[The following contribution was submitted by Ruth McArthur (aka “Auntie” or “Grannie” Ruthie). The event described took place on June 30, 2018 in Kerrville, Texas at a #familiesbelongtogether march.]
We met at City Hall. When my group of four arrived, there were only five other #FamiliesBelongTogether demonstrators, some seriously elderly women. A group in red shirts and MAGA hats had already claimed the sidewalk at the intersection of two major thoroughfares. My friend Randy said, “We have the permit. This is our demonstration. Let’s go to the sidewalk.” Our little group looked concerned, but Randy was right. “Let’s go, you first!” And we plunged in with our signs.
The counter-demonstrators, who had been waving and holding up signs about building a wall, keeping criminals out and so forth, fell still and silent as we entered the space. We shook their startled hands and introduced ourselves by name. Spontaneously, we both smiled and expressed our delight that while we hold different opinions, we are all free to come and express them peacefully. The counter-demonstrators looked suspicious, especially of Randy, who had an American flag on his white t-shirt but a #FamiliesBelongTogether sign – as if the images are contradictory.
Randy and I showed our signs to traffic and waved. So did the counter-demonstrators. The rest of our group followed. One counter-demonstrator wore a USMC t-shirt. Several of us shook his hand again and thanked him for his service, which pleased but apparently puzzled him.
Before long, #FamiliesBelongTogether had around 200 folks and the counter-demonstrator group remained at about a dozen. I stayed close to them, truly glad that this is America and we can co-demonstrate without fear. A man showed up with a life-sized cut-out of Trump. I asked to have my picture made with my president. This surprised the counter-demonstrators and even a few of the #Families Belong Together people. But Trump is my president. I didn’t vote for him, I don’t care for him personally and I like little if anything he has done in office, but he was elected and sworn in. I am still an American and he is president. For now, Trump is president. In two or six years, someone else will be. That’s how it works.
Sadly, the counter-demonstrators were on the belligerent side. A couple of men walked behind us commenting that they’d never seen so many morons in one place. Another asked one of us why we needed to demonstrate since Trump signed the executive order earlier in the week undoing his policy of family separation. She responded that while that is true, families for the most part have yet to be reunited. He called her a fucking moron. She smiled and wished him a good day.
My sign had a passage from Zechariah 7 – “Do not oppress the alien among you.” Other signs also had scripture passages about the treatment of foreigners. A counter-demonstrator scoffed and remarked that it is convenient that we have religion now. I explained that I am a Christian, and he called me a liar and a moron. I smiled at him. Not sure any of us owns Christianity but refrained from pointing that out.
Another man suggested we were outside agitators. I guess he doesn’t know, or know that he knows, people outside his world view. Me and my group did come from another town, but this town was still in our congressional district. Our town was hosting a gay pride parade. You can’t be in two places at once!
One woman got in my face, literally, to shout that America is a great country, “I agree!”, I shouted back, and she added we should handle the border situation as Jesus would, with which I also agree. “See, there are things we can agree on.” “No,” she insisted. “Jesus WOULD NOT be letting these people in!!!!”, she said. “My reading of scripture suggests he would,” I responded. “He certainly would NOT!!! And how will you feel if your daughter is raped by one of these illegal criminals,” she asked. “I will feel horrible if my daughter is raped by anyone”, I answered.
Other conversations revealed that we have different understanding of the legality of seeking asylum. My understanding is that it is legal to seek asylum at ports of entry. Should one enter illegally, one tells the border agent that they are seeking asylum and that she or he is obliged to take you to a port of entry. You still might face charges for illegal entry, but not for seeking asylum. US law, and international law, prohibits turning away legitimate asylum seekers. The counter-demonstrators I spoke with disagreed on every particular.
Most of these people are criminals. Crime is up due to “illegals”. Again, disagreement on every particular.
People in passing cars ranged from ignoring us, honking and giving thumbs up, and flipping us off (perhaps with yelling of obscenities and the revving of engines). I am saddened that at least this slice of counter-demonstrators and disagreeing passers-by felt so viscerally angry and combative. Nevertheless, we smiled and waved at all. Because this is America, where we can voice our view and demonstrate peacefully. – Ruth McArthur