By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Gaynelle Predmore came to the pro-impeachment demonstration prepared.
Her sign had lights on it, adding a festive flair to its message — “Impeach.”
She was one of about 120 people to gather on Wooster Green in Bowling Green in 30 degree weather Tuesday evening to show their support for impeaching President Trump. The rally was part of a nationwide effort to urge the U.S. House to impeach President Trump when it votes today (Dec. 18), and then for the U.S. Senate to try the president and remove him from office.
Those at the rally are hopeful that the House, as is expected, will pass the articles, though are skeptical of what will happen when a trial is held in the Senate.
Rick Worch of Bowling Green said the demonstration was intended “to let people know we actually do care whether or not we have a fair trial.”
He continued: “We feel that Trump should be impeached and removed from office. We’re feeling right now he might be impeached but probably won’t be removed from office because the Republicans are not doing what they need to do. I would like to see at least a semblance of a trial. Right now it sounds like they’re not going to do much of anything.”
That theme “impeach and remove” was the chant of the night as picketers chanted and waved signs at the traffic passing on West Wooster Street in Bowling Green.
“If they had a semblance of a trial,” Worch said. “I would hope they would do what’s right for the country instead of what’s right for them.”
His wife, Susan Woodard, said she’s confident “there’s enough evidence that the man is guilty of impeachable offenses. They need to remove him and save our democracy.
“I’m out here because I feel like I’m grieving for my country and my democracy. I don’t know if this will make any difference, but it’s one of those things you have to do.”
Lily Tuttle, of Maumee, said the rally was intended to show that people do support impeachment as it nears the vote in the House.
She was accompanied by her daughter, Natalie, Tuttle, 15. “I think people my age need to be educated on it because I feel people are blindly following which is not a good idea.”
Her own circle of friends, the teen said, tend to agree with her politically, while others are “super hard Republicans.”
Most, though, are “indifferent.”
Nancy Myerholtz, Waterville, has been protesting against Trump since he was elected. She attended the first women’s march in Washington D.C. in January 2017 and was wearing her pink knit “pussy” hat, both a symbolic statement and practical given the freezing temperatures.
“I’ve been doing things ever since” Trump’s election, Myerholtz said.
She opposes the president on a wide range of issues — detention of immigrant families at the border, the environment, abortion rights, and other concerns for women. “Everything he’s done has destroyed so much of what I believe in.”
She knows that Trump’s “diehard supporters will never change their views,” but she is “hoping it changes some minds” of those in the middle.
“It’s important we maintain the order of law in our country,” Joel O’Dorisio, of Bowling Green, said. “I think that our country is based on a system of governance that’s responsive to the people and that the polarization of the parties has become such that we’re willing to overlook criminal activity in order to maintain power. We’ve lost track where we’re going as a country.”
Elayne Jacoby said that she feels it’s “my civic responsibility to speak out.”
That involves more than posting on Facebook and liking other people’s posts, she said. “I have to be heard. I’m tired of calling (U.S. Sen. Rob) Portman and (U.S. Rep. Bob) Latta and not getting anywhere.”
They’ve made their minds up without hearing the evidence, she believes. Still she continues to call their offices several times a week to express her opinion.
Nick Rubando is interesting in replacing Latta in the U.S. House.
“For so long a lot of people in the Fifth District have been trying to get their message across, trying to express their concerns,” he said. “People in power have not listened to them. That’s why we have to come out and do rallies like this so the public knows we have issues we’re trying to get solve. … Activism matters.”
