Major Main Street Turnout in Cold & Rain Shows Support for Veterans, VA Workers

News story here.

It began at 11 AM, on Main Street in front of VA Illiana Health Care; with a crowd of already of 70, and the numbers kept increasing during Saturday morning’s HANDS OFF rally in Danville; one of many across the country that were put together to protest the actions of Elon Musk and the Trump Administration.  Citizens in Support of Veterans and Indivisibles Vermilion County made this particular protest about cuts to the Veterans Administration, and how it is hurting our Veterans.  Organizer Scott Defenbaugh mentioned in particular, the Veterans Crisis Line.

AUDIO: We’re currently losing an average of 17.6 Vets a day from suicide.  And this crisis line was there to provide assistance for Veterans, and active military duty, for emotional and mental health issues.

John Spurgeon from Urbana said support for Veterans is why he came to Danville Saturday.

AUDIO: I think that it’s criminal what’s being done to the Veterans Administration; firing all the people who help our Veterans.  They come, they serve our country, and then we treat them like dirt.  And that’s why I’m here.

Mary Elaine Hughes from Champaign agreed.

AUDIO: We should be ashamed of the fact that we’re taking services away from Veterans.  These people volunteered their lives; many came back with injuries.  It’s just ridiculous that we don’t support these individuals.

Cheryl from Danville says she and others are even pushing for a theme song for these protest efforts.  “Do You Hear the People Sing” from the musical LES MIS (Les Miserables).

AUDIO: It means LISTEN.  People are speaking.  We’re telling you what we need; what we want.  LISTEN.  Health care matters, from the moment of birth to the last breath.  They’re degrading the whole fabric of the country.  Punching holes.

Indivisibles Vermilion County’s DeeAnn Ryan says she sees these protests growing; locally, statewide, and nationally.

AUDIO:  (DeeAnn) We are hardy.  We’ll be out rain, snow, sleet; we will be out.  (Steve) Indivisibles and everybody else, it’s expanding isn’t it? (DeeAnn) Oh my gosh, it’s growing like; it’s just amazing, it’s just amazing.  It’s going to take over the country.

As Ryan had previously stated, the Indivisibles groups first began mostly in response to concern about what ICE might do that would affect families and school children.  Then, its focus turned to what Elon Musk has been doing.