Women And Allies Join National Rally, March in Sag Harbor To Protest Election

SAG HARBOR, NY — Joining with a nationwide movement, a crowd gathered in Sag Harbor Monday for a rally and march to protest "hate promoted by Trump" and civil rights violations after the election.

The group marched from the World War II monument at the intersection of Jermain and Main Streets to the windmill, to coincide with a "Women & Allies Nationwide Protest Monday."

According to the national protest's mission statement of purpose, "On December 12, women/self-identified women and their allies will gather together in solidarity, in cities across the United States, to protest the normalization of sexual assault, racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, unconstitutional behavior, cronyism, and hate promoted by Trump and his cohorts, all of which has already led to an increase in hate crimes and in civil rights violations of the protesters at the Dakota Access Pipeline."

The statement continued, "On December 19, the electoral college will meet to formally select our next president, and we want them to do the right thing for the people of this country: use their constitutional right to cast their votes against Trump, who does not represent American values. The future of the United States as a free country and the future of our civil rights, our human rights, depend on preventing a Trump presidency and keeping his team of racist, misogynistic cronies from rolling back the progress of the last fifty years. This is the United States of America, not the White Supremacist States of Trump."

Organizers invited "like-minded people, all genders, races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations, and all marginalized groups who will be harmed by a Trump presidency, to join us" and march on Monday.

"We are inclusive, and our common denominator is our solidarity, our outrage, and disagreement with everything Trump and his cohorts represent," organizers said, adding that the aim was to urge the electoral college to "follow the will of the people who gave Hillary Clinton a win by nearly two million votes, and to make the only decision that is, morally, the right thing to do: Vote Him Out."

Organizers added, "We will not tolerate intolerance nor hate We will not remain silent. We are powerful. We will be heard. If they still do not get it after the December 12 strike and boycott, we will repeat the process as often as is necessary."

Kate Mueth of East Hampton, who attended the march said it was a "great" gathering that gave locals "a chance to show up together and give voice to our support of the national climate of women and our allies rising up against Trump's administration. The more that solidarity is exercised in a public forum, the more our vulnerable citizens know they have advocates among them. The louder and more organized the voice of dissent is, the greater the power of The People."

She added, "This is how people find one another and educate ourselves about actionable efforts — through peaceful protest. And this is how energy to call out that which needs changing is galvanized. It was a happy, spirited march and our police were incredibly helpful and did a great job, as well."

Added Tom Kochie of Southampton: "The march was a collection of many of the brightest, most empathetic, compassionate and caring souls I know, standing against a possible president who basically is out to destroy everything that makes this country great and a beacon to the world and all the progress we've made i the last 100 years in terms of rights and equality, and dash any possible progress or leadership on so many fronts as we move into the future."

Photos by Tom Kochie.