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Michael Randall Times Herald-Record @MikeRandall845

CITY OF NEWBURGH For some in the mid-Hudson, the day Donald Trump became president was the day democracy died.

And so, on Friday, they held a funeral for democracy through the streets of Newburgh.

More than two dozen "mourners" dressed in black, many carrying black umbrellas, marched up Broadway and down Liberty Street to Newburgh's best-known symbol of democracy, Washingtons Headquarters.

But organizers left room for hope.

"Democracy is dead," said Julie Tremblay, who organized the protest, billed as a performance art piece, "but we want to bring it back."

"Mourner" Mindy Fradkin of Newburgh said Trump is a man of low morals who "trashes" anyone who criticizes him, usually on Twitter. She compared Fridays mourners to the colonists who fought the American Revolution against England more than 200 years ago.

"They had to take a stand," Fradkin said. "Were just taking a stand for what is right for our country."

Michael Gabor of Newburgh said marching in the mock funeral procession was better than just "sitting at home and watching (Trump) take charge of the country."

Roland Moussa of Beacon played mournful tunes on a flute during the procession. He said Trump was dishonest in his business dealings and is "unfit to keep democracy alive."

The mourners proceeded at a slow some might call it funereal pace, to the beat of a drum. Traffic came to a brief standstill as they slowly crossed each intersection. But no horn honks were heard.

When the mourners arrived at Washingtons Headquarters, they gathered around a bouquet of flowers with a purple ribbon across it, with white letters that read "R.I.P Democracy."

Tremblay read George Washingtons 1783 speech quelling the Newburgh conspiracy, in which some of his officers sought to challenge the authority of the Continental Congress when it had trouble paying them. Washington asked them "not to take any measures which will lessen the dignity and sully the glory you have hitherto maintained."

mrandall@th-record.com

Link:
Newburgh performance art mourns Democracy's 'death' - Times Herald-Record