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Hundreds Show Up For No Kings Rally, Crowd Encourages Early Voting

By SHELLEY HANSON 4 min read

WHEELING — Hundreds of people took to the sidewalks along the intersection of National Road and Kruger Street in Elm Grove on Saturday to encourage passersby to vote early for the Nov. 3 General Election and to decry the actions of President Donald Trump and his administration.

St. Clairsville resident Dan Palermo, a member of Belmont County Unify, said his group decided to join with the Wheeling-based Marchers of Ohio Valley Empowered for Saturday’s protest gathering.

“This is our third No Kings rally. This time we’re pushing people to get out and vote early; regardless of your party affiliation, we want everyone to hit the polls,” Palermo said. “This is the year that counts. There are a lot of serious issues on the ballot on both sides and we’re trying to get everyone out.

“And then there’s always the recurring theme: we have somebody in the White House who seems to be wanting to take more power than the Constitution has given him. That’s why we’re constantly in court fighting him on trees, fighting him on ballrooms, fighting him on golf courses, fighting on bringing charges against members of Congress, for crying out loud.

“These are not the actions of a Constitutionally-bound leader. These are the actions of someone who thinks they are above the law and above the Constitution. That’s the point of No Kings.”

Palermo is also concerned about Trump’s relationship with Russia President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war with Ukraine. 

“Those people are suffering. When he shut down Starlink they made the people of Ukraine suffer the consequences as Russia took advantage and just bombed Kyiv, killing numerous civilians. That’s got to stop. We are allies with Ukraine. … So that’s why we’re here; we want to bring attention to that fact,” he added. 

Palermo said since the No Kings and Hands Off rallies started, 25 million people have joined in the five major protests across the United States. 

“I’m hoping it’s 30 million when it’s all said and done, but more importantly I’m hoping everyone gets to the polls,” he noted.

Nancy Rice of St. Clairsville said she felt compelled to join in the protest.

“I think it’s very important because of the corruption we have in the government today,” Rice said. “I think it’s so corrupt, every day there is something different. I know people ridicule small protests, but we’re doing something. This is nationwide.

“I woke up this morning with this lyric that popped into my head: ‘A king without a crown’ is a Kansas song.

“That was the lyric. That was my omen to get down here and do something. We’ve got to vote blue and get this corruption out of this country and make it safe so we can be proud again. Vote blue.”  

Wheeling resident Julie Cerra said she, too, wants to remind people to vote Nov. 3 or during early voting period.

“It’s very important. Without voting, we go nowhere as a country and a democracy,” she said.

Cerra’s husband, Vic Cerra, said he is concerned about Trump and his actions.

“I think the president is breaking our country,” said Vic Cerra, a Vietnam War veteran. “He’s destroying our friendships with other countries; with our neighbors to the north and our neighbors to the south.

“Fighting a war we don’t need to be fighting. Taking money away from programs that should be helping our people. We need a change and voting is the best way to do it.”

People held up a variety of signs along the roadway with some stating, “Vote Early. They get rich, you go hungry,” “Sobering facts say Trump is a felon,” “Vote. Save America,” “Vote. Save our country,” “The felon must go now. Vote! Save Democracy,” “Early voting starts Oct. 21-26,” “Vote blue,” “Resist tyranny. Restore democracy,” “Make your choice. Raise your voice. Vote,” “Hands off our democracy. Resist,” “We the people. No kings, no Nazis, no tyrants,” “Old hippies; we fought for change once, we’ll fight again,” and more.

Starting at /week.