75 people attend first-of-its-kind rally on courthouse square

By Sheila Harris [email protected]

About 75 people lined Cassville’s Main Street in front of the courthouse on Saturday to protest the policies of the current presidential administration and to express solidarity with some 3,000 No Kings Rallies scheduled in cities across the nation.

Organized by the Barry County Democrats, Cassville’s gathering was a first. Nationwide, Saturday marked the third No Kings event.

Those in attendance ranged in age from high school students to senior citizens, all of whom were glad to have the opportunity to express their feelings.

“This event — and protesting President Trump’s policies — isn’t about being a Democrat or a Republican; it’s about being pro-American,” said Katie McKean, 80-year-old Exeter resident, who carried a sign protesting the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good at the hands of ICE in Minnesota.

Roger Cusick, of Cassville, bore a sign with the slogan, “I may be Antifa,” a choice of words he was happy to explain.

“My father served in World War II, and so did three of my wife’s uncles,” Cusick said. “They fought against fascism. I’m against fascism, too, and I would fight against it as well, so you could say that I’m ‘anti-fascist.’”

Cusick said through research, he discovered there’s no formal organization called Antifa, but if being against fascism makes him Antifa, he’s OK with wearing the label.

Not all who attended the event were able to stand, so they sat on benches and in lawn chairs along the sidewalk, including Tom Patterson, of Monett, who held a sign with the single word, “Epstein.”

Patterson’s wife, Donna, however, stood on the curb with a megaphone, attracting the attention of passersby with her barker-style messages.

“I always considered myself an Independent, until Trump’s first term, but when he was elected a second time, I felt like I needed to become more involved,” said Donna Patterson, a retired teacher for Purdy schools. “I wouldn’t have been able to do this when I was still teaching; the school board might have frowned on it.”

At the opposite end of the age-spectrum, 18-year-old Rebecca Patterson, of Exeter, also wants to make a difference in the world around her. She’s starting by running for the position of mayor in her hometown. Her mother, Linda Patterson, who accompanied her daughter to the No Kings rally, says she gives Rebecca the credit for her own growing political awareness.

A few counter-protestors put in an appearance. Two pickups drove past multiple times, “rolling coal,” and a lone individual on the opposite side of Main Street displayed a sign to passers-by saying, “Don’t pay any attention to the retards across the street.”

According to multiple sources, total attendance at No Kings rallies across the US totaled approximately 8 million people.