By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Protesters who flooded American cities on Saturday had been painted by the Trump administration as terrorists who support violent crime and hate America.
The veterans, church leaders, teachers, nurses and students who peacefully protested in downtown Bowling Green on Saturday defied that portrayal.
They were accused of being paid agitators who had to be bused in for the rallies. But in reality, they came from Bowling Green, Perrysburg, Pemberville, Grand Rapids and Portage. The most unusual transportation was likely the Segway ridden from Portage by a man dressed as one of the nation’s forefathers.
Trump supporters warned that the protests would be ripe for violence. But at the four corners in downtown Bowling Green, several of the protesters were dressed in sweltering costumes of a purple hippo, pink pig, green frog, black cat, orange dinosaur, brown squirrel, a couple yellow bananas, spotted cow, and a Care Bear – and posed no apparent threat as they struggled just to navigate the sidewalks.
The purple hippo said she was “sweating for democracy.”
They had been called “un-American” if they protest Trump and his policies. But those at the local rally countered that they attended because of their love for their country.
Across the nation, more than 2,600 “No Kings” protests were held Saturday. In Bowling Green, attendance estimates varied from 700 to more than 1,000 – with organizers BG Persists and the Wood County Democratic Party agreeing that this rally was the largest protest held in Bowling Green thus far.
Father Herb Weber, wearing his clerical collar, said he felt compelled to attend the rally. He carried a sign saying, “Love your neighbor, including immigrants.”
Weber, a former pastor at St. Thomas More in Bowling Green and St. John’s Catholic Church in Perrysburg, said he finds the mass deportations ordered by Trump to be abhorrent.
“It goes against my faith. It goes against my religion. It goes against Jesus,” Weber said.
“It’s downright cruel – ripping families apart,” he said, noting the disdain expressed by Pope Leo XIV.
The Trump immigration policies are “anti-life,” which goes against Catholic beliefs, Weber said.
“Being pro-life means being pro-life at all levels,” he said.
Also along North Main Street was Leslie Robertson, of rural Bowling Green, holding a sign stating “Army Veteran for the Constitution.”
“I see it being shredded right now,” Robertson said of the Constitution under Trump. “It’s very disturbing – he is trying to take over with the presidential branch.”
Standing at the four corners was Jacqueline Ruby, of Perrysburg, holding a sign saying, “So bad even the introverts are here.”
While acknowledging she is an introvert, Ruby said she just couldn’t stay home.
“This is a critical flashpoint in our history, and we could lose our democracy,” she said.
Her husband, Rex Ruby, shared her concerns. “We think kindness matters,” he said.
Down on South Main Street, Joe Schroeder, of Perrysburg, held a sign stating “Nothing says ‘Nobel Peace Prize’ like deploying the military against your own people.”
“I can’t think of a reason I wouldn’t be here,” Schroeder said, noting what he sees as the hypocrisy of Trump believing he deserved to be recognized as a peacemaker.
“The very thought of Trump getting a Nobel Peace Prize is just unbelievable,” he said.
Mother and daughter, Linda and Liz Trares, of Perrysburg, opposed the notion that protesters hate America.
“I protest because I love America,” Liz Trares said, speaking out against deportations and the loss of health care for many – even though those issues won’t affect her directly.
“It affects people I care about,” she said.
Craig Ricard, of Portage, waited on his Segway at a crosswalk on South Main Street, dressed as an early American colonist holding an inverted American flag as a sign of distress.
“This is not the country I was born in,” Ricard said. “The government is no longer following the law of the land or the Constitution.”
Also on South Main Street stood Gail Nader in a cat costume, who had a difficult time narrowing down her top concerns about the Trump administration.
“The list is so long,” she said, naming off the “snatching people off the street,” holding children – many of them citizens – in zip ties, and arresting people based on their color.
“This is just getting worse,” Nader said.
Then there are the economic concerns brought on by tariffs and Trump’s other questionable policies. “It’s killing our economy, and it’s going to kill the world’s economy,” she said
And why the cat costume? “I want to go big. Go big or go home,” Nader said.
At the four corners, Spencer Cunningham and Geoff Howes uncased their banjo and mandolin to play folk songs, beginning with “This Land is Your Land.”
“Music has a way of communicating,” Cunningham said. “We’re honoring people like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie.”
While many of the protesters were young, even more were older, retired citizens troubled by the change in their country.
Retired nurse, Janet DeLong of Bowling Green, came down to the rally to play her part in keeping her country safe.
“The current president is taking control that’s not been given to him, but that he’s taking,” she said.
Retired teacher, Jean Long from Pemberville, held a sign saying “Hate has no home here.”
“We need to protect our democracy. The president is a traitor,” she said.
Beth Nester, of Bowling Green, attended with her family, including one member dressed in a cow costume.
“We need a change in leadership. We need basic human rights. We need some control of guns. We need to keep ICE out of cities,” Nester said.
Tom Lingeman, of Perrysburg, wore a clown wig and held a sign saying “Hungry! Will work for stock tips.”
“I’m here to support democracy, pure and simple. I’m here to keep Donald Trump from becoming a king,” Lingeman said.
