Waltham Residents Join National Protest Against Trump Emergency

WALTHAM, MA — Some 50 people showed up in mittens, winter hats and signs as snow fell on them in the Waltham Common Presidents Day to protest the recent declaration of national emergency by the current president.

"Save our Democracy," read one sign. "Trump is the real national emergency," read another. Several held fill-in-the-blank signs that allowed them to point out a different kind of national emergency. "Gun violence is the real national emergency," read one. "Health is the real national emergency," read another. Others referenced food insecurity, climate change and "caged children" as national emergencies.

President Donald Trump declared a national emergency Friday in an effort to fund the construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. And Monday, several Waltham organizations held a demonstration to show their opposition to that declaration as part of hundreds across the country coordinated through MoveOn.org's Crisis Response Network.

Waltham Concerned Citizens, Waltham Immigrant Solidarity Committee and Progressive Waltham organized the local event held Monday evening on Waltham Common, at the corner of Main and Moody Streets.

"The main threat our country is facing is not border security, but a dangerous assault on democracy," said Jennifer Rose who is a member of both Waltham Concerned Citizens and Waltham Immigrant Solidarity Committee, ahead of the protest. "The president must respect Congress, the Constitution and the democratic process. We ask our neighbors to join us in support of democracy and in opposition to this abuse of power."

One woman wearing a long purple winter coat had painted on the back of it "I really do care don't U?"

"Our country has many real emergencies that aren't being addressed, including affordable housing, immigrant rights, food insecurity and climate change," said Chris Gamble of Progressive Waltham.

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Photos by Martha Creedon/Courtesy