BELLOWS FALLS-Another large, colorful, peaceful crowd lined the main street of Bellows Falls on June 14 for a couple of hours starting at noon, one of an estimated 2,000-plus anti-Trump No Kings rallies in the U.S. that day.
The crowd was estimated to be similar in size to the town's last rally, with 400 to 500 people participating. More than 100 people had officially signed up, said organizer Susan Brace, but many times that number participated.
The protestors initially gathered at the train depot to greet Amtrak's Vermont Pride Whistlestop Tour train.
The large crowd was full of anti-fascist and anti-MAGA signs, and included a group of drummers, a bugler, veterans in uniform, and hundreds of U.S. and LGBTQ+ pride flags.
"Immigrants are welcome here! No hate! No fear!" members of the crowd chanted as they walked from the train station through the village to the main rally along Westminster Street, from the Square to Henry Street.
Law and order
Brace said organizers had eight volunteer parade marshals, clearly identified with bright reflective vests, who helped the crowd safely move into the downtown and protected sidewalks and streets from being blocked.
Noting that no permits are needed for protests on sidewalks and in public spaces, she said organizers coordinated their efforts with the local police department and found them helpful and cooperative.
Though there were rumors that pro-Trumpers would hold their own rally, that never materialized. A few people in three or four large pickups flying pro-Trump and U.S. flags drove past the protestors a couple of times with minimal incidents.
There was also a constant police presence at the event. At least twice when pickup truck drivers attempted "rollin' coal" - deliberately emitting a large cloud of black diesel exhaust - in front of the crowd, they were quickly chased down and pulled over by the village police cruisers as the crowd cheered.
"Showing support for Trump by creating a huge cloud of pollution says all you need to know about those guys!" said one protestor.
The trucks were not seen again, and the vast majority of cars that drove by honked and waved in support of the protest.
The Bellows Falls Police Department confirmed that officers issued citations to two of the drivers that they stopped.
In a minor incident, an elderly gentleman drove past, yelling at the crowd. He stopped his truck in front of the protestors, threatening to get out, claiming he had a Taser. He never left his truck, and crowd marshals quickly moved him along without any issues.
The Bellows Falls event was one of several large rallies held locally, including others in Walpole, Acworth, Charlestown, Chesterfield, and Keene in New Hampshire, and in Chester, Wilmington, and Brattleboro.
This News item by Robert F. Smith was written for The Commons.