Springfield residents react, protest Trump’s inauguration

Jan. 21--SPRINGFIELD -- Some local residents watched Friday's inauguration of President Donald Trump with enthusiasm.

Others said they were worried, and marched in protest.

Some, attending the event in Washington, said they were just glad to be part of an important American event.

Springfield High School teacher Zach Raines and a group of three students watched the inauguration from the National Mall, which had big screen TVs and loud speakers set up for the event.

"It was amazing, just everything that goes into the actual experience of being there," Raines said. "They really think about everything."

It was a calm, pro-Trump crowd with some peaceful protesters as well, Raines said. However, there were a few incidents inside the mall area and a couple of people were escorted out. As they left the event, they went to a museum because they heard there was rioting outside of the mall, he said.

"Peaceful protesting is one thing, but that's rioting and that's not part of the democratic process," Raines said.

While she didn't support Trump during the election process, it was still a cool experience to witness history, Senior Alexis Greene said.

"I love interacting with the other spectators there," she said. "It was very exciting."

Clark County teacher Scott Naill attended the inauguration with his wife, Toni. He described the event as 'history in the making.'

"Outstanding speech," Naill said. "Straight to the point. It was uplifting knowing his goal is putting Americans back to work."

Kathy DeWeese of St. Paris -- who also attended the inauguration in Washington -- was impressed with Trump's speech, she said.

"It appealed to our sense of patriotism and America first, two of my favorite subjects," said DeWeese. "I'm ready to start making America great again."

Hours after Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States, a small group of Springfield residents protested in downtown.

About five people marched downtown for two hours on Friday afternoon, all carrying signs that read 'Peace and Love" and "Peace and Justice."

"We wanted to stand up to Donald Trump's position of a very narrow view of what makes America great," organizer John Wheeler said. "We have a different view of that. We wanted to show our local, state and federal officials that we stand up for something different. That doesn't mean we can't find common ground. It does mean we have to stand up and find our voice."

Cars honked at the group, while other people yelled at them from their vehicle. One person even held up a sign that read 'We won, You lost, Get over it.' Other cars also yelled 'Get a job!'

Regardless of his employment status, he can still come out and show his opposition, said Wheeler, a stay-at-home father of four children. "I don't think you have to be working to have a voice," he said. "That doesn't make sense to me."

While she respects the office of the presidency, Springfield resident Ruth Fischer said she doesn't respect Trump because of the way he's treated people throughout the campaign.

"I think we have to keep the message of peace and justice and equality in the forefront as we try to make the best of this as we can," she said.

Enon resident Alonzo McCoy has had mixed reactions to the new president. He understood why the protesters decided to march downtown. He saw them marching as he headed to the bank downtown.

"It's a democracy," Ball said. "It's America. He won the election so you have to give him the benefit of the doubt."

Springfield resident Mel Marsh is headed to the Women's March on Washington, which is being held today to promote women's rights and gender equality. Hundreds of thousands of women are expected to attend the rally in D.C.

Marsh is concerned about women not being able to get ahead in the country, as well as reproductive rights and the LGBTQ community.

"I'm mystified that in 2017 we're still having to say women have the right and responsibility to be leaders and the right and responsibility to make their own health care decisions," she said. "I wish we didn't have to (march)."

Staff writer Lynn Hulsey contributed to this report.

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