It was an evening of historical parallels as between 200-300 protesters gathered at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda last Thursday to protest the forced resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who had previously recused himself from special prosecutor Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible misconduct during President Trump’s 2016 election.
Photo by Gaston Castellanos
Trump’s decision to fire Jeff Sessions and replace him with Matthew Whitaker has been seen by many as a brazen effort to interfere in the Mueller investigation.
45 years ago, the Watergate scandal and investigation ended the presidency of Orange County’s own Richard Nixon. Many have compared Trump’s actions to the “Saturday night massacre” of October 20th, 1973 during which President Nixon ordered Attorney General Elliot Richardson to fire independent special prosecutor Archibald Cox.
Protesters pointed out that the new acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has previously outlined in great detail how he would impede the Mueller investigation if he got the chance. Now that President has given him that chance, many fear that the Mueller investigation is in danger.
Photo by Gaston Castellanos
The protest outside the Nixon Library was one of approximately 1,000 protests held around the country. Attendees held signs, waved flags, chanted, and shared their thoughts and hopes.
The youngest protester was three years old, and the oldest was 97.
People from several groups throughout North Orange County were present: Indivisible 39 and 45, Progressive 39th, Next Step Whittier, and others. There was a feeling of camaraderie as folks supported each other in making their voices heard in favor of democracy, especially knowing there were many other groups all across our country in solidarity with them.
Photo by Gaston Castellanos
This venue (the Nixon Library) was posted by Patty Hanzo of Indivisible CA39, on MoveOn.org last year in anticipation of the day that president Trump would “cross a red line” in fighting the Mueller Investigation. On Wednesday, that line was crossed, with the resignation of Sessions, and the appointment of Whitaker.
On Wednesday night the MoveOn Rapid Response team held a nation-wide on-line conference call joined by hundreds of people across the country, to urge them to activate their plan to protest at venues across the country.
Photo by Gaston Castellanos
Here in Orange County, the Rapid Response group (which has been preparing for this since last year) collaborated to publicize several protests throughout the county.
Organizers of the protest notified OC Sheriff of our intention, and they had about 6 uniformed officers at the Library – there was no conflict or trouble.
Photo by Gaston Castellanos
Protestors gathered along Yorba Linda Blvd at Eureka Ave in front of the Nixon Library sign. The Library’s flags there were at half-staff in honor of the dead killed the day before at the latest mass shooting in Thousand Oaks. At 6pm attendees read the names of the dead, and observed a moment of silence for them.
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Categories: Local News
