WASHINGTON’S “NO KINGS” RESISTANCE

 

I have never considered Washington County to be a hotbed of political protest. Until recently, it was a moderate to conservative community that prided itself on its many houses of worship, taking care of its underprivileged citizens, and sharing its community values.

There were few major political disagreements. For example, unlike other Pennsylvania jurisdictions, the oil and gas industry and its fracking technology were supported by elected officials from both political parties.

In the past, elected officials served the public by keeping taxes low and remaining non-controversial. Residents could get agitated over national political events while remaining calm at home. Their local county government was predictable and did its job.

When the MAGA movement hijacked the Republican party, including the Washington County Republican leadership, slow and steady was replaced by unpredictable and outrageous. Republicans built a coalition of voters who felt ignored by established politicians, including many first-time voters, into a populist political machine. This MAGA party cares more for white nationalist ideological precepts and its political standing than about governing for all.

Many traditional county Republicans jumped on the Trump bandwagon, knowing that, for the first time in decades, they could seize local political power. Democrats and others could only shake their heads in amazement at the speed of the MAGA takeover. Competence and experience were no longer necessary requirements to run for office. The only essential trait was a total buy-in with the MAGA movement.

With our local Republican commissioners and other county leaders on the same page as the Trump administration, it was only a matter of time before Democrats, Independents, and other concerned citizens would become more politically involved. On a recent muggy, cloudy Saturday, those who disagree with Trump’s policies and with local Republican implementation of those policies had the opportunity to respond.

The “No Kings” movement was an organized event of approximately 2,000 protests across the country. The Washington County Courthouse steps hosted our local version of citizens showing up to challenge national and local Republicans and to show dissatisfaction with their abuses of power.

The protests were planned to be a day of defiance, demonstrating that the president is not a king and that democracy is not defined by the actions of one individual. The protests were initially scheduled to coincide with President Trump’s military parade in Washington, DC to commemorate his 79^th birthday and the 250^th anniversary of the United States Army. The military parade is estimated to have cost $45 million, and featured 6,000 Army soldiers, 49 aircraft, 128 vehicles and 25 horses.

As other Trump executive actions unfolded, the event also came to represent protest against “billionaire first” legislation (the Republican, Big, Beautiful Bill), the militarization of our democracy, and brutal ICE actions against non-criminal immigrants in schools, churches, and places of employment.

When I arrived at the protest, the crowd of an estimated 500 continued to grow. By the time I left an hour later, both sides of main street were covered with signs and boisterous participants of all ages. Some of the loudest were older citizens holding their signs with one hand and their walkers with the other. A grass-roots political protest movement in support of democracy and in opposition to totalitarian government was alive in Washington County.

After Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, local MAGA Republicans spent four years challenging the county election results (even though Trump won here by a large margin). They disrupted commissioner meetings and made it difficult for Diana Irey Vaughan and her non MAGA Republican administration to govern county government. After Vaughan decided not to run for reelection in 2023, the path was clear for the MAGA faction to take over. Now commissioners Nick Sherman and Electra Janis seek to mold their decision-making in lock step with the Trump administration.

Ironically, on the same Saturday as the “No Kings” protest, the Observer- Reporter ran a front-page article announcing “Washington County Sheriff’s Office seeks to join ICE task force.” This action would bestow immigration authority on county sheriff’s deputies in efforts to arrest and deport illegal immigrants. In the article County Commissioner Chair Sherman is quoted as saying, “I think this is a good thing, we’re using local law enforcement to aid federal law enforcement.”

Our local majority commissioners and the Trump administration are now joined at the hip. The ACLU has vehemently objected to local law enforcement performing ICE functions. The organization’s website warns “immigration enforcement is the job of the federal government and localities need not involve themselves.” Not only is local law enforcement kept from their regular responsibilities that tax payers expect them to perform, they are open to lawsuits for racial profiling and other civil rights violations.

Trump and the Republican commissioners have kicked the bear and it is not going back into hibernation. Protesting residents must now up their game by letter writing, phone calls, and by becoming involved in voter registration drives. Well informed protestors need to show up at every county commissioner’s meeting to voice their concerns.

The alternative is ongoing authoritarianism at both the national and local levels. We are on the verge of waking up to observe local deputy sheriffs directed by ICE, pulling members of our immigrant community off of ladders, off of lawn mowers, out of classrooms, and even out of church pews.

I am convinced that many in Washington County will continue to protest such actions.