LAKEPORT >> Punching above their weight, the local version of the nationwide women’s march (which included significant male support this year) loudly proclaimed discontent with the state of the nation’s policy, as some contend it is flailing wildly. The crowd urged a retargeted strike to inflict genuine national blows to the body politic Saturday afternoon.
The Lake County Democratic Party along with the 50501 movement (50 protests in 50 states on one day) coalesced around kitchen table issues they believe bring genuine prosperity to Main Street America rather than channeling the country’s abundance to the corporate suites. Nearly 600 people descended on Museum Park Saturday. Co-organizer Marie Schrader explained she wants the public to know how many times people on social media try to correct her, saying, ‘it’s not affecting you.’ However, she alerted the crowds jamming Museum Park, how the new administration in Washington D.C. is affecting everyone.
“There is something called a forest reserve grant, one half goes to schools, since being close to a national forest, one half of the grant goes to the general fund, we use (funds) for roads, $460,000, but it’s gone, cut (by the federal government),” she said. “We have a project here in Lakeport, $850,000 is supposed to go to fix the South Main Street problem. We do not have a water main on South Main, not for Mendo Mill or Hillside Honda. Mendo Mill has sprinklers, but they don’t work, because there’s no water pressure since the money is gone and we’ll not see that project.”
She went on to state that that the National Weather Service in Eureka, where Lake County receives its weather forecasts from, is slated to be closed. “They closed the Health and Human Services’ Office in San Francisco, our regional office,” she said. “And that will affect anyone who has engaged with HHS previously, Additionally, federal library funds, some of which is used in county, has been cut. These monies covered free access to major publications as the New York Times as well as talking books for the visually impaired.”
The Board of Supervisors is working for the residents, writing numerous letters to combat the cuts, efforts which will be further discussed Tuesday. “We need to pressure Congress, we need to get them out of Tesla, (Elon Musk’s company) and to drop Tesla,” Schrader said. “We need to pressure them, so text; we’re for unions- and check your pension plan, to see if they’re defecting.”
Also speaking from the Museum steps was Leslie Miller, who is a museum board member. He explained how he helped with building the foundation for the statue of a Native American and told the crowd that it was a way to explain why outreach to others is needed in order is to treat one another civilly. But President Trump is going in another direction. “It really helped in Wisconsin, (last week’s judicial election) for the new judge up there,” he said. “So, stay strong, we’re all in this together. So, you Republicans and independents out there, you’re in on it too.”
Don Coffin is from Clearlake and is a programmer for the listener supported radio station KPFZ. “I see many of my friends and we’re all here for the same reason; to say hands off- everything. I think a growing influence has got to undo- a lot of the damage done,” he said. “All these things that are going on, will have consequences, and are not going to be favorable to anyone.”
Debbie Doran from Loch Lomond was carrying a placard protesting the Trump Administration. “I’m just making it known, I disagree with every policy Trump has and I’d like to save our country before he ruins it,” she said. “Financially, social security, national security- you name it, he doesn’t care about America, he only cares about himself. His presidency is a personal revenge tour.”
Arriving from North Lakeport, Carmen Broderick was at the protest, pushing back because of the chaos caused by the Trump Administration, she maintained.
“We’ll not put up with all the agencies torn down, threats to Social Security,” she said. “Our veterans need to be protected. It’s like Corey Booker, (U.S. Senator D-New Jersey) said, ‘It’s neither left or right, it’s (a matter of right or wrong).'” Lakeport resident, Laura Santarrelli, wanted her concerns over social security, women’s rights, DOGE and democracy to be known among her fellow citizens. “The educational system is being eliminated, USAID- there’s too many (cuts) to mention … And Medicare, people need health care in this country. Not everyone has a union job that provides it.”
A U.S. Navy veteran from way back, Andrew Tritchler made it know he was at the protest because he is a patriot. The sign proclaimed he was neither a loser nor a sucker, allegedly said by President Trump, but something he repeatedly denies. “But Mike Kelley, his chief of staff, claimed he heard Trump say it,” recalled Tritchler. “But I believe Mike Kelley, before I would believe Trump.”
