More than 100 people lined up along Main Street in downtown Watsonville Saturday as part of a nationwide protest against President Donald Trump.
Waving signs such as “Hands Off,” “Question Authority,” and “Only You Can Prevent Fascism” the crowd drew hoots,hollers and blaring horns from passing motorists for around two hours, starting up at noon.
“I’m out here today because my father and my grandfather fought for this country and I’m a patriot and I am scared about what is happening,” said Heather Forsyth of Watsonville. “I think the fact that this president is blatantly disregarding the Supreme Court orders. If we don’t stand up, then we are going to lose our democracy.”Amador Valdez, 89, of Watsonville, carried a homemade sign that read, “The Pilgrims Were Illegal And They Stayed.”
“Trump is a dictator,” he said. “He has the same style as Hitler. He is starting by taking the funds from the libraries, which he is already doing. He is working only for the people who support him, he is only helping those that support him. I’m 89 and I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Marybeth Riday, who works in Watsonville and lives in Rio Del Mar joined the crowd.
“We need to feel like we are part of the resistance,” she said. “We can’t feel as if we’re going to let a takeover that resembles autocracy and lets democracy just go by without us standing together and at least taking these steps that are available at a demonstration.”
