About 30 Democrats gathered at Nocatee Town Center Oct. 17 to hold up signs supporting impeachment proceedings against President Trump.
Rallying through social media and email, they met in front of Chase Bank on Nocatee Parkway at 11 a.m. and lined up along the road, some with signs urging passersby to honk if they agreed with them. They planned to stay for several hours.
“I’ll be here every day,” said Mary Luke of Nocatee. “Because it just may take the support of the people to support Congress in their findings, and that he needs to be impeached.”
Erica Connor, President of the Ponte Vedra Democratic Club, was among the group, bringing club members with her. She said she has lived in St. Johns County since 2014, and since 2016, has seen her club grow. “I’ve definitely seen more folks who identify as liberal, or identify on the left side of the spectrum, come out and identify themselves,” she said.
In 2011, Connor said St. Johns County was so heavily Republican that it appeared the Ponte Vedra Democratic Club might fold.” Now, it’s thriving,” she said. “It’s been really exciting to see.”
Rick Loochtan of Nocatee said he was out there holding up a sign to exercise his first amendment rights. He doesn’t support the president’s stance on immigration, or “foreign policy that is administered unilaterally by tweet,” adding, “this area has been red for a long time. But there is a growing and rising group of people who believe our democracy is imperiled. We are anxious for government to return to sanity, honesty and fairness.”
President Trump “is absolutely incompetent,” Luke said. “I figured I’d get some honks with this sign, and I am getting some honks.”
