It was a perfect day, weather wise, to get out there and rally for our democracy. I went to the No Kings event in Old Town Alexandria this afternoon, which saw a HUGE crowd (not sure the exact number – but the square was packed, so probably a few thousand people) listened to excellent speeches by the mayor of Alexandria, Alyia Gaskins; Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08), Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington/Alexandria), the chair of the Alexandria Democrats Sandy Marks, as well as retired major general Randy Manner (great pep talk!) and a student who delivered a superb rendition of the National Anthem. See below for video and photos…
Alexandria Democrats Chair Sandy Marks says Trump claims we are “heaven forbid, anti-fascists, like our grandparents; that we hate America because we love the constitution…”
National Anthem – amazing rendition!
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins says it “feels like we’ve been here before” (back in the first Trump administration), “feels a little like deja vu – but the truth is it’s not.” We’re “not in the same place as a country…this president and his enablers have sent federal troops into American cities…gutted critical programs like SNAP and Medicaid…forced us into a government shutdown where federal workers are waking up every single day uncertain…And I’ll tell you this, we are sick of this, because enough is enough. We are sick of the ICE raids, deportations, roundups and the fear that they put in our immigrant community. We are sick of the liesa and the attacks on free speech…we are sick of the ways in which they attempt to erase our history, our culture, our laws…and the things that have shaped our democracy…We are sick of every day having to provide a Government 101 that this is a democracy where there are no kings, there are no dictators, there are no tyrants…But we are not so tired or so weary that we will not keep fighting for the country that we love. Because that is what they want…that we’ll give up….But that’s not how Alexandrians operate…I learned at a very young age that when you see someone in need, you help them; when you see someone who’s hurting, you run to them; when you see wrong, you push for right.”
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins vows that together, no matter how sick and frustrated we get, we’ll keep fighting/voting/speaking out and together, create the democracy that we not only deserve but that we know is possible.
Mayor Alyia Gaskins said everyone should look to their neighbors and say “I need you,” “you need me” and “we are all a part of this community.”
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08) said “welcome to I Love America.” But, he said, “I’m confused; I was told every person here today was going to be a scary, violent terrorist who hates America, but I look out at this crowd and all I see is patriotism…I see people who love their country and who love their constitutional right to express themselves, to praise their country and criticize their country as they see fit.” But today, that government “is doing some pretty awful things right now” – “grabbing people off the street because of their skin color or immigration status or just because they look at an ICE officer funny…a lawless president using the power of government to attack, persecute everyone on their enemies list…use our cities as a training ground for our military…to treat our civil servants as garbage.” Rep. Beyer declared, repeatedly, “I’m with you.”
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08) says Speaker Mike Johnson and White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt falsely claim that everyone turning out today for “No Kings” to support a better America is actually “supporting Hamas or is part of Antifa or is a terrorist or is violent.” Why are they doing that? First of all, “they’re speaking on behalf of the most insecure, smallest person who’s ever held our highest office.” “And what they’re really saying is that HE is afraid of YOU; he’s afraid because you are powerful. “We don’t have kings in the United States of America; power is still held by the people. And today people across this country – perhaps the largest protest in American history – are sending a very powerful message, we are done with this authoritarian nonsense!” And, Beyer added, here in Virginia we have a great opportunity to send a message really clearly – “that Donald Trump’s vision of America is pathetic and we deserve better” – by VOTING. And “too many people stayed home the last time – we can’t have that this time.”
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA08) says that 250 years ago, “another Alexandrian, George Washington, was offered the crown and he turned it down” – “No Kings then, No Kings today, No Kings as long as our republic endures.”
Del. Alfonso Lopez said raise your hand if you’re exhausted, if you’re angry at the ugliness across the Potomac, if you’re sick of the kleptocracy and corruption, if you’re going to vote on November 4. And the choice in the Virginia elections, Del. Lopez pointed out, is VERY clear, with Winsome Earle-Sears loving everything Trump’s doing (aka, trashing Virginia’s economy, firing federal employees).
Del. Lopez said Winsome Earle-Sears actually thinks the “Big Ugly Bill” does good things, even as it cuts 350,000 Virginians’ health care, increasing costs for all of us, etc. Del. Lopez added that Earle-Sears opposes the constitutional amendment to protect women’s right to reproductive freedom; she even voted against legislation to protect contraception in Virginia. “Her campaign slogan…is ‘let’s keep a good thing going’. What the hell is she talking about?” In stark contrast, Del. Lopez argued, Democrats have a great candidate with detailed plans to move Virginia forward in former Rep. Abigail Spanberger. Bottom line – the choice is crystal clear between those two candidates.
Del. Lopez said Abigail Spanberger will work to put Virginians first, make our schools the best in the country, protect jobs and grow the economy. “Americans look to Virginia…we have a chance to send a message…to the whole nation and the whole world that the corruption and the chaos and the ugliness across the river is NOT ok! Together, we will reclaim our democratic institutions…move past this dark time and bring back the promise of our nation…built on kindness and empathy and looking out for the other guy and a desire to build that more perfect union every single day.”
