Hundreds of people who oppose President Donald J. Trump’s policies packed all four quadrants of Lincoln Square on Saturday April 5 between noon and 1 p.m. The event was the second consecutive Saturday gathering, and organizers say the public should expect more.
“Judging by the enthusiastic response to our first two Saturday rallies, people are feeling they are not alone and that many others share their fears and concerns,” Marcia Wilson, chair of the Adams County Democratic Committee, said in an email. “We want to be a place of support, energy, and even hope for the future by sharing an hour a week with others who are feeling the same dismay.”
Purpose
Wilson said the Democrats are calling the events Rallies for the People. They are asking participants to hold family-friendly signs that express their concerns. Wilson said gatherers oppose Trump’s “cuts, closures, firings, incarcerations, and disregard for due process, the rules of law, the rules of civility and human kindness.”
“These are uncertain times, and many individuals are actually frightened about their own and their families’ futures,” Wilson said. “We need each other in times like this, and the Adams County Democratic Committee hopes to foster optimism through our rallies.”
The Adams County Republican Committee did not respond to an email from the Connection seeking comments on the rallies but referred to them as “liberal insanity” in an email newsletter sent March 30.
“Exercising the First Amendment rights is all well and good—until it turns into a weekly public spectacle of Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) and Elon Derangement Syndrome (EDS) that disrupts everyone else’s right to simply enjoy their weekend in peace,” the email stated.
Process
The Democratic Committee has received permits to gather on all four quadrants of Lincoln Square and the first block of York Street every Saturday in April from noon to 1 p.m. Wilson said the group may continue into the summer.
“Our anticipation when we first applied was to hold rallies from March through summer, provided enough interest was shown,” Wilson wrote. “We still plan to continue until the interest is no longer there, according to the permit schedule as granted by the borough.”
Gettysburg Borough requires a permit for public gatherings of more than 30 people. Police Chief Robert Glenny said in a recent borough council meeting that the current permit ordinance was constitutional. “The (U.S.) Supreme Court has said we have the right to regulate time, place, and manner, just not speech,” he said.
Gettysburg Borough Assistant Manager Sara Stull said in response to a Right to Know Request filed by the Connection that the committee was not charged for the permit since it is a First Amendment Activity.
The permit says protesters must maintain a five-foot pedestrian passageway at all times, obey all traffic and local ordinances, deposit trash in appropriate receptacles, not stand in the parking stalls, roadway, or mid-portion of the square, and not use sound amplification.
Wilson said volunteers ensure the rules are followed.
“We found that many people stopped at our Voter Registration table by ACNB to ask what the rules were,” she said.
According to Wilson, the Democrats are asking those who join them to follow rules that are not required under the permit.
“We are asking participants not to block access to any business or organization headquarters, not to hinder the pedestrian route, and not to speak first to non-rally individuals to allow them to continue on their planned schedule of activity,” Wilson wrote. “But if conversation is initiated, we will, of course, converse.”
Disruption?
The borough must issue the permit, with stipulations, under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Like most issues, Republicans and Democrats differ on the appropriateness of using Lincoln Square for such demonstrations.
“Lincoln Square is traditionally the space where citizens come together for celebrations or rallies, so we requested the full Square on our permit,” Wilson wrote. “If there are too many participants for those sidewalks, then people will naturally flow onto the sidewalks radiating from the Square.”
In their e-blast, the Adams County Republican Committee wrote, “Gettysburg is sacred ground, a place of honor and remembrance for those who gave their last full measure of devotion to this country. Yet, the left seeks to exploit it, using the borough as their personal political stage with an unsuspecting audience of tourists, who spend $600+ MILLION annually—do you think they want their visit disrupted by town-square tantrums?”
Wilson believes the rallies could be a benefit to the downtown.
“We actually may be enhancing business around town on Saturdays, because many participants are staying for lunch or shopping after the rallies. We encourage that,” she said. “We are not inhibiting traffic flow, and we are getting much positive response from drivers.”
Featured image caption: Citizens who oppose President Donald J. Trump gather in Lincoln Square April 4. (Photo by Donate Gardner)
Alex J. Hayes has spent almost two decades in the Adams County news business. He is passionate about sharing stories focused on the people in our communities and following local governments in an age when few journalists report on their meetings. Alex is also a freelance writer for several other publications in South Central Pennsylvania. Alex encourages readers to contact him at ahayes83@gmail.com.
I find the comments from the Republican Committee very interesting. They say, “Gettysburg is sacred ground, a place of honor and remembrance for those who gave their last full measure of devotion to this country. Yet, the left seeks to exploit it, using the borough as their personal political stage ….. do you think they want their visit disrupted by town-square tantrums?” Where was this outrage by the Adams County Republican Committee when their very own, refusing to accept the results of a legal election, stormed the capitol, used weapons and tear gas, injured police officers and prepared to lynch… Read more »
Absolutely false!! You may dream that it’s all peaceful but I work on the square and have seen different. And seriously? Your going to use an excuse such as this? Not only has it been how many years, but also was in D.C. not Gettysburg. This is ruining our tourism. People are mad as hell. Coming to get away from the nonsense, to just end up in worse. The town continues to allow this, it shows what integrity they don’t have and we ALL will remember come time to vote in local elections.
The hundreds of people protesting on Lincoln Square for the last three weekends represents is a long held American tradition, dating back to the U.S. war of Independence, and it is fitting to use this form protest now, when so many of us are feeling angry, frustrated and disenfranchised. It is a perfectly legitimate way to express dissent and perform resistance against injustice. As a former business owner in downtown Gettysburg, I suspect that these weekly protests will be quite advantageous for our downtown eateries and shops.
Yes, Gettysburg is sacred ground. It is where men fought and died for our freedoms. I can see no better way of honoring their sacrifice than standing on that same ground and using the freedom they gave us to speak out against a tyrant. Gettysburg is also where we live. We should be able to use our constructional right to “peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” in our hometown.
Regarding concerns that the rallies are off-putting to visitors, when passersby have initiated conversation, I always ask if the person is local or a visitor. Visitors I’ve spoken with have overwhelmingly made positive comments about both their visit to Gettysburg and about the rally. A few have even borrowed a sign to briefly participate.
And I have had the opposite. People coming into my business upset about the protest. As I am all for the 1st ammendment. This could be done somewhere such as the College. Not everyone thinks the same as you or the others do. Some of us think we are finally bieng represented in the White House. Maybe it is time we Republicans have our own protest. When Gettysburg loses revenue and your taxes, parking, and whatever else they can increase. I sincerely hope you all are happy enough to help the local businesses recoup. And sure it could be beneficial… Read more »
Great article, Alex! I would probably qualify the description of the folks that came to the rally last Saturday not just opponents of DJT, but folks who oppose the administration’s policies, and the actions taken by its cabinet members and Republican lawmakers who support all of those actions.
Also really interesting was the fact that there were a few Trump-Regretters and Independents in the crowd. Gives us hope. Thanks for this great story, Alex!
Gettysburg seems to be the perfect place to protest against the current administration TBH. It’s where people stood up for our country before – makes perfect sense to do it again. I’m glad no guns or cannons are involved this time. As for the businesses, so many people coming in to protest are likely spending far more than any who might be offended (and leave/don’t come) would have, especially since it’s just for an hour per week. The businesses should be able to chalk it up as a win – unless they visibly support the other side and that turns… Read more »
As I commented on previous article we canceled our trip because of the protests. Political beliefs aside this is where we go to get away from the stress of the day. The borough can keep its protests. We will keep our tourist dollars
While you certainly have the right to choose where you want to vacation, it makes me sad that some folks are punishing the businesses because they don’t agree with the message that the protesters express for just ONE HOUR A WEEK. Those businesses are open 7 days a week and all day on Saturday. Surely, this town has many other places to visit during that one hour on Saturdays?
It’s ok. I will go into Gettysburg with you in mind and spend more money there even though I’m positive the businesses made more money than they lost considering the numbers of people involved. I’m just inspired by your post to give them more. FWIW, I don’t recall the last time we spent money as tourists in Gettysburg. We live relatively close, but our shopping and restaurant district is Hanover to York. It will be good to get to revisit Gettysburg as a tourist. 😉
Thank you for this story and I’m very glad to see that the rallies will continue!
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Great article, Alex!