More than 1,200 people gathered on the Newton Green Saturday for the third No Kings Rally, and their message was it’s not too late to be irate.
The Sussex Visibility Brigade organized the Newton rally, one of more than 60 in New Jersey and 3,000 across the United States, in coordination with like-minded organizations in Sussex and North Warren.
Marchers protested President Trump and his recent military action against Iran as well as the administration’s immigration and deportation actions.
The detention center planned for a vacant warehouse in Roxbury in particular drew the ire of many people at the march.
“People should definitely be going to the Roxbury town council meetings,” said Birdie Green, one of the organizers.
Green, in fact, urged participants to attend as many local government meetings as they could.
“They should be going to the Sussex County Commissioners meeting. They should be going to their own town council meeting, because democracy is not something that just happens,” Green said. “People actually have to take that power; people actually have to participate in their system of government. You want the government to do what you want, then be active.”
Green said elected officials in the Sussex commissioners and the Roxbury governing body were surprised at the attendance at recent meetings and the number of people who spoke during the public portions.
Many of the marchers carried signs critical of various Trump administration policies, particularly on Iran, Ukraine, and Social Security and Medicaid. Many carried signs that proclaimed “NO KINGS” or similar statements expressing opposition to oligarchy and authoritarianism. And a small number of loutish protesters carried banners with remarks not suitable for children and polite company.
Many passing cars honked their horns in solidarity and a few motorists expressed their disagreement with the marchers, but everyone seemed to respect one another.
Organizers also said more than $1,200 was raised at the march for local food banks.
Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
