Marcie L. Setlow
Pop-up demonstrations protest threats to Mueller investigation
More InfoGreat Barrington — About 120 demonstrators showed up in front of the Town Hall this evening for a hastily organized rally to protest the potential curtailment of Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential elections. Carrying signs and standing near the curb on Main Street, they were buoyed by the number of cars that honked in support as they drove by.
Paula Sharon came with her sign from Tolland, Mass.
The demonstration was initiated by Robert Forman of Housatonic. “MoveOn.org was promoting local demonstrations. I got in touch with them and suggested doing one in Great Barrington. They answered, ‘Good idea. You’re it,” he said. Forman then got in touch with Michael Wise who heads the Great Barrington Democratic Committee, local activist Bobby Houston and Berkshire Action Leadership Group, and together they pulled it off.
Ken Terry of Sheffield (center) and Susan Pettee of Great Barrington (right).
Some participants came from a distance away. Paula Sharon, who carried a sign that said, “This is about solidarity on behalf of democracy,” came from Tolland, Mass. “I wanted to take part, and this was the closest rally I could get to,” she said.
Rally organizer Robert Forman (left) addressed the crowd as Michael Wise (right) stood by.
A short program included three statements by organizers. Robert Forman exhorted Congress to “save our country from demagoguery.” Bobby Houston celebrated the success of Berkshire efforts to “fire John Faso” in NY District 19, where candidate Anthony Delgado unseated that incumbent on Tuesday, and urged people to continue to stay active. Michael Wise reminded the crowd that this was one of at least 1,000 events taking place across the country, thanks to MoveOn. According to the MoveOn.org rapid response website, some 46 rallies were taking place in Massachusetts alone.
Bobby Houston urged people to remain active.
Participant Jennifer Clark of Great Barrington reflected the general feeling of the crowd when she said, ”I think this is fantastic. It builds community.”
The Self-Taught Gardener: A place in the shade
Samya Rose Stumo, 24, of Sheffield, Mass., global health visionary
What a bunch of fools, get a life!
Yeah, because no one wants participatory democracy right WC? If you’re gonna call people fools, have the courage of your convictions and put your name on it.
Thank God we have a Staples in town to supply these protesters with poster boards and sharpies. No wonder I can’t find any sharpies in that store whenever I go.
“Pop up Demonstration?” Moveon.org organized these…. Nothing “pop up about Moveon, except the continuing corruption and attempt to turn America into another third world sh*t hole.”
“Finding more uncounted ballots,” is a JOKE and an effort to steal (again) the elections in FL & AZ. Just as was done with the Al Franken race in MN, when they “discovered” the bags of votes in the trunk of a car owned by a DEMOCRAT.
Is it any wonder to any sensible person as to why the Democrats fight tooth and nail against voter ID laws, and yet MANDATED an ID to gain entry into their very own Convention?
What is going on is Corrupt. Period.
“Democracy in action?” Bull Crap! It is simply an extension of refusing to accept the RESULTS of an election – unless they win.
And, I am not afraid to sign my name, because I witnessed first hand how people ACTUALLY lived under Communism…
Jim Balfanz,
If you have actually witnessed how people lived under Communism, why would you object to our investigation over the Russians interfering with our elections?
Mr. Balfanz’ comment about the supposed attempt by Moveon to turn the United States into “……another third world sh*t hole” is the mirror image of Trump’s comments about predominantly black African nations being “sh*t hole countries”, after he bemoaned the fact the more immigrants weren’t coming from Norway. This is one of the most obvious e ampler of the racist xenophobic language of Trump and his supporters. It is remarkable to hear such language from a presumed political intellectual. I wonder how the demonstration in Great Barrington supporting a fair and full investigation of Mr. Trump is at all connected by Mr. Balfanz with turning America into “another third world sh*t hole”. I can’t believe that Mr. Balfanz made these comments in a racially charged way, but perhaps he could explain the comment to Edge readers.
It wouldn’t matter if I kissed Stephen’s “donkey.” He’d still find a way to call me and anyone who disagrees with his perverted attitude a racist. I stand by my comment about Move on dot org.
What is so utterly hypocritical is for the demonstrators holding signs that say “No one is above the law,” and “The Rule of Law,” were totally missing for years during the Clinton and Obama tenures… Yep. totally missing in action. Has anyone of them left to “help count the votes in Florida yet? You know, the ones they “discovered” after the election was over….
I never called Mr. Balfanz a racist, I merely asked why he used the same term as Trump, who definitely used it in a racial context. Perhaps Mr. Balfanz does protest too much. We await his explanation.
Anyone questioning the need for Mueller’s investigation should read “The Making of Donald Trump” by David Cay Johnston , “House of Trump-House of Putin” by Craig Unger and “The Plot to Destroy Democracy” by Malcolm Nance. All are scholarly works with copious footnotes for corroboration . President Trump has not sued these authors which means the books are truthful . The truth is the best defense in a libel lawsuit. If the president has done nothing wrong , he should support Mueller and let him conclude the investigation and issue a report vindicating him.
How about also reading “Trumps America” by Newt Gingrich, ROGUE SPOOKS, by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann, THE RUSSIA HOAX, the illicit scheme to clear Hillary Clinton and frame Donald Trump, by Gregg Jarrett, HACKS, by Donna Brazile, Liars, Leakers, and Liberals by Judge Jeanine Pirro, and SHIP of FOOLS, by Tucker Carlson. All are also “scholarly works with excellent footnotes for corroboration. And, go back and read Barbara Olson’s several books on the Clinton’s. She was a former Federal Prosecutor and they never sued her. Her works were also wonderfully footnoted.
Finally, the President has said he has no intention of stopping the investigation into THE RUSSIA COLLUSION. He and the vast majority of Americans, have noticed that the “investigation” seems to have gone onto many different “tracks,” none having to do with RUSSIAN COLLUSION. Stay tuned as they say, because “according to sources,” Mueller has begun writing his final conclusion on the “investigation.”
Finally, since Hillary paid for the Russian Dossier, how about having that investigated as well?
Still waiting for Mr Balfanz’ explanation of his Trump paraphrase of “sh*t hole country.
Don’t hold your breath Cohen….
There will be more protests and demonstrations as Trump continues to call the free press the “enemy of the people.” Get used to them and get used to House investigations of the crooked Trumps. If anyone thinks the American people are going to forget the Benghazi grilling that presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was subjected to by the Trey Gowdy mob, they’re mistaken. Good day.
Americans died as a result of Hilary’s actions/inactions with Benghazi…. And, frankly, the duly elected President is correct when he calls CERTAIN media outlets FAKE NEWS and that makes them the “enemy of the people.” Unless you are a deranged anti-Trump person….
Your “duly elected” President Donald Trump
traveled thousands of miles to Paris on Friday to join in with other world leaders at events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
But a bit of rain on Saturday kept him from one of the solemn gatherings ― and his no-show prompted a chorus of scorn.
Trump skipped a planned visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, with a White House statement citing “scheduling and logistical difficulties caused by the weather” for the decision.
The cemetery is the final resting place of many of the 1,800 American soldiers killed in the battle of Belleau Wood.
In his place, Trump sent a delegation led by White House chief of staff John Kelly, who traveled in a small motorcade to the cemetery that is about an hour’s drive from Paris.
Trump’s absence earned him harsh criticism from a range of current and former U.S. and European officials over social media.
David Frum, a one-time speechwriter for President George W. Bush, voiced astonishment in a series of tweets, writing, “It’s incredible that a president would travel to France for this significant anniversary ― and then remain in his hotel room watching TV rather than pay in person his respects to the Americans who gave their lives in France for the victory gained 100 years ago tomorrow.”
Now FO Jim. You’re an enemy of the people too.
Keep this under your hat/////////Trump w as having a meeting aboard a plane…looked like a Russian plane…..
The Ruskies are COMING!!!! Someone help Brian!!! He’s fallen and can’t get up. The only real “enemies of the people” are those like him and the rest of the deranged Anti-Trumpers who are working overtime to “maintain Obama’s legacy.” Legacy? Give us a break!
The anger coming from you brats who can’t accept the results of an election has lost it “flavor.” Guess you chewed on it for too long.
What “your side” is pulling in Florida and Arizona (and only your and your vaunted Leader from behind know), is so anti-American as to the fact that it needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. After all, many of the signs in your protest said “No one is above the law.” Stealing an election is a crime.
It is so funny how you “reasonable Liberals” have ignored the simple fact that Hillary (and her team) actually corrupted the Democrat Primary. Guess the Law is only for those whom oppose the most corrupt politicians in American history – the Clintons.
I completely agree. It’s absolutely repulsive what’s gojng on in Florida & Arizona. I’m outraged that so many politicians down there are insisting that every vote be counted, and that a recount based on the actual state law and not partisan politics is taking place. It’s a travesty to our democracy and thank you for being a patriot. I’m so happy that Fox News, Breibart, and others are as equally outraged at the concept of every citizen having a equal chance to vote. Damn! If those liberals succeed and the vote is a true accounting of where people stand, it could be downright scary. Like the set up to a bald joke, the peasants are revolting.
When the founding fathers first established this country, they never intended people of color to be able to vote..at least not a full vote. Thank you for reminding us of our roots and evidently wanting us to harken back to those days of yore. I also applaud your thinking. Obviously, a key candidate in question should be able to indiscriminately purge voter roles of undesirables before the free and democratic election and further be able to control the follow up investigation. I have no idea why he would have been pressured to resign. God bless Florida…a lovely place to live…
Please continue to speak up on and on and on and please make sure you incessantly comment on every comment made. Otherwise, how will we know where you stand? Also please continue to mention Obama, and/or Clinton or any of the other despicable democrats no longer in office, because of course that’s both prescient and relevant to what’s happening right now.
Thanks. It’s been an enlightenment. ?
Well well well…. Folks, the presidential election in 2016, is over. Long over. Now, there are obviously many who remain personally upset. However, protesting yet still today, while it may feel good, is an exercise in futility. The presidential election is over, and the democrats and liberals lost. The democrats and liberals won back the house in the recent mid term election. (did the Russians influence that ?)
Now, do we want influence to an election? No. We all wish to believe in our independent thinking. Yet, politics is all about influencing others. Its up to each and every one of us to listen or not.
We have to remember, that each and every day, there are hostile foreign governments that would like more than anything than to take the United States under their siege and take away our freedoms. This includes freedom of speech. Yes, today we still have this freedom.
Today, and every day, I wish the folks protesting would have a little common sense, stop the political protest against the government that protects them each and every day. Instead, please thank and support our veterans where, all gave some, some gave all.
Thank you Veterans of the United States of America