(Jan. 26, 2017) The destination was the same, but their purposes reflected the national political divide, as some Worcester County traveled to Washington, D.C. Friday to witness the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, while others went Saturday to join the Women’s March protest.
Christy and Buddy Trala of West Ocean City made the two-and-a-half hour drive from Worcester County with friends to attend the inauguration. They attended with Chesapeake City Mayor Dean Geracimos at the invitation of a friend and Trump campaign staffer.
“We had a great spot, as close as we could be. I wanted to support the new president and to be part of history,” Christy Trala said. “The crowd was massive; everyone was feeling more hopeful about the future.”
At the other end of the political discussion, Dell Purrell of Ocean Pines was less optimistic and participated in the Women’s March to rebuke the new president on his first day in office.
“I believe that women’s rights are human rights, and human rights are women’s rights,” Purrell said, echoing a sentiment of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign last year. “That’s not what I am seeing with this administration, and my voice needs to be heard.”
Attendance estimates for both events have been the subject of dispute, with all sorts of unprovable numbers being reported, not that crowd size was the motivation for anyone who attended either one of the events.
Harriet Batis, member of Democratic Women’s Club of Worcester and Fenwick Island resident, was one of 51 people who went by bus from Ocean Pines to the New Carrolton metro station.
“It’s the hub for the Eastern Shore to D.C. and when we arrived around 8:30 a.m., there was 400 people in the station,” Batis said. “The energy level was unbelievable. You could really feel the camaraderie and empowerment.”
Nancy Dofflemyer of Ocean Pines, who watched the inauguration on Friday, said that mood surrounding the swearing-in was also positive. She drove to D.C. with her friend and brother early to catch the “Make America Great Again!” concert at the Lincoln Memorial on Thursday. Acts included Toby Keith, 3 Doors Down and the Piano Guys.
“The [concert] just captured your patriotism as a citizen and how wonderful and blessed we are to live in such a great nation,” she said. Dofflemyer also attended the parade after the inauguration. “Everyone was so passionate about Trump and making America great again, you could not help feeling proud [at the inauguration].”
Trala attended the Freedom Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with her husband.
The Women’s March the following day had a line-up of speakers such as activists Gloria Steinem, Angela Davis and Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards. Batis said she watched the speakers on the Jumbotron screen set up for marchers who could not see the stage.
Both events had chanting peppered throughout the day. Trala said she heard supporters reprise Trump’s “make America great again” motto on her six-mile walk to the National Mall and sometime during the inaugural address. She added that she knew of some protesters who also attended the inauguration.
“They weren’t the kind that were being disruptive later on, that set fire to a car. Those were just troublemakers,” she said.
CNN reported that six officers and roughly 217 people were arrested after people rioted and vandalized downtown D.C. late Friday. Inauguration attendees downloaded a smartphone from the Trump organization that kept them informed where roads were closed due to the disturbances.
“It’s great to stand up for what you believe in … but I’m disappointed that [Trump’s] not given a chance yet, and people are fearful of what will be taken away,” Trala said. “What I saw that people are hopeful about the direction we’re going in.”
The Women’s March had no arrests, and Purrell said there were several chants, but one stuck out to her in particular.
“’This is what democracy looks like,’ and we said it loud and clear,” she said. “I hope that the new administration and Congress fight for all the rights of all Americans.”
Worcester residents took away inspiration from the inauguration and the demonstration. Dofflemyer said she was encouraged by the president’s message of fighting for the people.
“The crowd went crazy….[when] Trump spoke about we, the people were going to take back our great nation and not be [run] by politicians and government,” she said.
For participants in the women’s march, some of the protest signs showed the progress that has been made in the past years.
“There was a man holding a sign that said ‘I’ve been gay for 40 years, and I’m happy now. Don’t take that away,’ Batis said. “My best friend’s son is gay. That sign resonated with me because it reminded me that this was bigger than women – it included every group that was marginalized but wasn’t forgotten.”
Christy and Buddy Trala of West Ocean City made the two-and-a-half hour drive from Worcester County with friends to attend the inauguration. They attended with Chesapeake City Mayor Dean Geracimos at the invitation of a friend and Trump campaign staffer.
“We had a great spot, as close as we could be. I wanted to support the new president and to be part of history,” Christy Trala said. “The crowd was massive; everyone was feeling more hopeful about the future.”
At the other end of the political discussion, Dell Purrell of Ocean Pines was less optimistic and participated in the Women’s March to rebuke the new president on his first day in office.
“I believe that women’s rights are human rights, and human rights are women’s rights,” Purrell said, echoing a sentiment of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign last year. “That’s not what I am seeing with this administration, and my voice needs to be heard.”
Attendance estimates for both events have been the subject of dispute, with all sorts of unprovable numbers being reported, not that crowd size was the motivation for anyone who attended either one of the events.
Harriet Batis, member of Democratic Women’s Club of Worcester and Fenwick Island resident, was one of 51 people who went by bus from Ocean Pines to the New Carrolton metro station.
“It’s the hub for the Eastern Shore to D.C. and when we arrived around 8:30 a.m., there was 400 people in the station,” Batis said. “The energy level was unbelievable. You could really feel the camaraderie and empowerment.”
Nancy Dofflemyer of Ocean Pines, who watched the inauguration on Friday, said that mood surrounding the swearing-in was also positive. She drove to D.C. with her friend and brother early to catch the “Make America Great Again!” concert at the Lincoln Memorial on Thursday. Acts included Toby Keith, 3 Doors Down and the Piano Guys.
“The [concert] just captured your patriotism as a citizen and how wonderful and blessed we are to live in such a great nation,” she said. Dofflemyer also attended the parade after the inauguration. “Everyone was so passionate about Trump and making America great again, you could not help feeling proud [at the inauguration].”
Trala attended the Freedom Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with her husband.
The Women’s March the following day had a line-up of speakers such as activists Gloria Steinem, Angela Davis and Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards. Batis said she watched the speakers on the Jumbotron screen set up for marchers who could not see the stage.
Both events had chanting peppered throughout the day. Trala said she heard supporters reprise Trump’s “make America great again” motto on her six-mile walk to the National Mall and sometime during the inaugural address. She added that she knew of some protesters who also attended the inauguration.
“They weren’t the kind that were being disruptive later on, that set fire to a car. Those were just troublemakers,” she said.
CNN reported that six officers and roughly 217 people were arrested after people rioted and vandalized downtown D.C. late Friday. Inauguration attendees downloaded a smartphone from the Trump organization that kept them informed where roads were closed due to the disturbances.
“It’s great to stand up for what you believe in … but I’m disappointed that [Trump’s] not given a chance yet, and people are fearful of what will be taken away,” Trala said. “What I saw that people are hopeful about the direction we’re going in.”
The Women’s March had no arrests, and Purrell said there were several chants, but one stuck out to her in particular.
“’This is what democracy looks like,’ and we said it loud and clear,” she said. “I hope that the new administration and Congress fight for all the rights of all Americans.”
Worcester residents took away inspiration from the inauguration and the demonstration. Dofflemyer said she was encouraged by the president’s message of fighting for the people.
“The crowd went crazy….[when] Trump spoke about we, the people were going to take back our great nation and not be [run] by politicians and government,” she said.
For participants in the women’s march, some of the protest signs showed the progress that has been made in the past years.
“There was a man holding a sign that said ‘I’ve been gay for 40 years, and I’m happy now. Don’t take that away,’ Batis said. “My best friend’s son is gay. That sign resonated with me because it reminded me that this was bigger than women – it included every group that was marginalized but wasn’t forgotten.”