himself. The crowd periodically broke into chants of “USA, USA,” particularly when vehicles bearing Trump flags passed by. Other drivers passed by and honked their horns in support of the protesters.
There also was a “No Kings” protest in Ocean City, where hundreds of people marched along the Route 52 Causeway for two hours, according to published reports.
The demonstrators joined hundreds of thousands of their fellow Americans in cities and towns across the country who turned out Saturday to voice their displeasure with Trump and his policies. The protests occurred on the same day an evening military parade estimated to cost upwards of $45 million was scheduled for the nation’s capital, a day that marked the president’s 79th birthday and the Army’s 250th anniversary.
They also came in the wake of the shooting deaths of a Democratic leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives and her husband and the wounding of a Democratic state senator and his wife in that state. The acts were labeled by some officials as political assassinations; a suspect was still being sought late Saturday afternoon.
In Cape May Court House, citizens carried signs with various messages that expressed dissatisfaction with Trump administration policies, including sending Marines to Los Angeles to back up the California National Guard, which Trump had ordered to respond to protests in the city. There have been various interpretations of the degree of violence connected to the protests in Los Angeles and the need for a federal reaction.
There was no need for federal troops to respond to unlawful behavior in Court House, with the only thing burning being some of the “burns” contained in messages aimed at the president. One sign read, “Deport the Demented, Depraved Despot,” an apparent reference to the deportation of undocumented migrants.
Others read “Tastes Like Fascism,” “MAGA – Morons Are Governing America” and “Impeach, Convict, Remove.”
One sign called on Congress to “Do-Your-Job,” reading. “The power of the people is stronger than the people in power.” Many others simply read, “No Kings.”
One sign made reference to Kent State, the Ohio university where on May 4, 1970, Ohio National Guard troops fired on students protesting the Vietnam War, killing four and wounding nine. The sign tied into the deployment of the National Guard and Marines to respond to protests in Los Angeles. That city’s mayor, Karen Bass, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom each said federal involvement was not necessary.
The bearer of the sign, Tom Burrows, of Cape May Court House, said his message was really for the Republicans in Congress.
“I’d like to see the Republicans in Congress grow a spine and hold this guy accountable,” he said, “not just rubber-stamp his policies, but provide oversight of the Executive Branch.”
Bob Brennan, also of Court House, held a sign calling for Trump’s impeachment.
“How can we survive the guy we have now?” he asked. “We can’t go on with him as president.”
Matt Balsbaugh, who was visiting from Seaford, Delaware, held a sign urging people to remember Anne Frank. He explained that Frank, at age 13, was forced to hide from the Nazis.
“Anne Frank was an illegal immigrant in the Netherlands, who was being hunted down in the same way immigrants are today,” he said.
“It’s a shame we have to be out here,” Kiernan Loughney of Cape May said, “but as an American I am proud people are standing up for democracy.”
Mary Beth Furman, who was periodically leading chants with a bullhorn, said the primary goal of Saturday’s protest was to energize more and more people to engage in the peaceful process of toppling an authoritarian regime.
“I.E., Trump,” Furman said.
Furman said it only takes 3.5% of the voters to move the vote toward toppling any authoritarian government. She said the movement, as a whole, aims to stop the GOP tax bill, which she said is aimed at eradicating services; to stop “immoral” ICE policies leading to the arrest and deportation of immigrants; and to engage all Americans in a respectful, peaceful protest to press both Republican and Democratic representatives “to do the right thing.”
Some Democratic candidates turned out to make their feelings known about the president and the candidates he supports. Carolyn Rush, who is running for a 1st District Assembly seat, asked, “How did we get here after voting the guy out in 2020?”
“I thought we were done with him,” she said.
Rush said voters in New Jersey needed to reject the Trump-endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate, Jack Ciattarelli. Another candidate, Terry Reese, said she was challenging Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew for his seat in Congress from the 2nd District.
Former Democratic congressional candidate Tim Alexander told the crowd, “We need to have democratic leadership.” Alexander said Trump was villainizing those who object to his policies and called on members of the House and Senate to support people’s right to protest.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or call 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
