Rallies aimed at impeaching Trump to be held around Southern California today
More than 140 rallies calling for President Donald Trump’s impeachment are expected throughout Southern California and the nation today, Saturday, June 15.
At least 16 rallies were planned for the Southland. It was unclear early today how many people would attend the rallies. Counter-protests in support of the president are also expected, including one scheduled at Los Angeles City Hall.
Demonstrations, under the banner “#ImpeachTrump: Act to Defend Democracy,” were set to take place in Van Nuys, Sierra Madre, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Chino Hills, Brea, Riverside, Mission Viejo, Irvine and elsewhere.
The “American people have seen that there is enough evidence to begin the impeachment process of Trump,” said Aaron McCall, chairman of Indivisible OC48, “based on what he’s said in public and also what’s in the redacted Mueller report.”
McCall is organizing impeachment events in Seal Beach and Laguna Beach.
“This is now a rule of law question,” he added. “It’s about whether or not we’re going to stand up for what’s right.”
The Seal Beach rally is among the earliest, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., while others are expected to unfold the rest of the morning and into the afternoon. At least seven protests are set to start at 1 p.m.
But not all of those in the streets Saturday will be rallying against Trump. At least one event, scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Los Angeles City Hall, was organized to support the President.
“Remember there is always haters against Trump,” the counter-protest’s organizer Valerie Barber wrote in a post on the event’s Facebook page. “Trump derangement syndrome is real. We will keep on doing our thing. Trump is your President like it or not.”
As the nation and its leadership grow increasingly polarized, the impeachment debate has fueled that division. In the wake of special prosecutor Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections and suspected links between Trump associates and Russian officials, the fissures have deepened.
The president and top Republicans declared the report cleared the president of wrongdoing. Democrats have called for deeper investigation, citing incidents they believe could be obstruction of justice. In response, the president has set forth efforts to “investigate the investigators,” claiming the probes of his campaign and administration are politically motivated and illegal.
Though some Democratic candidates for president have spoke in favor of impeachment, most Americans are not yet on board, according to polls.
A poll conducted June 6-10 by Quinnipiac University found 33% of Americans in favor of impeachment, 61% against the idea, and 6% unsure. The poll, which has a 3.5% margin of error, was conducted before June 12, when Trump told ABC News that he would accept politically helpful information from a foreign power in the future, and suggested he might not tell the FBI about the offer.
A House resolution to order an impeachment inquiry was introduced in the House in recent weeks, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the effort is “not even close” to having enough support in the House.
Some observers believe impeachment proceedings would only help Trump win re-election by solidifying his supporters in opposition of such an effort.
This is a developing story and will be updated throughout the day.