Congressman Jim Himes, state Attorney General William Tong, and 1,500 other men, women and children thronged the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge today.
Stretching up and down Post Road East from Main Street to Route 33, it is believed to be the largest political protest in downtown Westport since the Vietnam War.
(Photo/Rowene Weems)
Wearing red, white and blue, carrying signs and chanting, the crowd was part of more than 1,200 “Hands Off!” demonstrations in Washington, state capitals and all 50 states.
They sang, too: “This Land is Your Land.” “God Bless America.” And “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
(Photo/Dayle Brownstein)
They protested an array of actions by President Trump, Elon Musk and the current administration: the firing of federal workers and closing of agencies, deportation of immigrants, cuts to health and veterans programs, and more.
Passing drivers offered support, honking and giving thumbs-up signs. Some in Teslas yelled, “We bought ours before we knew” about Musk’s actions.
Here are some signs and scenes from the day.
(Photo/Ted Horowitz)
Police Chief Foti Koskinas, ensuring Westport is safe for democracy. (Photo/Alan Shinbaum)
(Photo/Ted Horowitz)
Young protesters … (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
… and 97-year-old Carol Gluckman, who has seen her share. (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
Congressman Jim Himes (Photo/Dayle Brownstein)
(Photo/Dayle Brownstein)
State Senator Ceci Maher (2nd from right), and Democratic Women of Westport.
(Photo/Nicole Klein)
One of the few dissenters. (Photo/Dayle Brownstein)
(Photo/Dayle Brownstein)
(Photo/Rowene Weems)
(Photo/Rowene Weems)
“All I want is peace,” explained this sign holder. (All photos/Dan Woog unless otherwise noted)
I was there! But I didn’t see Jen Tooker. She missed a great photo op.
She obviously doesn’t want to offend The Donald.
What?
Tooker?
So long!!!
you need new material
So true.
Hamas & Himes there together (like Himes and THE USA $16B Himes insisted – against all warnings that it would be used against USA and it’s Allies and it immediately was used to fund attack on Israeli Civilians – on giving to Iran). No surprise better Westport didn’t show up at that protest.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the people who showed up to protest!
Protests are such a wonderful opportunity for artists to display their creativity and stupidity.
I can’t wait for Hunter Biden to move (discreetly, of course) into the swanky (but affordable) artist’s colony style apartments that they promise will be included in The Hamlet at Saugatuck.
How about an oul painting of Liberation day and you celebrating the tarriffs Eric?
Steph,
Bidenomically priced @$50K each!
How bout a photo of Eric and Tooker with MAGA hats on reading their retirement account statements ?
A photo op with Tooker. What a novel idea!!!
Do you ever have anything coherent to say, or are you satisfied to make rude and nasty comments?
When morons who thought the January 6 seditionists were peaceful protesters call local protesters ‘stupid.’
It was great to add my two cents.
Westporters are very selective about where to apply “the rule of law.” It’s always on the other guy.
Hands off what? We need radical change … next we need DOGE to get into the State Government. This is called a needed radical reorganization. Will there be errors along the way, of course, but they can be fixed as with any reorganization. NOTHING else has worked … give it a time. The ingnorance is amazing….
“The ingnorance is amazing.”
Omfg, I have heard it all now! This cult had gotten nuttier and nuttier! Give it time! Lmfao!
Why do we need radical change? We got an inflationary bump after Covid which the FED handled nicely. Employment and growth were up. Then Trump wants to cut the federal bureaucracy (6% of the total budget) to justify huge tax cuts for the wealthy while teeing off our neighbors/allies by placing tariffs on them . . . small manufacturing is NOT coming back the USA. Trump has no plan, this is the Bannon handbook of just creating chaos. Me? Down 300K in the market. Thanks a pant load. Mr. President, you do not understand the economy.
Seriously. I get that a lot of what DJT does is create distractions (his team realizes that when he places tariffs on uninhabited islands, people will react to the distraction). But some of the stupidity is because of the predominance of idiotic yes-men in the administration.
The inability of local Republicans to call out idiocy suggests that they are unfit to serve.
Take a look at a stock SDS.
Errors along the way? You mean like the new secret police grabbing US citizens off the streets, deporting them to El Salvador and then telling the judge you can’t locate them? Those errors?
How about firing those in charge of guarding our nuclear arsenal… ooops. If the tariffs are the same by September, we’ll be in a five year Depression!
Unfortunately, the fools that voted for the felon do not understand that the “tariffs” are taxes and that they will be paying them, not other nations. To the tune of $4-5k per household. Meanwhile, their 401ks will be shrinking and there’s no financial little blue pill for that.
Why did companies move production to China? Cheap labor is the reason. Bring production back home and the labor goes from $3.75 an hour to $35.00 an hour plus medical. Two things can happen- the company can eat the increase of prices, or pass it on to the consumer. Eat the price and your profits plummet and your stock tanks! Pass it on and inflation soars! There’s no way out of this dilemma! Severe recession or 1930 style Depression.
We can now all look forward to paying $10 for a cup of coffee because you can bring all the factories back you want, but coffee cannot be grown in the lower 48.
Mexico will pay for the wall. Trump wil give MAGA maniacs great health care. Factories are closing in China Mexico and Canada and will bring Prosperity You can believe in the tooth fairy if Fox News tell you to. Under Biden the cover story on the Economist Republican Journal was The Envy of the World. In just 2 months Trump and radical MAGA have destroyed the USA economy and our good will around the world. We can’t even get along with Canada.
I appreciate you mentioning this. US companies move manufacturing overseas because it is cheaper. But the administration has been banging a drum that other countries (presumably their corporations) should invest in production over here. What CEO in his right mind would would make capital investments in a country where decisions change on a daily basis and commitments are no longer honored? Business loves certainty and what we have here is complete uncertainty.
FABULOUS!!!!! This would make a great book! The photos are spectacular Suzanne!!!!
Keep it up! Love this energy! Resist! He is a danger!
Get DOGE looking at the state government? Really? Suggest first checking on GOP hypocrisy. See for example tweet fm powerful Republican Tom Cole with him bragging about foiling DOGE plans to shudder Fed offices in his district: https://x.com/TomColeOK04/status/1898115788068061325. Yeah, love that DOGE, but hell no, not in my backyard!
It was a beautiful day today at the protest. People united in what they don’t want America to be and so so much of the basics of where we agree with our forefathers on what we want to be as Americans. Lots of work to make it more of what we want it to be for sure but this is progress. People across the country have spoken & will we will continue to raise our voices to support the most innovative & evolved experiment in history – ever. The most wonderful thing about today, people united in the most peaceful way, the love & care we all took for each other. People thanking our police for keeping things safe, people driving by and honking in solidarity, people helping people in small & large ways. America is not a far far far right country, it’s beliefs do not serve us nor instruct us in how to be a better human and as our forefathers taught us – we belong to each other – thats how we grow & learn and what brings happiness. No matter your politics or beliefs if you believe that you are not walking this life alone you must stand up against the vile intensions afoot that serve to hurt, harm & hate. This is not about party, not about your politics – it’s about ethics.
Great photos and comments. Thanks to all who showed up. glad the rain held off.
That was an impressive number of people for sure. But why was the Post Rd. closed to traffic for an hour and a half?
Thanks as always to Dan Woog for getting the story and photographs out so quickly. This is serious stuff. It is not about liberals versus others or free traders versus tariffs. It is about the rule of law and whether or not our nation will survive the attack on the rule of law the Trump Administration is pursuing. My signs said “A NATION IN DANGER” “PROTECT OUR JUDGES” and “SAVE SCIENCE’. I am both afraid and hopeful.
I’ll give you a topic. Is Ben right? Do a majority of Americans think we are on the right track?
Across 7 right track/wrong polls, wrong track is ahead 52% to 42%. Last time I checked, 42 is less than 52. That’s seven polls:
https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-of-the-union/direction-of-country
Talk Among Yourselves.
I almost forgot to ask. Ben, who pays the new taxes, I mean, tariffs? Other nations, or the American tax payer at the cash register?
72% of Americans oppose these tariffs. It’s impossible for Trump in 19 months! He has 19 months to complete this.
1. I showed you 7 polls that gave an average of 10 points wrong track ahead and you responded with one poll reporting within the margin of error. That ain’t ahead.
By the way, Rasumussen is a discredited poll: From Wiki: “Rasmussen has been questioned for its methodology and for an apparent bias toward the Republican Party. In 2024, 538 dropped Rasmussen from its polling averages and analysis, saying Rasmussen failed to meet 538’s standards for pollsters.”
2. Biden did not ignore a supreme court ruling no mattert how many times you say that:
https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-biden-ignore-supreme-court-over-student-loan-forgiveness-1920799
3. Trump WAS impeached twice, by the US House of Representatives. The President had nothing to do with any part of that.
4. Trump was convicted of 34 felonies by the state of New York, following an indictment by a grand jury (citizens) and convicted by a jury of his fellow citizens. That is, regular folks, not Biden.
5. You don’t care for the Biden pardons, but the violent criminals who attacked the police, broke into the capitol, shat on the floor and tried to block the peaceful transfer of power have now been returned to our communities. And that’s fine by you, right?
6. Who said covid was just like the flu and that we’d all be back in our pews by Easter? And then a million americans died.
I’m done here. Apologies to Dan for exceeding the post limit.
I guess Ben has Biden Derangement Syndrome.
I’m sure Biden delegated to smart people, which is why we had the strongest economy in the world coming out of the pandemic. Pretty soon, we’ll be wishing for 2.9% inflation. Oof, stock market is in the tank. People are being “mistakenly” deported. And we’re levying tariffs against uninhabited islands. But BDS makes it okay to really dumb people.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia for one. The administration blamed a “clerical error” for his deportation. A Judge has ordered his return. And the incompetent administration has defied the Judge’s ruling by saying “take it up with El Salvador.” If even the administration acknowledges this, it is funny that you are so completely uninformed that you don’t.
I clearly know more about the economy than you. We had the best post-pandemic rebound in the world.
Ben, The Tufts student wrote an opinion piece. Period. When we can start grabbing people who are here legally off the street by masked men and sending them to another state its anarchy. Which is exactly what this administration wants. They could not find more unqualified people to fill these posts if they tried. An anti vaxxer to run health services, a Fox news spokesperson to run security – who then blabbed WAR plans on an APP. Keep your hands off our personal information, our social security, our human rights, our bodily autonomy, our freedom of speech – ALL OF IT. How can you not see what is being done?
Totally support the mission of dumping Trump and getting back our democracy. Wish I could have been there but in Florida, the state of more ignorance than I’ve ever encountered in my life. Only thing good here is sometimes the weather
In order to save our democracy we sometimes have to destroy it (if our opposition wins at the ballot box).
The President is furthering the concept of the Unitary Executive. It emphasizes the need for concentrated power within the Executive Branch … like a business… which is more essential than ever to restore order and sanity to the nation. Many of us take great pride in witnessing real change that safeguards our country and upholds its historical values. Elon keep up the great work.
isn’t that what Hitler said ?
Running the country “like a business.” Now I’m no Warren Buffett, but I’m pretty sure most successful businesses leverage the concept of ROI to maximize revenue relative to expense. Except Trump/Musk are going the other way by firing IRS employees and tax attorneys who end up bringing in revenue equal to multiples of their salaries by upholding current tax law. It’s estimated that we’ll lose $500bn in tax revenue due to cuts at the IRS, which would be a massive chunk of the expense cuts DOGE is attempting to make (and it’s highly questionable that they’ll even get close to the amount they were trying to cut initially).
“Furthering the concept of the Unitary Executive:” I guarantee there is a future president on the far left right now who is taking notes on what Trump is doing from the right…and when the pendulum swings the other way – and it eventually will – they will take Trump’s “Unitary Executive” powers to another level…to enforce the policies they want. And I guarantee you and every Trump supporter will be back to crying about how the federal government (via the Presidency) has too much power, and we need to return more power to the states.
Safeguards? Like grabbing US citizens off the streets and immediately deporting them without charge? Those kinds of safeguards? Off the street? I’m talking about US citizens, just like you and me. Thats what happens in Russia. Next stop is pushing your enemies out of apartment building windows or novachucking them on the street in broad daylight. That’s fine by you? Try looking up due process before you get back to your FoxNews “news product”.
Nope, she was arrested and deported without charge or due process. The 14th amendment protects ANY PERSON:
“…no state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, meaning that states must follow fair legal procedures…”
Any means everyone here. Period. Take it up with the founding fathers.
The constitution makes no distinction between “citizens” and non citizens. It’s “we the people”. Period. That ain’t no accident of word choice, pal. Sticking your head up in the sand when confronted with the meaning of “any persons”, well, it’s just not a good look.
It’s an honor to have a constitutional scholar like Russell on this chat who is clearly an authority on due process. Barrister Gontar, in addition to your relentless pursuit of due process for non-citizen MS-13 gang members who are here on Visa, tell us about your efforts with regard to the January 6 protesters, US citizens, who were arrested and held indefinitely without charges by the Biden administration.
January 6. January 6. Hmm. Wait, wait. Don’t tell me. That sounds familiar. You mean the January 6 where thousands of violent criminals attacked Capitol police, broke into the capitol, shat on the floor and tried to block the peaceful transfer of power? That January 6th? The January 6 where most of violent criminals pled guilty? That January 6th?
Don’t confuse him with the facts, he’s already made up his mind.
Keep up the good work ‼️🇺🇸
Ben, Read my comment about the no win situation of bringing back production to the United States. Which do you want? Want high inflation or profits go down, and stocks plunge! Also, we’ve alienated all our friends. By the way, for three days in a row Trump is playing golf!
Better watch out Jack!!! Word on the street is that Trump’s buying Birchwood.
Tucker Carlson. A truth teller. During Covid Carlson and Hannity told Joe maga maniac radicals not to get vaccinated. Honest Carlson and honest Hannity were Covid vaccinated. Yes sir. You can trust Carlson and Fox News.
Ben, One of us is wrong. The good thing is that we’ll find out for sure in a matter of 8 or 9 months, won’t we?
My prediction of a 1930s Depression is only if these Tariffs remain as is until around September. Trump’s hero is President McKinley and at the election following his tariffs, his party lost 50 seats in Congress. Trump has 19 months to complete his promise! 100% sure he fails! All these companies have 19 months to move here, build factories and begin production!
France 1789? Really? I don’t think that would be kind to Westporter’s.
Last comment- Failure is 100% assured. The only question is will it be a mild recession, a deep recession or a 1930s style Depression! It depends on a lot of factors , including how long these tariffs last AS IS! Everything must be done in 19 months with RESULTS filtering through the economy!
Dan, Please allow me one more prediction? Within 20 days, gas prices will plunge to maybe $2.35 cents a gallon. The price plunge won’t matter though! It might only go down to $2.50 a gallon, but it’s going to go down significantly!!!!!
I’m a little late to this discussion, but I just want to say how proud I am of all the people who participated in the demonstration today. As an ex-pat now living in Redding, I still follow what’s happening in Westport, mostly through Dan’s blog. I would have been there, too, but I’ve been slightly ill.
I think the “discussions” between the Pro and Con Trumpers might be amusing if the Trumpers only got their facts right. They seem to ignore the riots in the Capitol, insisting the election was “stolen.” They ignore the criminal acts of which their leader was convicted, but refer to “the Biden Crime Family.” I’d call them delusional.
Unfortunately, we still have three 3 3/4 years until the mid-term elections. I hope the country and democracy can survive until then.
Indeed an impressive turnout. Too bad many did not turn out to vote against this monster. More voters (90 million) did NOT vote while 80 million voted for Trump and 79 million for Harris. Shame. As to protests, Vietnam protests started at Columbia in 1965, we did not leave Vietnam until 1975. Pointless. WAKE UP AMERICA, YOUR POWER IS WITH OUR VOTE NOT WANDERING AROUND WITH POSTERS.
China is already positioning itself as a stable government – an alternative to the chaotic system in the United States. We’re isolating ourselves from our allies. Here’s the question- who will Trump blame when he falls? My guess is the people initiating lawsuits which he’ll claim wasted precious time! He needs a scapegoat!
I agree that waving signs doesn’t match voting, but it does force those in power to see how the voters feel about what they are doing, especially when it’s nationwide, like yesterday.
Another way to tell those in power how you feel is through your purchases – I used to use buyblue.org to avoid buying from businesses who were supporting George W’s actions. Anyone know of a new resource like this?
Trump has always played the victim. Roy Cohn taught him the tactics to get away with just about anything. Steve Bannon is directing him now. CHAOS!! No solutions but disrupt everything. Unless the Democrats rally to take both Houses in 2006, we are doomed. My understanding Portugal is nice. P.S. China’s economy is not doing well but what are they doing? Reaching out to other countries in SE Asia to form alliances to build up their economy. Trump? Alienate our trading partners to foster the pipe dream that manufacturing will return to the USA.
It was great to see Americans exercising their God given right to protest. I’m wondering, however, why were there no protests when our Southern border was being invaded by ILLEGAL aliens? Who was protesting the young girls and women who were raped and murdered by ILLEGAL aliens? Who was protesting the drug fentanyl (most responsible overdose drug) from entering our Country illegally? Why are these protestors more concerned about the “rights?” of ILLEGAL criminal aliens? but say nothing about the now extinguished rights of their victims: ALL LEGAL American Citizens…
Good point.
Who’s protesting the girls and women who are sexually abused, and raped by American men every day? Who’s protesting the young boys that are sexually abused in our country by our OWN citizens every day? Is that not a concern. It is a FAR greater number than the abuse by non documented individuals. Or does it just give you such satisfaction to refer to human beings as “illegals,” as “aliens?” Is it so meaningful to characterize these individuals with such broad brush strokes as somehow inherently evil and out to do damage, rather than the truth: that the vast majority are simply out to make better lives for themselves, as every person, of every nationality has done since the beginning of time?
Who did that last year before Trump?
Happy Liberation Day !!!! How is that going so far? Oh, and these protests are not just in Westport in case you live under a rock in Florida.
This fascinating conversation is about as productive as people parading on the bridge. We have NO control but our VOTE and 90 million did not vote in 2024. Look in the mirror instead of pointing the finger.
😎👍😘
Isn’t it a crime when a person enters the United States of America ILLEGALLY without being properly vetted? The LEGAL process is for a foreigner to enter the USA through designated ports of entry, AFTER legally obtaining necessary visas. More than 10 million people ILLEGALLY entered the USA from 2021 through 2024 by crossing our borders without visas and more than a million were “got aways”. Where were the far left self-righteous protestors then? Why were/are there no protests concerning the whereabouts of approximately 500,000 unaccompanied alien children from 2021-2024 (most of whom it is suspected have been sexually exploited)? Why was Elon Musk the darling of Democrats a few years ago when he was building EVs, but now he and his family are receiving numerous daily death threats, while Democrats are advocating the destruction of all Tesla vehicles and dealorships? Where were your protests from 2021-2024 while POTUS Biden was sleeping?
These people were paid and bussed into the “alleged” protest. Shame on all the scammers.
I know people who drove their own cars and haven’t been paid. How can we follow up on this? Is there a link?
I’m always fascinated to see where this sort of nonsense originates from. And whaddaya know, it’s Laura “inside job” Loomer, typing on X: https://x.com/LauraLoomer/status/1908559749253390421
Linda, Are you serious? People were bussed in to all these cities at the same time? Where are we getting all these people from ? Why do I recognize SO many of the people who were at the Westport rally. Please stop drinking the kool aid.