The sights and sounds of freedom on our national holiday.
This afternoon around twenty individuals with signs gathered along the right-of-way near the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 in Sedalia, Missouri. On summer holidays and weekends there’s a considerable amount of traffic passing through the city at this location.
“Freedom, Democracy, Justice, Tolerance”
“No Kings…”
“Immigrants Make America Great”
An hour into the demonstration two Sedalia Police vehicles appeared. Apparently a Karen in an establishment next to the empty lot complained that a few protesters’ vehicles were blocking access to a few of the angled parking spots to the side of her building. The police asked that those vehicles be moved – they were. In one conversation one of the officers asked, “Did you get a permit?” [Hint: There was no march, the demonstration was on the right of way on public property. There is no requirement nor need for a “permit”.] The police officer stated that he would be contacting the owner of the empty lot where the demonstrators parked their cars. Like non-existent customers ostensibly blocked from parking in a few spaces in a more substantial parking lot, good luck finding or contacting anyone at 2:00 p.m. on a national holiday.
“The Ballad of Karen”
“Resist!”
A reporter for the Sedalia newspaper interviewing one of the protesters:
Interview.
There were a few shouts and other signs from angry people in pick-up trucks, some who made multiple passes, which by appearances one would assume the owner was underwater on their loan.
ICE and Donald Trump’s (r) DOJ keep telling us that tattoos are a primary indicator of something, something, right?
Detail.
A few upset passersby shouted unintelligible phrases, one individual made multiple passes in an over accessorized pick-up truck using a sound system to call out other unintelligible phrases. One self-righteous individual pulled up in a white pick-up and tried to start an argument with a veteran holding an upside down American flag. He drove off after a minute or so.
“No Kings!”
There was a constant and substantial number of supportive honking horns from passing traffic throughout the demonstration:
“I’ve seen smarter cabinets at IKEA”
“Hate will not make us great”
A Vietnam veteran:
“Due process for all!”
“Never stop insisting on a better world”
It doesn’t get more American than that.
