To Trump's critics, getting rid of the man who happens to be heading up an investigation into the Trump campaign's possible collusion with Russia during the 2016 election season is alarming.
So on Wednesday morning, organizers called on their networks — many still holding on to their post-Women's March momentum — to call on Congress to demand that a special prosecutor look into the Trump-Russia allegations.
At noon in downtown St. Petersburg, some 100 activists were gathered outside the courthouse entrance near Fifth Street and First Avenue North to send their message.
“With the firing of James Comey, the FBI's investigation of Donald Trump and his campaign's involvement in the Russia interference with our election has been undermined by the executive branch, the very people who were under investigation," said Andrea Smith, with the group Floridians Against Corruption and Treason (FACT), and who spearheaded the protest. "It means that Congress is the only entity at this point to check [into Trump's] illegality, potentially, as president. We are here because Congress needs to know that people demand a public, independent investigation of Russia's interference and the Trump campaign's collusion with such.”
“To me, it couldn't be clearer that the timing is such to sort of put fear into anyone who thinks that they're going to get away with coming after the president: subpoenaing people on his staff. It seems likes that's signal. He wants folks to know," she said. "We're just not going to have that, though. Our country's not built on fear.”
Skeptical right-wingers, responding to Trump critics' outrage over the Comey firing, accused them of playing politics. After all, many Hillary Clinton supports attribute her November loss to Comey's announcement that an investigation into her emails was being "reopened" just before the election.
But protesters said this is not about Comey; it's about having an investigator who will not make decisions based on party politics or loyalty to the Trump administration.
“I don't like Comey," said protester Deborah Barrett. "I think he definitely hurt Hillary in the election. I don't like him. But we need an independent investigator for this Russia thing. Independent. If he hires another prosecutor, they'd better not be a hardline Republican.”
She added that she worries about what Comey's firing signifies in terms of what the country is in for down the road — and had some dramatic words of warning to express that sentiment.
“This is what Hitler did," she said. "He got into office and he got rid of everybody that opposed him. And we're heading in that direction.”
On Saturday, June 3, activists are planning to take part in a National Day of Action, for which they say details are forthcoming.
This article appears in May 4-11, 2017.