Melrose Rallies To 'Count Every Vote' Amid Trump's Desperate Push

Melrose MA

04 November, 2020

8:17 PM

Description

MELROSE, MA — Dozens of people gathered in front of City Hall Wednesday evening with a seemingly simple request during a presidential election: Count every vote. Of course, if it was that simple, they wouldn't have been there. While President Trump was threatening lawsuits in states thousands of miles away on baseless claims of fraud, some 50 people downtown gathered in an informal "Protect the Result" demonstration. "I find it really distressing that the the sitting president of the United States would suggest that the counting of votes should stop," Gretchen Bowder said from behind a sign read 'A Coup Won't Do : Count Every Vote.' "This is not the Democratic process," she continued. "If the votes are in on time and they were cast appropriately they should be counted, and that he would suggest otherwise, it feels like a power grab." Read unofficial Melrose voting results here Gretchen Bowder and her husband Harvey Bagg in front of City Hall. (Mike Carraggi/Patch) Indeed, democracy was what many people said they were there for. George Stubbs said he was "pretty dispirited" that as a senior citizen he'd have to be in the streets calling for democracy. "I drank the milk of liberty and justice of all when I was a kid, and now standing up for it seems to make you unpatriotic," he said. Moments later, Michigan, one of the states threatened with a lawsuit, was called for Joe Biden. The Melrose group ended the evening in the shadow of City Hall, where organizers Jason Chen and David Valade were among those who spoke to the people, urging them to pursue worthy community causes regardless of national election results. Mayor Paul Brodeur stepped out in support of the crowd, touting the city's nearly 85 percent turnout. "It did my heart good to see a community that isn't really Democratic — it's mostly independent or unenrolled — still voted overwhelmingly for a ticket and the principle that honesty, decency and empathy matter, no matter what your policies are, no matter what your goals are," he said to applause. "And I hope that is what we'll embody in this community." Mayor Paul Brodeur addresses the crowd. (Mike Carraggi/Patch) Organizer Jason Chen urges the community to take up worthy causes. (Mike Carraggi/Patch)