As Independence Day celebrations across the country kicked off Friday, some locals in the 色多多 and New River valleys saw the holiday as an apt time to protest the Trump administration.
In 色多多, a No Kings 2.0 protest was held at Elmwood Park. Dozens of people came to the event, which served as a sequel to the nationwide No Kings rallies held June 14. Millions of people nationwide came out that day to protest President Donald Trump, hundreds of which were in Rocky Mount, Floyd, Christiansburg and 色多多.
Protesters gathered at Elmwood Park on Friday to protest President Donald Trump.
Protesters lined both sides of Elm Avenue, many holding signs criticizing Trump or showing support for immigrants, members of the LGBTQ+ community and others impacted by the administration鈥檚 recent actions. More people sat in the grass at Elmwood Park and listened to featured speakers, including 色多多 Mayor Joe Cobb.
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Cobb touched on Trump鈥檚 鈥渂ig, beautiful bill,鈥 which was on the minds and signs of many protestors as it passed in both the Senate and House this week. The calls for cuts to programs such as Medicaid and food assistance and increased spending of approximately aroud $350 billion for the
色多多 Mayor Joe Cobb speaks during the No Kings 2.0 event at Elmwood Park on the Fourth of July.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 take long or much research to dig down into what the Congress just passed. It鈥檚 horrifying,鈥 Cobb said.
Cobb recited part of the Declaration of Independence and asked the crowd to focus on the mention of the 鈥減ursuit of happiness.鈥 He questioned how many in attendance felt happy or safe.
鈥淲e鈥檙e here today because we believe in democracy,鈥 Cobb said. 鈥淲e have to believe that the Declaration of Independence matters 鈥 what it says matters.鈥
A protester rings a bell and leads chants during the No Kings 2.0 rally at Elmwood Park on the Fourth of July.
Deanna Marcin, a veteran and 色多多 business owner, also spoke during the rally. Marcin, a transgender woman, said that she doesn鈥檛 feel safe in her city, or her country, for that matter.
鈥淔or 25 years, I operated happily in 色多多, and now, all of the sudden, nobody likes me,鈥 she said. 鈥淒o I feel safe? No, I don鈥檛 feel safe.鈥
Marcin said that the country today is not the country she served in the early 1980s. The Department of Veterans Affairs is 鈥済utting mental health鈥 care, she said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a common threat, there鈥檚 a common fear, there鈥檚 a common sense of loss, of what鈥檚 happening to our country and its constitution,鈥 she said.
Faye and Tom Nichols are regular protesters. Tom said he feels compelled to speak out because he鈥檚 worried about the future for young people.
鈥淢y dad fought in World War II against stuff like this, and it鈥檚 happening right here in our country,鈥 he said.
鈥淢ine fought in Korea,鈥 Faye added.
Trump鈥檚 call up of the military in response to protests in California is disturbing, Tom said. Faye held a reptile puppet with Trump toilet paper in its mouth and 鈥淵um Trump鈥 written across its head. Many other protesters also had signs referencing what officials are calling 鈥淎lligator Alcatraz,鈥 a newly erected immigration detention center in the Everglades.
Tom Nichols, left, and Faye Nichols are regular protesters.
鈥淲e have to listen to each other, we have to learn from each other and we have to fight together,鈥 Cobb said.
Later on Friday, in Blacksburg, a group of around 30 protesters from New River Valley Indivisible joined in on the town鈥檚 Fourth of July parade on Main Street. Dale Wimberley, a coordinator with the group, said it was a great chance to both celebrate and spread the word about the group.
鈥淥ur message is right in line with the Fourth of July 鈥 liberty and justice for all. Let freedom ring,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e are fundamentally a democracy defense organization.鈥
Dale Wimberley, left, and Joy Morrison of NRV Indivisible march in the Fourth of July parade in Blacksburg Friday.
Wimberley joined NRV Indivisible early into Trump鈥檚 first term. He felt it was a 鈥渟ensible, effective鈥 form of resistance. Joy Morrison joined around the same time, inspired by Trump鈥檚 immigration policies.
Around 30 people with NRV Indivisible marched in the Fourth of July parade in Blacksburg on Friday.
Members of Blacksburg Town Council, Scouts BSA and Girl Scout troops, Summer Musical Enterprise, emergency services and law enforcement participated in the parade.
People sit on a hill watching the Fourth of July parade come down Main Street in Blacksburg.
Mount Tabor Ruritan sponsors the Blacksburg Fourth of July parade. A band has not participated in the parade in years, so this year, the Imagination Krewe was formed through the club and made its debut at the parade, according to the
The Imagination Krewe made its debut at the Blacksburg parade Friday.聽
