SAFFORD — On Thursday, for the third time in less than a month, Gila Valley residents unhappy with the policies of the Trump administration took to the streets in protest, as part of the National Day of Action.
“We want to be visible,” said Patty Cervantez, chair of the Graham County Democratic Committee. “We want to take part in these national events because we understand that what is happening at the White House is not for the people . . . it is for the billionaires.”
Cervantez said the Gila Valley is already feeling the effects of the actions being taken by the Trump administration and DOGE, in the form of higher grocery and gasoline prices, as well as layoffs from reductions of workforce at federal agencies in Graham County.
On the website mobilize.us, the National Day of Action events across the country were described as “working people . . . rising up. We are demanding a country that puts our families over their fortunes, public schools over private profits, healthcare over hedge funds, (and) housing over homelessness.”
The next event nearest the Gila Valley will be the Chiricahua Protest Music Festival, Saturday, May 17, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. MDT in Rodeo, N.M.
The event is described as “More than 10 artists will perform both original and classic protest songs as we demonstrate our patriotism by singing out against the current reckless and authoritarian administration and their policies. Festival will be outside under shade at the Geronimo Event Center of the Chiricahua Desert Museum.”
