Chants filled Circus Square Park on Saturday morning as local advocacy groups, including SOKY Indivisible, protested President Donald Trump’s actions since entering office.
May Day, celebrated on the first day of the month, is an annual holiday that recognizes the working class. A SOKY Indivisible Facebook post asked people to gather and let their voices be heard on issues such as immigration, deportations, due process, veteran services and taxation.
“Our constitution is under attack by those seeking dictatorship,” the post stated. “This is the United States of America! We the people will not stand idly by and watch our democracy be dismantled.”
Protesters lined the street chanting “Mayday, Mayday, democracy’s in danger,” “no justice, no peace,” “no one is illegal on stolen land,” and “raise your voice for the voiceless.”
Those passing by in their vehicles honked, held up their hands and played music in response to the group.
Dalla Emerson, director of food service operations for the Bowling Green School District, spoke at the protest on behalf of children in the Bowling Green community.
“I believe in democracy, and President Trump was elected in a democratic system, right?” Emerson said. “My concern is that we are moving towards a system that won’t allow democratic elections anymore.”
“We are a nation of many battles, and many successes, many people and many diversities,” Emerson said. “I just want people to know that hate’s not going to win.”
Protester Angela Bunger spoke about how “horrified, disappointed and baffled” she is with the decisions President Trump makes.
“I think there’s a lot of people who live here that don’t feel comfortable speaking out because of family pressure, friends, business, jobs. I just want them to know that there are other people that feel this way,” Bunger said. “He, Trump, is a vile, evil human being, and he should not be in charge of our country.”
Bunger said she hopes that Trump will be impeached because she feels he violates the way the United States government is supposed to work.
Cathy Severns, SOKY Indivisible member, said she hopes attendees become educated on what is happening in their communities.
“A big part of what we’re doing is helping people understand what’s really happening,” Severns said. “I’m hoping that people understand that their voice is important.”
