Buoyed by dramatic increases in President Trump’s disapproval ratings in the polls and MAGA losses in elections across the country Nov. 4, demonstrators continued to show their disagreement with the Trump agenda visually Saturday in four sign-stakeouts in West Bend.
Four groups of anti-Trump protestors stationed themselves in the city, including two I witnessed on 18th Avenue between 9:30 and 11 Saturday morning. They were resolute and quiet as they held their black and white signs on the sidewalks along busy streets.
In groups of six to 10, the sign carriers were about 50 feet apart with sequential messages like the Burma-Shave road signs of old. The last sign in each group was in red and black colors saying, “Release the Epstein Files.” The person carrying that sign said it was like the rattle on the tail of a rattlesnake.
A sample of the signs read:
- IS THIS AMERICA?
- STIFLING FREE SPEECH
- DEFYING THE COURTS
- TROOPS ON OUR STREETS
Most of the passengers in passing cars honked or waved in approval. “I only got one finger,” said one demonstrator.
Kevin Hass of West Bend said the reactions were “overall positive.” Afterward, he questioned why MAGA supporters had not used their right of free speech to demonstrate for Trump. “I would do this again,” said another demonstrator.
The mini-rally was organized by the West Bend chapter of Indivisible, a national protest organization. The chapter’s previous public protests took place on August 16 and October 18 on the south side of the city and drew about 900 and 1300 protesters, respectively. More than 2500 similar events across the country four weeks ago in communities small and large drew seven million protesters.
The local sign carriers believe their messages have had something to do with the striking drop in Trump’s approval ratings and the jump in his disapprovals. From a positive difference of approval and disapproval of about 10 points after his inauguration, Trump’s disapprovals now outweigh his approvals by 14 points, according to the latest CNN/SSRS poll.
One demonstrator stated that Trump now has about 30% of the citizens solidly in his camp, while 43% align with the “No Kings” initiative across the country.
Even more striking is that nearly half of the citizens in recent polls “strongly disapprove” of Trump’s conduct in office.
That level of negativity is certain to show up in the voting booths in the midterm elections next year. Citizens who take time out of their schedules to demonstrate are highly likely to go to the polls.
Heretofore, the president has appeared to disregard the drop in his ratings, but lately appears to be paying more attention to the cost of living issue that figured heavily in Democratic victories up and down ballots in communities and states across the country.
When Trump was a reality show star, he was obsessed with his TV ratings. He and Republicans in general appear to be getting the message from the protest rallies like the ones in West Bend that his strategies and tactics are widely unpopular.
(PHOTO CREDITS: KINE TORINUS)
