Several hundred protesters rally ‘to keep the action going’ in Pocatello
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POCATELLO – A crowd of people hit the sidewalks on a busy Pocatello road Saturday to protest the actions of the executive branch of the federal government.
Somewhere between 200 to 300 people marched three blocks down from Caldwell Park to the intersection of East Center Street and North 5th Avenue in front of the Bannock County Courthouse. The protesters held up signs critical of actions taken by President Donald Trump’s administration and cheered as the drivers of passing cars honked their horns.
“If you believe, strongly enough, that our country’s going in the wrong direction, then it’s important to show up, stand up, find your voice. Get out here. Now’s the time to do it,” said Elmer Martinez, an organizer with Southeast Idaho Citizens for Democracy.
This local protest follows Pocatello’s “Hands Off!” rally on April 5, which drew a crowd of around 1,000 people. Martinez didn’t expect this independent protest to bring in a crowd of that size, but he still thought it was important to give people a chance to make their voices heard.
“We felt we needed to keep the action going,” Martinez said.
RELATED | About 1,000 people attend ‘Hands Off!’ rally in Pocatello
One of the first people to stand at the intersection, Paul Schmidtlein, was protesting for change in not just the direction of the country, but Pocatello as well. Schmidtlein was holding a “Justice for Victor” sign, referring to the teenager who subsequently died after being shot multiple times by Pocatello Police officers on April 5, the same day as the “Hands Off!” rally in Pocatello.
RELATED | Community members express grief to city council over Victor Perez shooting
“This is a tragic moment, so I want change. That is what justice for Victor Perez, to me means. A change in police behavior and in how the police respond to a situation. So something like this never, ever happens again,” Schmidtlein said.
At the same time as this protest, C & G Sales and Service held a motorcycle rally fundraiser for the Perez family. Some of them revved their engines as they drove past the protest after the motorcycle rally was over.
Mother and daughter Cindy and Ella Bundy told EastIdahoNews.com why they decided to come to the protest.
“I work in health care and education, and those are both getting decimated, so someone needs to support the fight to keep Medicaid, to keep education supported. And I believe in science, and our administration doesn’t, so we’re here to protest,” Cindy said.
Pat Feuerborn, another protester, said she decided to join the protest because she believes in, “what America stands for.”
“We’re supposed to support each other. We’re not to be an oligarchy,” Feuerborn said. “I believe in the freedom to read, to study, to think, to speak out, to develop as a human being.”
A protester named Paul Allen told EastIdahoNews.com he came to the protest for the “restoration of the rule of law.”
“We did elect this government. That’s what a democracy is about. I understand that, but it’s not just a democracy. It’s a republic, and the laws need to be obeyed, and they are being trampled,” Allen said.
This isn’t going to be the last protest Martinez organizes. The Southeast Idaho Citizens for Democracy is planning to organize a Pocatello event for a national “No Kings” day of action, scheduled for June 14.
“It’s important for people around town … (who are) just driving by, for them to know that there are people who are concerned and caring and passionate about our country,” Martinez said.