The No Kings protests in the commonwealth and nationwide brought out large crowds Saturday nationally and locally.
Lower Bucks County protests were held in Morrisville, Langhorne, and Bensalem. The participants in Bensalem rallied peacefully on Humeville Road in front of the public library with signs of all kinds against what organizers say is an unprecedented expansion of power by President Donald Trump.
The musical backdrop for start of the protest came right out of Edwin Star’s 1969 hit, that resonates more than 50 years later, “War”
One of the Organizer’s Jennifer Marsh of Yardley Indivisible said there are many reasons to protest the Trump administration and every one of those is valid. Marsh said she is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor noting her reason (s) to oppose Trump are deeply personal.
Bryan Allen, the Democrat challenging incumbent K.C. Tomlinson (R) for the state representative seat covering Bensalem and nearby Humeville, said mounting frustrations about spending money for wars and not health care, rising gas prices and heating oil prices are why protesters are taking to the streets to address their grievances with Trump.
“People want leaders who are going to make life more affordable here and we’re getting the opposite. Prices are going through the roof and this is only going to make it worse,” Allen said.
Front of mind for many protesters in Bensalem and across the country is their opposition to Trump’s month-long war in Iran. The president launched joint operations with Israel on Feb. 28 that have since spread across the Middle East and caused an oil shortage crisis worldwide.
Democratic candidate for state Rep Bryan Allen at Saturday’s No Kings Protest in Bensalem speaking with a military veteran Credit: Jeff Bohen, Lower Bucks Source
Bensalem Township voters ousted out the Republican-led government last November flipping local government to a Democratic majority for the first time in 40 years.
The once Bensalem-based Trump store closed shop in January perhaps indicating the Democratic takeover of local government is not just a “one off” so to speak, but more reflective of a rejection of all things Republican and tying them to Trump and his policies.
Credit: Jeff Bohen, Lower Bucks Source
Marsh was effusive in her praise of Bensalem Public Safety officials and their cooperation with No Kings protest organizers.
“Sometimes people think our local police forces are the enemy and in this case they’re not. We met with Bensalem Police and were treated with respect. Told them what we wanted to do. We were not discouraged. We felt supported and safe here.”
No Kings Protest in Langhorne Credit:
The were no notable incidents of conflict or violence documented at the peaceful protest. Bensalem officers passed through the demonstration during the two hours it took place several times while performing their normal patrol duties.
After the nationwide protests ended Trump took to social media.
Credit: Diane Lyons Stout on LBS Meta page.
The White House released a statement ahead of Saturday’s rally blasting the event and the media. Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday.
“The only people who care about these Trump Derangement Therapy Sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in the written statement to media Friday.
In addition to massive rallies in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, dozens of smaller demonstrations took place across the commonwealth, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported.
Credit: Jeff Bohen Lower Bucks Source
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