Why are we protesting
May 5, 2025 – Opinion by Inverness resident Thomas Mitchell
Wayne Harriman had a good question in his letter, “Why are they protesting?” He wanted to know if progressives and conservatives protesting accepted the recent presidential election and if we like democracy? Good questions!
Wayne, the folks who are on the protest line accept the results of the last election. For better or worse, Trump is the president. And Wayne, we love democracy and this country, or we wouldn’t be standing on street corners sweating while protesting his policies.
From my point of view, we had three choices: One, do nothing, and watch Trump and his cronies destroy our liberty and country. Two, we could riot at the Capitol Building as MAGA Republicans did (not a good choice), or we could protest. America has a long history of protesting. We did it before the Revolutionary War, in fighting for civil rights, and now we do it to save our democracy.
As I stood on the protest line in Crystal River, I wondered why we didn’t see more Republicans joining us.
Republicans claim they are for the Constitution, so why aren’t they upset that Trump ignores the orders from the district, courts of appeal and the Supreme Court?
How can you claim you love the rule of law and the United States and quietly watch people being deported without due process?
How in the world can you allow American citizens to be deported with a court order?
Why is it okay with you that an unelected citizen be allowed to illegally end programs Congress has authorized?
The ability to lay taxes belongs to Congress, so why do you quietly stand by and watch the President stampede over Congress’s authority with his tariffs and not say something?
Wayne, we are the laughingstock of the world. Even without the tariffs, Trump has unset Canada, Denmark, and Iceland with stupid ideas that will never happen.
How can you and your fellow Republicans not say something when thousands of children and their parents are dying because Trump illegally cut off their food, medicine, and clean water?
You are correct. We are outnumbered, but based on recent polls, more and more people are coming around to our way of thinking.
If you genuinely love the Constitution and America, I will see you at the County Courthouse on May 12, 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.