UPDATE, 3:32 p.m.: We mention below that police are nowhere to be seen, at this rally. It turns out that is because they are staying out of sight. The Outpost’s Andrew Goff says that several officers are more-or-less at the scene, across the street at one corner of the Plaza — watching, presumably, but having no call, currently, to interact.
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Following on last night’s anti-Trump protests in Eureka, another couple of hundred people gathered at Humboldt State’s Library Circle this afternoon at 2 p.m. to march to the Plaza in a demonstration against the president-elect.
The chants, once again, were “Not My President” and “Love Trumps Hate.”
The protesters included students, people with their families and a couple of dogs. Glory Ralston, with the group Therapy Dog International, said HSU organizers thought it would be good to bring the dogs down for the protesters. “Just to have something to pet,” she said.
After assembling a critical mass of people, the protest took to the streets, walking across the footbridge and down H Street, which blocked traffic on the road for a spell.
It was smooth going. The Outpost’ Andrew Goff and John Ferrara, both at the scene, said that there was no visible police presence at the march.
A guy in a pickup and a red Trump hat happened to pass by. There was some banter — “We live in a democracy!” he said to protesters — but everything was peaceful.
The rally arrived at the Plaza and the roadways cleared. The crowd settled in to some more chanting, then some speeches. Some younger kids showed up.
“The next four years are going to be tough, but we’ve got to stick together,” said Lizzie Fernandez, an Arcata High grad who now goes to HSU. “Michelle Obama says, ‘When they go low, we go high.’”
There is still no sign of police any police at all at the rally, nor of any kind of counterdemonstration. The rally is still going on.