Hillary Clinton protesters in Warren 'horrified' of her as president
More than a dozen Donald Trump supporters protested and picketed ahead of Hillary Clinton's remarks Thursday at the Warren-based company Futuramic Tool & Engineering, where she was expected to detail her $125-billion Economic Revitalization Initiative.
Waving signs and shouting at passing motorists as they honked in support, the protesters gathered on a street corner near the Warren company, which manufactures tooling for the auto, aircraft, aerospace and defense industries.
Waterford resident Pat Thomas said she and several others decided to protest Thursday despite the blistering heat because they're passionate Trump supporters.
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"We are absolutely horrified at the thought of Hillary being president," Thomas said. "I mean she will take our country down every chance she gets. She will sell us out. I think Trump is in it to help us. I think he'll create jobs again. That is not what she's here for. She's just a self-centered old hag. I can't even believe she has the audacity to run for president. She lies. She cheats, everything. I think he's for everyone. He's not here for himself. I think he's great, absolutely great."
Some of the protesters appeared to be from different groups, including Women for Trump.
Meshawn Maddock, a Milford resident, said she helped plan the protest and more than 120 people expressed interest in protesting.
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"We have such a large group of people saying, 'What can we do to help Trump win Michigan?' " Maddock said.
Maddock, who owns the A-1 Bail Bond Agency in Milford, said as a small business owner she has suffered under Democratic ideals.
"We pay so much in business taxes," Maddock said. "I'm praying for him (Trump) to do half the things he's promised to do. I know he's not the perfect candidate, but what he says truly resonates with the people."
According to a Facebook post promoting the planned protest, one group planned to demand Clinton "cease and desist from her aggression against ordinary people in America, as well as those in foreign countries."
The protest comes just days after Republican nominee Donald Trump spoke Monday at the Detroit Economic Club at Cobo Center. Trump's speech was disrupted by 14 protesters who were ejected from Cobo throughout the speech.
All but one of the 14 were from the same activist group — while others outside got into a tussle with a man waving a Confederate flag. In total, about 200 protesters, with a few Trump supporters mixed in, stood outside on the Washington Boulevard sidewalk.
The man with the Confederate flag, who had been waving it over his head when a scuffle ensued Monday in Detroit, showed up Thursday in Warren to protest Clinton. The man, who identified himself as Jason Berry and a Downriver resident, said he brought the Confederate flag again Thursday.
"I'm against Hillary," Berry said. "I'm on the Trump train, choo-choo. He's in support of numerous national groups and southern Patriot groups down South. You know what, when I was there Monday, I seen numerous Black Lives Matter flags, Palestinian flags, Mexican flags, all perfectly acceptable. Thirty seconds after breaking out my CBF( Confederate battle flag), I get attacked."
Berry said when he pulled his flag out Monday, someone grabbed it and "pulled him into the mix," causing him to fall.
Berry then stood up and walked behind a barricade of police officers on horseback. He was briefly handcuffed, keeping his flag in hand. Police released him because they found no crime had been committed.
"There's a double standard," Berry said, adding that others are allowed to openly wave flags in support of causes they believe in. "I might be an idiot for flying that flag, but I have a right to be that idiot."
And Thursday, everyone protesting wasn't in support of Trump, either.
Clinton supporters stood on the opposite side of the street from Trump supporters and shouted "Dump Trump" and "Show his taxes" at them. While several booed as Clinton pulled into the venue, many clapped and shouted in support of her.
Pontiac resident Desmond Wright-Glenn was among the most vocal Clinton supporters.
"I heard she was going to be here and I figured I'd come out and support," Wright-Glenn said. "They say the same thing over and over, 'Lock her up,' but we don't have the same critical eye on their candidate. My chanting was in hopes of giving them something to think about."
Fenton resident Tom Moran erected a large sign slamming Trump, saying he mocks the disabled, degrades women and belittles his critics. Moran said Americans deserve better. Moran said he's a bus driver in Livingston County and services primarily individuals with special needs. Moran said he was floored and disgusted when Trump openly mocked a New York Times reporter who is disabled several months ago.
"When I heard Donald Trump mock that disabled reporter, that really bothered me," Moran said. "He's thin skinned, and he doesn't show respect for people. I don't always vote Democratic, I voted for Snyder, but I'm just hoping the people think about it. This is a different election. I understand if you don't like Hillary Clinton for this or that but I don't think Donald Trump would represent this country well. It would be an embarrassment."
Contact Katrease Stafford: 313-223-4759 or kstafford@freepress.com.