Opponents of President Donald Trump’s administration are rallying in hundreds of cities around the nation this Saturday and Athens-Clarke County is among them. The Athens rally will take place on Saturday, June 14th at College Square Plaza from 5 to 7 pm. Shellby Branch is chair of the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee.
“We believe that this Administration’s continued attempts to avoid laws, the laws that govern us and suppress the will of the people really demands a united response and we hope folks will show up on Saturday,” according to Branch.
A military parade is scheduled in Washington for the Army’s 250th anniversary, which coincides with Trump’s birthday and Flag Day. Branch says the protests allow ordinary Americans to be heard.
“This one, specifically, we are organizing in direct opposition to Trump’s $45 million, military style birthday parade,” Branch said. “We feel like that’s kind of marrying other countries and dictatorships. So this protest is a rejection of this growing normalization of fascism in the U. S. and it’s also a space for folks to exercise their first amendment rights and to engage in community with like-minded folks.”
The rally will include remarks from Athens native Michael Thurmond, music, street theater and more.
