WASHINGTON — Protests broke out in front of the White House Wednesday afternoon in response to President Donald Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey.
About 100 to 150 protesters, many having walked over on their lunch break, demanded an independent prosecutor be appointed to investigate collusion between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign.
I spoke to five Washington-area residents about why they decided to join the protest and what they hope Congress and the president will do.
Tom Harvey
Why are you protesting?
I’m scared by what’s going on. It’s moving very fast in a direction I don’t like. In four years it could be things that I’ve never seen in my life. And, trust me, I’ve been around for awhile. I’m afraid that we will lose the democratic structure by the 2020 election and that we will get into wars. I’m protesting because Trump and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin seem to be two Stalin wannabes willing to take over in a way that seems way beyond the power of the presidency. I’m trying to do what I can about it now.
What do you want Congress to do?
Congress should come to a realization that the country is a lot more important than their particular political situations now. They should do everything in their power to stop all this. It starts with investigations, and it may require things that haven’t been designed yet to deal with this unique situation.
What do you think the president should do?
Quit. He doesn’t really want the job anyway. He just wants approbation. I’m not sorry to see Comey go but the reason he was taken out is evidence of really horrible things that we don’t yet know about.
Hannah Bradford
Why are you protesting?
Finally, there’s some traction. It’s the beginning of the end. People are beginning to understand the dimensions of what we’re dealing with. They’re finding their voice and finding their law books, and other people will soon be finding their lawyers.
What do you want Congress to do?
Whatever they can. Whatever it takes, they need to do it.
What do you think the president should do?
Tell the truth. Just for one day maybe. Just one day.
Tracy Zorpette
Why are you protesting?
I am very concerned about the future of my country, and I feel like we are watching democracy disintegrate. It’s time to get in the streets because I’m not sure the Republican representatives are going to put country before party.
What do you want Congress to do?
They should continue to investigate, and I think there should be impeachment proceedings started because Donald Trump is obstructing justice. At a minimum they need to demand the release of his tax returns to see if he has financial ties to Russia.
What do you think the president should do?
I think the president should resign. He is at a historically low approval rating. He has shown constantly that he is not putting the interest of the country first — he is putting his own interests first. He hasn’t really divested of his business interests. He is making money off this government position for his businesses and I think it’s time for the government to come back to the people as a democracy and not be owned by Donald Trump.
Daniel Ingram
Why are you protesting?
I’m protesting because of the very sudden, unjustified firing of Comey under circumstances that suggest a confession of collusion with the Russian government in the election of Trump as president.
What do you want Congress to do?
In time, possibly impeach the president. The so-called president. Pursue an independent investigation by a nonpartisan group. The worst thing they can do is divide in a partisan manner on this assault of the integrity of the U.S. government. Comey was to testify in two days about the administration’s collusion with the Russians. This firing was done in very short notice on the basis of a memo written by a man who was appointed by Trump to the Department of Justice less than two weeks ago. It is an assault to the intelligence of the electorate to think that he could get by with this.
What do you think the president should do?
He should confess and resign. Before the election, he openly solicited Russian intervention in the election. He has not been called to account for that, but these actions are connected.
Christina Iverson
Why are you protesting?
The fact that Trump said he fired Comey because of Clinton’s email scandal is clearly untrue. I think he was fired because he was looking into Trump’s ties with Russia. Trump firing him was basically a confession of guilt.
What do you want Congress to do?
I think they should hire a private investigator and look into it more. If they back down at this point, they are going to be in even more trouble. If they back down, they will lose votes, certainly they will lose my vote.
What do you think the president should do?
Resign.
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