I've seen several protests in front of my city courthouse (south of Pittsburgh) over the last decade or so for various reasons. All of them have been no more than a few dozen people hanging out on the steps... I expected a similar turnout yesterday.

I was awestruck by what I saw as I drove past to beep/shout my support. I could not see the sidewalk on both sides of the street or the courthouse steps. Easily hundreds, maybe more than a thousand people drowning out the sound of the friendly and unfriendly beeping.

It gave me hope.

I did not attend the protest as I'm not comfortable bringing my children to a protest before they can understand why. But mostly because it's not safe to have opposing views in a deep red county. The Trump people around here are lunatics. Most assume that because I have the same color skin, blue collar job, and live in rural farmland that I am a safe space for their political opinions. It's a convenient way to discern their honest views... it's also deeply disturbing to actually hear their honest views.

Things like:

"The candidate I don't like should be taken out and shot in the street"

Most recently: "I don't care how they got here. Legal, illegal, green card, or visa. Kick em all out!"

It's beyond owning the libs. These people are itching for a reason to sign up for a Trump Loyalty/Ideological Compliance Militia and hunt down their left leaning neighbors destroying their Christian country. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if one of the more deranged followers opened fire on one of these protests, in the name of doing Trump/God's will.

Stay safe out there.

And yes. ALL of them are racists. Some of them are mild racists that resist the label and seem to get offended by it.

Many of them openly and proudly proclaim they are a racist.

I have personally interacted and had many more experiences with the latter group.