What Kind of People Protest Today? And Are They Paid!

The day after Donald J. Trump spoke to Congress (and actually made a modicum of sense) I posted on Facebook: 

“You know how President Trump and the boys and girls of the GOP say we’re all being paid to protest. Could I get some of my liberal friends to agree to let me use a picture, and you give me one sentence about who you are, and I’ll combine them?”

I knew my wife—who hates any turmoil—wouldn’t get involved; but a healthy sampling of people agreed to take part. So here’s a profile of ordinary Americans who currently oppose the policies of Donald J. Trump.

(Also, if you stick with me, you will meet at least one kind of right-wing nut.)

First protester to respond was Mike Hudson, like so many in the thread to follow, a former student of mine. He wrote: “I’m a programmer from Ohio and I marched for free.”

Mike, right, is a Bengal's fan.

John Curry was next: “Retired Educator/Law Enforcement Officer.”

Darn commie! John, reads to a grandchild.

Stephen E. Ball: “I’m a retired Middle School math teacher. I marched in Cincinnati because, at the time, we needed just one senator to switch his vote to prevent Betsy DeVos, a lifelong opponent of public schools, from being confirmed as Mr. Trump’s Secretary of Education. No one paid me to march. I carried two signs: one that said ‘Smart Trumps Stupid’ and the other said ‘Strong Public Schools Empower and Unite.’ I was extremely disappointed that my Senator, Rob Portman, admitted that he was inundated with calls to vote against Ms. DeVos, but chose to ignore his constituents and confirm her.”

Liz Ball, his wife, added: “Retired, mother, daughter, grandmother, teacher’s wife. My homemade protest sign:”

I used this for both Steve and Liz Ball.

Jean Meyer Purdy noted that she would not be protesting, “too many people, too much hate from the other side.” She was “just going to sit back and watch the show, eventually he is going down.”

Okay, not a Trump fan.

Kathy Fleischmann Stemmer responded with a quote from Bodie Thoene: “Apathy is the glove in which evil slips its hand. Anonymous.”

Kathy Fleischmann Stemmer always stands up for what she believes.

(I will add most of the other pictures at the end.)

Randall Bird added his voice: “Retired but still engaged.”

Tracey Bridge Baker: “Friend of Special education students in the best public school EVER.”

Mark Sherman: “Retired teacher and full time progressive. For free.”

Harry McIntyre: “I am a union steel worker who has been to rallies in Columbus and Washington DC and never paid a dime! Protesting because he cares about the county. Take that GOP!”

Terrie Puckett:  I’m in...perhaps a line like ‘simply—because it’s the right thing to do.’”

Jim Viall: “Retired Railroader.”

Ernie Richman (an old high school friend): “Use my picture—play fair.”

Chelsea Chase: “31-year-old Democrat in a family of Republicans who is lighting up her representatives’ email frequently!”

Tom Powell, a conservative friend, questioned my premise: “Sorry, you’re stretching it again. Nobody said you were all being paid to protest, but the organizers are. You need to ask for your cut!”

(I told him I’d take him to lunch when I got paid.)

Kathy now sent a description: “Retired educator, protestor, letter writer, phone caller, town hall attendee, boycotter, tweeter, newfound activist and patriot. I do these things for democracy, women’s rights, LGBTQ community, immigrants, for the America I love and the rights I enjoy.”

Joey Caylor Spencer: “We are protesting via phone, email, and snail mail. A disabled stay-at-home mom, married to a redneck liberal Navy vet, parents to a disabled autistic son, and future nasty woman, neuro-typical daughter.”

Renee Thielen Elliott: “I support a free America. Trump is not the way to go. He’s clueless. Count me in.”

Kim Jackson Weber: “I’ve protested and will continue to do so. January was the first time ever, and all unpaid. I believe the majority of the people and the spirit of this country are not aligned with the decisions and the rhetoric coming out of the White House.”

Kris Goodfellow: “I’m an Ohio kid who followed the rules, worked hard and grew up to be an executive at a small, self-funded software company.”

Faith Langenkamp (another conservative friend) simply replied: “Whining liberals!” I assume she’s a Trump fan. 

Claire Cavell Hale: “My husband Jon and I went to our local town hall meeting this past Saturday to stand up and actively oppose legislative decisions made by our S.C. senator, Tim Scott. Over 500 constituents waited in line for admittance into a venue of only 200 and unfortunately we were about 20 people away from ‘getting a ticket.’ We waited outside during the event and joined others in urging the senator to come outside and face his additional constituents. There were rumors going on inside that the people outside were paid protestors being compensated $1500 a week. It was at that point that I felt the need to wear a badge that read ‘I am not a paid protestor.’”

Jane Renaker Simmons: “We protest because there is too much at stake to remain silent.” Her daughters Olivia (also one of my old students) and Amy went along.

Later, Olivia explained why she marched: “For the future of the earth, and for humanity.”

(Man, I liked having that young lady in class. See Amy, Jane and Olivia below.)

Then her older sister chipped in to explain: “My name is Amy Donnenwerth. I am a music therapist and a long time social activist. I protest because all social injustice issues are intertwined. Oppression in any form cannot be tolerated or ignored. We are all connected. When any group of us is marginalized, it is our duty to rise up, stand up, speak up and make sure our voices are heard.”

Mary Fitzpatrick: “How can I get paid to protest? I could use the money. Photo is me at Woman’s March with my cousins.”

Jeanne McCoy Bautista: “Long time listener, first time protester. I was a substitute teacher for six years and am now an administrative assistant and contact support...Definitely no one is paying me for my phone calls to my senator, nor will they pay me for participation in the March for Science…”

(The March for Science is coming up on April 22.)

Milla Lorelei Mélomane: “I have never been paid to protest.”

Timmiera Lawrence: “Mother of three, public educator for 25 years—unpaid protestor!”

Jill Lytle Beitz: “Our son was a college student when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. Without Obamacare he would have been thrown off of my insurance. I give Obamacare credit for the additional time it gave him and for the fact that we did not go bankrupt. I march for others who deserve this care (and oh so many other reasons.)”

Ryan Ascolese: “I really hate large crowds…but I’ve been braving them to protest the president.”

Gary Ruther: “…teacher in El Sobrante CA and a Marine and former soldier.”

Nancy McMichael: “Warrior princess must protect all the children!!”

Susan Michael Moore Craig: “Mother, wife, union unpaid protester. Our students and children deserve the best.”

David Simms: “I remember saying a few months back exactly what would happen if Trump won and how misguided you have to be to vote for him. I remember getting hate messages saying this and that.”

A liberal will now try walking on water: David Simms.

Chad Russell is also a former student, but he’s of a conservative bent. He dived into the contest, asking me: “So are you saying you do not believe anyone is getting paid for protesting?”

I said no one I knew got a dime.

Chad explained that he didn’t think Trump was hurting us at all, that “there are companies that pay people to protest Kroger or P & G,” so it wasn’t “far-fetched” to think some were now being paid, “particularly when the media feels like they are being left behind...(ha, ha, LEFT behind). I kill me.”

(That was a really weak conservative pun.)

Lisa Sullivan: “48-year-old feisty liberal photographer, mother of two.”

Jean Frost Paul: “Never paid to protest injustice! It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to fight for what is right and good.”

Suddenly, the thread got a bit weird. Some angry conservative, a friend of a friend, opined: “Idiot get a life!!! Your a loser.” He added six emoji thumbs downs.

A liberal, with a penchant for English, corrected: “you’re”

This really hacked him off: “Your an idiot, into the fiery pit you go loser.” (I’m not sure whether he meant I was going to hell, or the person who corrected his spelling was, or whether both of us were going to be needing asbestos undergarments.) For fun he added six more emoji thumbs downs.

He got corrected again: “you’re.”

The angry conservative responded again: “Duh..guess you never learned spelling!!! I can spell idiot and loser!!!

I try not to insult people on Facebook; but this a little much. I replied: “You are also good for comic relief.”

He wasn’t feeling it: “Liberal idiots are losers, Trump proved that last night [in his first speech before Congress]. You are all going to be thrown into the fires.”

Four more thumbs down.

Me to Angry Emoji Man: “You must be quite the theologian.”

Chad and Kathy continued arguing. The former wondered how any of us thought Trump was hurting America. “Why, because he wants current laws to be upheld? Because topics of what bathroom you will use have merit?”

He wondered if we didn’t like Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos because she wasn’t “from the union. Let’s face it our educational system isn’t what you think it is. It’s pretty crappy in fact. And let’s just keep parents from being accountable...it’s insulting and doesn’t work.”

I chipped in with a joke: “Ack. DeVos just said black colleges started because people wanted ‘school choice.’ I think she’s seeing Frederick Douglass.”

(She did say it was all about school choice. Apparently, she’s never heard the term “Jim Crow.” And that’s no joke.)

Kathy provided an excellent list: “1.Trump signed three executive orders to benefit oil pipelines and remove Obama environmental protections. 2. Reinstated the anti-abortion global ‘gag rule,’ which will increase the number of unsafe abortions around the world. 3. Signed an executive order voiding President Obama’s mortgage cost reduction. The .25 percent cut to federal mortgage insurance, set to take effect today, would have saved new homeowners roughly $500 a year. The rate drop would have benefited first-time and lower-income home buyers. 4. Began plans to build the big, stupid wall and other nods to his base of anti-immigrant hysterics on taxpayer $. 5. Removed IDEA helpsite from Dept of Ed website. 6. Rolled back transgender protection. 7. Allow crap to be dumped into rivers in the name of coal jobs. 8. Start dismantling ACA with no plan. Proposed a budget that will blow current deficit out of the water. 9. Embarrassed us across the world with his bullying. 10. Embraced fake news calling it real.

Chad and Kathy kept up the debate.

At some point, I responded again to the insults of Angry Emoji Man: “Oh, my, someone who communicates by emojis thinks I’m an idiot. How can I possibly match a person of such astute thought? If only I were 1/100th as perspicacious as you.”

 “Your a complete jerk with a Skelton key to hell!!!” he replied.

(See update at end for the return of Angry Emoji Man!)

Salvador Ki Sanchez (one of my students at Leaves of Learning last semester, and another great young man) joined the fray: “High school freshman who wants to stay educated in what’s going on around me.”

Chad asked why he didn’t like Trump.

Salvador: “I think he is not fit for his position, both from an experience standpoint, and a maturity standpoint. Many of his policies affect people I know and care about in a negative way, and I think some of the actions he has taken both in and out of office have been inappropriate.”

Kathy continued explaining to Chad why she opposed President Trump: “You like sludge in water, you like a liar in office, then he’s your guy...I definitely don't like Trump…Don’t like the rich getting richer. Don’t think Trump can fix it. Not a nationalist but am a patriot. Don’t think we need more military. Don’t want my taxes to fund a wall, rather fund healthcare. Don’t like bullies, ergo Trump.”

Dwane Shelley (another former student and a well-known conservative thinker) wanted to know: “Am I included?”

I said yes.

He said he was protesting, “but in reverse.” He’s a Trump fan. Keith Armstrong (also a former student) agreed.

“Involvement is always better than sitting on one’s posterior,” I replied.

Janice Shankel (a huge, huge Bernie fan) joined in: “Mother, grandmother, former sub teacher, designer and salesperson for Xerox, am happy to do anything to get my voice heard. Trump must go!”

Gina Young: “Save our parks!”

Shannon Woods Hall: How can I help?! I’m involved in multiple women’s movements. Raising my boys to think for themselves. Gearing my writing to reflect the era. Pushing against the haters.”

Finally, it was J. Selden Napier’s turn: “I do not get out much being quadriplegic; however I do know how to burn up social media. The American health plan appears to have some flaws in it. I’m looking to see what the real deal was.”

The Napier family, Jay left, looks like a pretty cool clan.

And that, my friends, conservative and liberal, and everywhere in between, is a pretty fair sample of those of us who don’t like the policies and personal behavior of President Donald J. Trump.

***

After I posted the above to my blog, Angry Emoji Man returned to channel Trump and add a bit of wisdom to the thread. First, this:

“Your an idiot and loser John Viall.... and stupid. Your gonna wear yourself out for the next eight years. The republications have control and will be there for many years thanks to all you stupid prostesters!!”

John Curry, one of the “prostesters” replied: “----, did you pass Fifth Grade grammar and spelling?”

Angry Emoji Man: “You must be a liberal idiot too!! Loser John Curry.”

Curry: “Keep on writing, ----, you’ll get a fine chance to show us even more of your lack of intelligence.”

Angry Emoji Man: “John Curry hahaha loser! You can attempt to rattle me all the day long and for the next 8 years and then some and you will only offend yourself. To think you voted for Hillary Clinton gives me shivers!! Lol no wonder your stupid!!!”

Curry pointed out a variety of spelling errors.

With that, Angry Emoji Man laid out the most logical case he could muster: “Kiss my ass, dumb ass!!! Your the one that’s crying!!! Loser...”

Eventually, I replied to John to be sure he knew the post had been updated to include these responses. “We all need some humor,” I said. I refuse in almost all cases to insult others on Facebook. I will, however, poke fun.

Angry Emoji Man got me again: “It’s updated dick head.”

Two liberals admonished him for name-calling. He refer to the first as “just another loser.” Then to the second, he said: “…your a crybaby loser. I am dying of cancer, at least I know my grandchildren will grow up in a Great America. Five months after the election and your still crying. I have a great President, you don’t have Hillary ‘Thieve’ Clinton!!!! Hahaha.”

At that point, I started feeling sorry for the man. I know I want my children and grandchildren to grow up in a great country, too. My “dick head” response was this: “Sorry to hear you’re sick; never good for anyone. I guess I’m just someone who thinks anyone who has cancer should have health care. Go figure.”

Finally, the angry fellow posted: “I am in a nursing home and well covered.”

I hope he is. I hope all people who need health care get it at a price they can afford or with government aid. I’m a liberal, see; and I don’t mind paying taxes to insure people with cancer receive help. 

I read what my angry foe said, and simply hit “like.”

***

Here’s a gallery of photos representing almost all of the “paid protesters” who responded to my original request.

Renee Thielen Elliott, looking beautiful after cancer care.

Randall Bird, left, with his son. And are those Christmas trees I see?

Shannon Woods Hall (apparently she forgot liberals were supposed to make "War on Christmas.")

Mark Sherman, retired teacher. (Also missed the War on Christmas memo.)

Harry McIntyre. Don't we all want what's best for our families?
Conservatives, too!

Terrie Puckett. (Probably not for Trump.)

Joey Caylor Spencer and the whole Spencer clan.

Kris Goodfellow, right, takes on a Michigan fan.

Mary Fitzpatrick (purple scarf). 

She will be helping organize the March for Science on April 22.
(She'll do it for free.)

Timmiera Lawrence and her youngest daughter.
I can tell you from teaching what a cool family she has.

Jill Lytle Beitz: her family had to worry when her son developed cancer.

Gary Ruther served with the Marines. Semper Fi.

Nancy McMichael and her family. Her daughters were cool to have in class.

Janice Schankel: a Bernie supporter, for sure. She also takes good care of my brother.  

Kim Jackson Weber can protest and dance, either one.

Jean Frost Paul: Not getting rich from protesting, folks!

Tracey Bridge Baker, left. Yeah, she's ready for Medicare.
(Also a Democratic program, fought originally by the GOP as "socialized medicine."

Jim Viall, a distant relative, center. Will protest for free.
Can serve as minister.

Couldn't resist this adorable shot. Ernie Richman, an old high school friend.

Couldn't resist the youth look again: Chelsea Chase (Chelsea Hamm) in 1993.

Two protesters for the price of one: Claire Cavell Hale and husband John Hale.

The elusive Milla Lorelai Melomane may be behind that protest sign.

Ryan Ascolese (one of the best writers I ever had in class.)
 Willing to protest even if crowds make her nervous.

Breaking the bank, Susan Michael Moore Craig (front)
and friends get "paid" to protest.

Lisa Sullivan a few years back. A creative young lady in my class.

Salvador Sanchez; I was lucky to have him in class recently.
A young man who can think for himself and doesn't need to be paid.

Another youngster who was in my history class; but maybe not last year.

Gina young is like me: she wants a government that will protect national parks.

Do I really need to be paid to protest if I think Trump and the GOP will rape the land?

***

A late addition from Rod Jackson, who saw my post: I am 66 years old, retired from the Air Force and Federal Civil Service. I have a Master’s degree in Education. My wife is 64 and has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology (helps her deal with me). We, along with my daughter, granddaughter (6-years-old, no college degree) and two very good friends both college educated, marched in Washington, D.C. on 21 January. None of us were paid to do so. I have to tell you, protesting is hard work. It took me several days for my old bones and muscles to get over walking for nearly eight hours. Having said that, we will most assuredly do it again. I would posit most of the folks making the claim that Liberals protesting are paid do so because the Right cannot gather enough folks to make a difference. However, if they use the same math that Trump uses to estimate crowd size they most likely believe their crowds are at least as large as ours.

And the wife!

This one, from Jude Wood, also came in late: I am 69 years old. Married (to the same guy) for 50 years. Hubby served in the Army 1965-1968. Dad served in WWII and came home with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Daughter-in-law served 1997-2001. Son has been in (Chief Petty Officer) 20 years and will return to middle east for the fourth time in July. I am a retired nurse/paralegal. I live in Tennessee so I am a proud liberal living in a sea of red. I marched in January. Rod is right. It costs money to march but I will do it again. When not marching, I send at least four postcards every day. Lately, they have been to our two senators, my representative, Nunez, and Burr. These guys will have my name memorized and I figure I will probably end up on a list somewhere. Don't care. I have three young granddaughters. I don't want them growing up thinking their grandmother thought it was acceptable for any man with power to molest them with impunity and then be elected to be the leader of the free world. That is just one of many reasons I am fighting Trump. I am the one in the pink blouse. Resist!

I love that one.

Jude Wood is on the right.