Academy Green Park in Kingston, where Peter Stuyvesant and Esopus leaders negotiated peace in 1660, was teeming with protestors on Saturday who were part of a national day of action calling for President Trump to take “hands off” government programs that help lower- and middle-class Americans. Similar rallies took place locally in Gardiner, Saugerties and Woodstock.
The park swelled with signs and umbrellas, tents and chants despite the intermittent rain that made the 50-degree temperatures at times feel much lower. In dress inspired by everything from the Handmaid’s Tale to Abraham Lincoln, waving American flags and shaking placards decrying Donald Trump and Elon Musk, this was a crowd brought together by many motivations but united in a common purpose: resist the dismantling of American institutions. Estimates offered by those in attendance ranged from 700 to 1,500, with considerably more arrivals than departures in the hour from 11 a.m. to noon observed. Jerrie and Charlotte, siblings from High Falls, said that they had many reasons for attending. One way Charlotte put it was a concern about the direction of the country. One way Jerrie put it is a sense that the “country is going to [excrement].”
Tim and Kurt, a married couple living in Kingston, are worried about the continuing legality of their union, among other issues. “I just got back from two months in Brazil,” said Tim, “in time to say, ‘enough.'”
Kurt expressed “disdain for the president” and also concern for the direction of the country, specifically the sense that rights are being replaced with dictatorship. “We felt safer” during the past administration, in part because no un-elected individual was being given unfettered access to government data such as tax records.
New Paltz’s Dale Corzine dressed as Abraham Lincoln for the event, and was carrying a sign suggesting that the 16th president would be turning over in the grave at this time. “I feel there are serious problems in this country, starting at the top.” Corzine feels that these include a lack of respect for the constitution.
Heather and Beverly, also of New Paltz, were attending at different points in their lives. Beverly protested for civil rights and against the Vietnam conflict. “I’m disappointed to have to do it again, but I’m happy to be here. We’re taking pictures of all the signs.”
It was Heather’s first rally, which follows Heather’s first time voting this past year. “I’ve been working with Beverly for awhile, who got me to come up here.”
Along one road stood two protestors, a massive American flag stretched between them. They were continually approached by others who wanted to take pictures with it as the backdrop. The flag’s owner declined to provide a name, but did express the sentiment that “the flag is for all of us. I get asked why it’s not upside-down,” which would indicate distress or emergency, “and I don’t because I feel the time for that has passed.” Asked about the perception that this has become a controversial symbol, the flag owner acknowledged that some factions have made inroads to co-opt it for their own ends, but that displaying it can itself be an act of resistance. “I took this to a rally in Rhinebeck, and a guy came over the stand next to me, clearly thinking that we were the same. They’re drawn to it like moths to the flame,” but that other person drifted away after realizing that this flag was being displayed with an Emma Lazarus vibe, rather than as a loyalty test.
Joris, a Kingston resident who was conscripted to hold the other end of the flag, became a citizen in 2016.
“It’s easy to feel alone, and coming together helps that. I was asked to hold the flag, and this is us. When I became a citizen, the judge looked out at all the yellow and white and brown and black and red faces there, and said that this is America. I cried.”
Eve Fox brought the whole family, and with them was protesting “the attack on democracy.”
Jon Rosett of Highland was there to “restore 248 years of tradition,” and added, “even lefties have rights.”
Rhinebeck resident Julie Zito brought two main concerns: the defunding of Medicaid and the erosion of academic freedom. Medicaid supports millions of the most vulnerable, included disabled individuals, as well as those who are too young or old to earn money.
Zito is also hoping that college administrators will “wake up” to the threat posed by attacks on institutions of higher learning.
The rally broke up about noon, just in time for some of the most dedicated activists to head down to a similar rally in Gardiner, which started at 1 p.m. at the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail crossing with Route 44/55.
County executive Jen Metzger addresses the crowds on Kingston’s Academy Green last Saturday
There are three questions I get asked all the time. Why are they doing this? What can we do to stop it? And how can we stay hopeful?
I’m going to answer those questions one at a time.
The first question. Why are they doing this?
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are tearing apart the basic support structures of civil society. They want to massively defund or eliminate free programs, regulations, and laws to protect our health, safety, and well-being. We have over 11,000 Ulster County residents receiving Medicaid. Most of them children, people with disabilities, and the elderly who will lose their health care if Musk and Trump have their way. So, we have many more receiving Medicare, that are also at risk. And this is just health care.
They are deliberately breaking every part of government that helps us. Why? The answer is: selfishness. That’s it. They don’t care. The selfishness and cruelty of their actions is so staggering and so vast, it is hard to comprehend. But it is just selfishness and greed.
Question number two, What can we do to stop it?
This storm is not going to pass over us. We have seen some unforgivable cowardice by major corporations, prestigious law firms, and even universities. Their capitulation only emboldens this administration and their enablers in Congress. It is our responsibility to speak out against harm, to stand up for those who are harmed, especially if you have any position in public life. It is our responsibility to demand decency and empathy from every level of government, to assert our common humanity. We have seen a lot of executive orders from Trump.
Last week, I issued my own executive order to protect our trans community members from discrimination. I will not stand for anyone being targeted, for anyone being erased. We have to draw a hard line here.
Ulster County is a caring community. Ulster County is a respectful community.
We’re a community that believes in common decency and a society where everyone should thrive.
And finally, the last question. How can we stay hopeful?
Here is the big secret of this administration and its enablers who want to take everything away from us. There aren’t enough of them.
Greed and selfishness and heartlessness are not fundamental human qualities. These are not the qualities I see in our communities every single day. They will lose if we stand up and fight back.
They are handsy guys, but we say: “Hands off.”
Thank you.
— Rokosz Most
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