Letter from Kathleen Taylor

‘No Kings’ Event Draws 200 in CV

A crowd of 200, most holding signs, many waving American flags, and a few standing near veterans in wheelchairs, met at the four corners of the Cherry Valley traffic light on Saturday morning, June 14, for a “No Kings” rally. One of the 2,000+ “No Kings” rallies and protests held nationwide, the gathering was part of Indivisible Cherry Valley’s efforts to preserve democracy and stand up against an increasingly authoritarian administration.

Maureen Iseman-Broeking of Roseboom explained her decision to attend by saying, “The Constitution is the law of the land, not a suggestion.”

Fifteen-year-old Bella Crowe of Cherry Valley carried a sign saying “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun-damental Rights”; her mother, Jasmine Crowe, said her daughter has “lived most of her life in the shadow of Trump” and does not want to be afraid.

Leslie Berliant, candidate for District 7 of the Otsego County Board of Representatives, pointed out “peaceful protest is an American tradition and its legality under the First Amendment is a defining aspect of our freedom and rights.”

Rachel Root, of Roseboom, said her grandfather had fought in WWII and that the living memory of fascism is not as strong as it once was, and that “even my Republican family members are horrified and angry.”

The peaceful event included drumming and chanting, ending shortly after 11 a.m. with the crowd singing “This Land Is Your Land.” Attendees came from Cherry Valley, Roseboom, Sharon Springs, and Sprout Brook, with many of the participants saying they were moving on to continue their protests at Canajoharie, Oneonta or Cobleskill.

Signs included “The Only King We Recognize Lived at Graceland,” “Red or Blue, Fascism Should Scare You,” “Due Process for Everyone,” “Families and Communities, Not Billionaires,” “Gonna Miss Democracy When It’s Gone” and “We Shall Overcome.”

Kathleen Taylor
Cherry Valley