‘No Kings’ protest packs South Street in Morristown

 

By Kevin Coughlin and Michael Lovito

An estimated 4,000 protesters rallied in the rain outside Morristown town hall on Saturday to take part in the “No Kings Day of Defiance,” a nationwide series of protests against what many view as increasingly authoritarian policies of the Trump administration.

The events coincided with Donald Trump’s birthday, Flag Day, and a Trump-authorized military parade in Washington DC. Morristown’s program featured activists, local politicians, current and former members of Congress, and gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill sharing the stage with former Republican Gov. Christie Whitman, who made a surprise appearance.

The crowd gasped when Sherrill cited the overnight shootings of two Democratic state legislators in Minnesota.

“There’s a lot of people out there who are not feeling very protected. There are legislators that were just shot and killed in Minnesota. There are troops in the streets of California,” Sherrill said, referencing President Trump’s deployment of Marines and the National Guard to respond to demonstrations against immigration raids.

“And so when we look at the stakes in November, when we look at what we have to do, we know why we’re all standing out here in the rain. We’re here because it’s a fight between democracy and somebody who’d like to be a king.”

“And we’ll win!” someone from the crowd shouted, to applause.

“And we’ll win,” Sherrill agreed. “In New Jersey, we always win.”

Morristown police and officers from the Morris County Prosecutor’s and Sheriff’s offices kept watch over the peaceful assembly, estimated at 4,000 people by town Public Safety Director Michael Corcoran Jr. The only hint of counter-demonstrations came afterwards, when Trump supporters in a pair of pickup trucks jeered at protesters leaving the rally on South Street.

A coalition including Indivisible, the 50501 movement, and the American Civil Liberties Union organized the national protests. NoKings.org said more than 5 million people — including 200,000 in New York City and 100,000 in Philadelphia–demonstrated peaceably at more than 2,100 events across the U.S.

Protesters and police clashed in Los Angeles, and police in northern Virginia said a man intentionally drove his SUV into departing protesters at a rally there, striking one person, reported USA Today.

Rallies in Minnesota were canceled out of an “abundance of caution” as authorities searched for shooting suspect Vance Boelter, 57, who authorities say disguised himself as a police officer and had a hit list of other Democratic lawmakers. The manhunt ended Sunday night with Boelter’s apprehension, the New York Times reported.

“The No Kings coalition is and remains a nonviolent movement,” the coalition said via email.

“We are heartbroken by the shooting in Minnesota, where State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were tragically killed, and State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette remain in recovery. Our prayers are with their families, their communities, and all those grieving.”

‘NO KINGS’ AT KINGS

In Morristown, many participants toted signs with anti-Trump slogans and participated in vigorous call-and-response chants, pledging to oppose government overreach and protect the rights of minorities and immigrants.

The No Kings throng spread from the town hall lawn onto South Street, which was blocked to traffic by police and municipal vehicles, onto the sidewalk of a supermarket — coincidentally, the Kings Food Market.

“I have a sign today that says Protesting is Easier than Hiding Someone in Your Attic,” chant leader Laura Valenti said.

“If you have a friend who believes as you do, but they are not protesting today, they are not marching, they are not calling, they are not writing letters, they are under-reacting.”

THE GRAND OLD FLAG

A common theme was reclamation. Days after some commentators questioned why anti-ICE protesters in Los Angeles were waving Mexican flags, Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty encouraged activists to proudly wave the star-spangled banner and “show the world what real patriotism is.”

“On this Flag Day, we reclaim the symbol of liberty, not as a prop for military spectacle, but as a banner under which every voice is heard,” Dougherty said.

“The legitimacy of power comes from consent, not intimidation. Use your voice to call your elected officials, protect our public schools, guard our rights, defend our services. This movement is not a one-day flash.”

On a day when Trump was criticized by opponents for hosting a parade politicizing the military, Army veteran Lucy Del Gaudio called on her fellow service members to “continue the mission” and “stand up for those who still feel unseen.”

“Let us remember: Patriotism is not silent. It’s not blind loyalty,” Del Gaudio said. “It is courage to speak up when something is wrong and even when something is hard. There are no kings here, only people, and it’s time we are heard.”

PASSING OF THE TORCH?

Local leaders on the dais included Morris County Democratic Committee Chair Amalia Duarte, Morristown councilman and state Assembly candidate Steve Pylpchuk, Morris Township Mayor Donna Guariglia (also celebrating a birthday), Morris Township Committeeman Bud Ravitz, and Clinton Mayor Janice Kovach.

But the biggest name was Sherrill, the congresswoman (D-11th Dist.) who earlier in the week became the Democratic nominee for governor.

Playing on Morristown’s status as the “Crossroads of the Revolution,” Sherrill compared this national moment to that of 1776, evoking George Washington’s crucial victories in Trenton and Princeton and urging protesters to “hold the line” against tyranny in New Jersey.

“When we look at scary things happening across the country and we see scared people across this country, we know it’s New Jersey where we have to stand up and where we have to show courage,” Sherrill said.

“We’re going to hold the line. We’re not going to be a nation of kings. We’re going to be a nation of the people.”

Despite the heavy Democratic presence, Sherrill’s speech also featured a moment of cross-party unity. Noting that she was looking to become only the second female governor in New Jersey’s history, Sherrill pointed out that the first one, Christine Todd Whitman, was in the front row of the crowd.

Whitman, who headed the Environmental Protection Agency under George W. Bush and now co-chairs the independent Forward Party, ascended the town hall steps and embraced Sherrill.

“I’m rallying for democracy,” Whitman, sporting a hat that read “Make Orwell Fiction Again,” told Morristown Green. “Having a parade today that costs taxpayers $40 million when (Trump’s) cutting services to veterans is inexcusable. I am here not as a Democrat, not as a Republican, but as a patriot.”

The Washington parade was billed as a celebration of the Army’s 250th anniversary. No parade marked the service’s 200th milestone. It was the country’s first military parade in 34 years. The Army estimated the cost at between $25 million and $45 million.

‘NOT MY FIRST CHOICE’

Morristown’s crowded dais even had room for rapprochement between the Democratic establishment and the party’s left flank.

Susan Vercheack, co-leader of the Tom Paine Brigade activist group, which has staged gatherings at the Burnham Park statue of the Revolution-era pamphleteer, criticized prominent Democrats like Gov. Phil Murphy, Sen. Cory Booker, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for not doing enough to fight Trump.

But she encouraged the crowd to unite behind Sherrill to defeat Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli in November.

“I will tell you, Mikie Sherrill was not my first choice for candidate for governor. She was not even my second choice. But let us all agree to fight like hell for her,” Vercheak said. “New Jersey cannot allow a Trump creature to be elected as our governor.”

Other speakers included Judy Kelly of NJ 11th for Change, Sarah Best of Planned Parenthood, Micauri Vargas of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Liz Blynn of New Jersey Citizen Action, Pastor Luana Cook Scott of the Morristown United Methodist Church, “Hands Off” organizers Dana Levens and Cendahl Cornelio-Alter, and former Rep. Tom Malinowski.

Recalling how he became a citizen as a child, Malinowski, a Polish immigrant, led the crowd in reciting the U.S. naturalization oath. Large monitors on either side of town hall’s front steps played video welcomes from New Jersey Senators Booker and Andy Kim. Later, a video clip of Bruce Springsteen expressed hope that democracy will endure.

‘I JUST WANT THE VIOLENCE TO STOP’

While speakers tried to straddle the line between defiance and celebration, some citizens at the rally said they now live in fear.

Jessica Aquino and Alvaro Ordaz, a Morris Plains couple of Puerto Rican descent, said Trump’s aggressive deportation policies have forced them to take extra precautions in their daily lives.

“We just felt this was a safe area, a safe country, until recent events that affect us all. And we’re afraid,” said Ordaz, adding he has friends who have been deported.

Aquino said she and Ordaz were carrying their passports at the rally, “in case something happens.”

“We hope to spread awareness here that what’s going on with this administration is inhumane,” Aquino said. “The supposed reason we are getting rid of these immigrants is because they’re criminals. But our administration is the true criminal.”

Naana Sarpong, a teacher from Linden who carried a sign proclaiming No Kings! No Nazis! wore a mask because she feared reprisals.

“I didn’t think it would happen, but I’m actually quite shocked that it is and a lot of people are okay with it,” Sarpong said of the current state of affairs. “I just want the violence to stop.”

Organizers sought to end the rally on a bright note. After contrasting the promises set out in the preamble of the Constitution with the actions of the Trump administration, Morristown High School senior Miles Gorman invited students in the crowd to come on stage, a tableau Duarte said should offer comfort and inspiration.

“These kids got it. They’re doing the right things, they’re getting involved, they are leading so much of the change,” Duarte said. “So, stay hopeful. Don’t let anybody take your joy away.”