An estimated crowd of nearly 300 people gathered in Cruz Bay Saturday to express their support for democracy and their opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies on immigration, education, LGBTQ+ rights, and military intervention against protesters, among other issues.
“We are here to collectively rededicate ourselves to love, joy and justice,” said Erin Lieb, St. John Social Action Team leader and rally organizer. “The goal of our organization is to harness the power of love to confront and transform systems of oppression and build a world where all people can thrive.”
The St. John event, as well as one on St. Thomas and St. Croix, were among nearly 2,000 events held on Saturday involving millions of protesters around the nation. The rallies and marches were planned to stand in contrast to the president’s military parade held in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Flag Day, and Trump’s 79th birthday.
Tammy Jackson and Bill Shower carried flags proclaiming unity and pride. Jackson cradled a U.S. Marine Corps flag honoring her father, “who would be devastated by what’s going on. This is a way of raising his voice,” she said.
The St. John rally began with songs led by Christine Meyers and Kristen Carmichael-Bowers. During the march through Cruz Bay, they pulled a little red wagon with a sound system to inspire the crowd with songs including Beyoncé’s “Freedom,” Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song,” and Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.”
Devin Murphy, a national disaster preparedness responder and the founder of St. John Pride, was the first featured speaker. He said the current administration had initiated 180 documented actions against the LGBTQ+ community, showing a “perverse fascination with everyone else’s private parts.” He also criticized the government for “their asinine dismantling of federal disaster preparedness funding at the start of hurricane season,” an issue of concern to every Virgin Islander.
The next to take the mic was Leontyne Jones, president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chapter of the American Federation of Teachers. “The government needs to see us,” she said. Jones called on “everyday people to organize, to show up, and to build coalitions” to save public education and institutions. She reminded the crowd that if immigrants are incarcerated and deported without due process, “You’re next!”
St. John residents Fernando and Ruby Ramos told the Source it was important to come to the rally. “I was born in Cuba,” said Fernando. “My parents lost their liberty [there.] And I’m extremely worried about Trump leading us into this authoritarian, militarized atmosphere.”
Others from far away showed up, including one visitor whose sign read, “I was already upset about your illegal deportations, homophobia/transphobia, anti-science lies, disastrous tariffs, and all the things – but now I have to protest on my vacation?!?! This is a step too far!!!”
Erin Lieb read remarks by Hadiya Sewer, the next scheduled speaker, who was unable to attend because of a death in the family. Sewer’s speech highlighted recent crises which led to “the stripping away of basic human dignity … These are not natural disasters,” Sewer wrote, but the result of political decisions.
Sewer included words to address the issue of political status in the territory. “We live in one of the last colonies in the U.S.,” where “generations of wealth were stolen from the land … Love is a force that demands action. We must be serious about changing ourselves. We cannot keep waiting for someone else to save us.”
Last to speak was Abigail Hendricks, who asked the audience to pause for a moment of silence to honor the Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses who were injured and killed by a gunman on Saturday morning. The attacks were acts of “targeted political violence,” according to Gov. Tim Walz.
Hendricks said she came to talk about community, “and the word of the day is kindness.” She said it is a shared responsibility to speak out in favor of unity. “I look out and see ‘born here,’ ‘been here,’ ‘come here,’ and ‘ain’ going nowhere,’” she said. “You all chose St. John. You have to be concerned with what’s going on here and defend our way of life. Love is going to trump Trump. We can’t do evil to stop evil.”
Following the speeches, V.I. Police Department cruisers escorted the crowd as they moved down the march route past the post office, Frank Powell Park (with the Freedom statue), and along the waterfront to Frank Bay. Rally goers mingled as they listened to music by Chris B. and Sage Buchalter.
Those who stayed till the end of the rally were rewarded by a stunning sunset on their way home.
