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Left, Jeanne Lambkin wears "No" sunglasses to match her "No kings" earrings during Marblehead's "Free America Walkout," on Tuesday. Right, more than 70 demonstrators gathered at the intersection of Humphrey Street and Monument Avenue to take part in the national "Free America Walkout" on Tuesday. (Spenser Hasak)

Marblehead, Swampscott join ‘Free America Walkout’

Zach Laird

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Community members united in Marblehead and Swampscott on Tuesday afternoon to participate in the national “Free America Walkout” event, which saw them leave their homes and work to voice their opposition to the Trump administration.

Organized by North Shore Indivisible in conjunction with the Women’s March, a national activist group, the day began with crowds gathering on Humphrey Street in Marblehead at 2 p.m.

Bonnie Grenier, one of the event organizers, said the walkout seemed like an opportunity to join groups across the country to voice concern for the direction the country is heading.

“We are rapidly descending into an authoritarian state, so we must act now. It’s incumbent on all of us to step out to make our voices heard. Many of us are extremely frustrated that Congress is not confronting the many abuses of power by the Trump administration. We need to shake things up and get Congress to do its job, which is to uphold the Constitution,” Grenier said. “Too many of them are worried about their own careers instead of what’s best for the country. So, if we can’t count on them to protect the United States, then we have to do it ourselves.”

For Jenni Clock, participating in the event means showing her support for the people of Minnesota and the immigrants who live in the surrounding communities.

“I think at this point, if the citizens don’t have a revolution to force the Trump administration out of office, that we’re not going to have a country worth saving. My father and my uncles all fought in World War II against fascism, and that’s what we’re doing today,” Linda Haley said.

Sandra DelCastillo echoed that sentiment, saying it’s very important for people to have a voice in the government. 

Carolyn Corzini cited the surge of ICE activity in Minnesota as one of the driving reasons for attending the event.

“Everything President Trump does, he makes things worse and worse. I went to school in Minneapolis, it’s a graceful city with wonderful people, and I can’t stand what he’s doing there. I can’t stand what he’s doing in other big cities… It’s absolutely ridiculous,” Corzini said.

Nicole Sherf expressed that she felt it was important to attend the event because she feels democracy is at risk, and she’s upset that the Supreme Court isn’t doing more to save it.

“I’m very concerned about ICE on the street, rounding people up, hurting them, and killing them… There’s so many things. I’m really upset about what he’s saying about Greenland, and how he’s alienating all of our historical allies. I just feel like we need to stand up and fight,” Sherf said.

In Swampscott, the demonstration continued as a swath of people gathered on Humphrey Street across from King’s Beach by 3 p.m. that afternoon.

U.S. Rep. candidate Rick Jakious, who attended the event to show his support for the cause, shared his thoughts on the walkout.

“We need everyone on board to really shine a light on how abnormal it is what the Trump administration is doing here. I think it’s everyone’s civic duty to be out here and shine a spotlight on the ways in which this administration is chipping away at the fundamental fabric of democracy,” Jakious said.

North Shore Indivisible Event Organizer Michael Paquette said, “We protest here every Thursday in Swampscott, so we felt it was necessary to be out here on this very important day, and to keep the momentum going that we’ve been gaining.”

Margaret Tiberio, another participant, explained that she disagrees with the Trump administration’s stance on Venezuela and Greenland.

“I also feel like our social norms and the values that people worked hard for are being eroded. There’s so much progress that we’ve made that I don’t want us to lose as a country in terms of how we treat each other,” Tiberio said.

Victor Brandalini explained that he started joining the weekly protests in Swampscott last summer and plans to continue protesting.

“It makes me feel good knowing that this is what I can do. I never did this before, and then in the summer I finally reached a breaking point where I said, ‘I have to do something,’” Brandalini said.

Related posts:

Marblehead, Swampscott spotlight local activism

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