On June 15, 2019, a coalition of activist groups held a rally in Foley Square, New York City demanding the impeachment of U.S. President Trump. The rally was part of a national day of action and took place in more than 100 cities and towns, including Los Angeles, Phoenix, Orlando, Boston, and Detroit. Many of the few hundred protesters called on leading House members to finally start impeachment proceedings.
Among the speakers addressing the crowd was Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney who represents New York City’s 12th Congressional District. She announced that she was going to support a formal impeachment inquiry.
“After carefully reviewing evidence laid out in the Mueller report, after attending numerous hearings, after listening to the concerns of my constituents, and after a good deal of soul searching, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is necessary to open a formal impeachment inquiry of the President of the United States, and we must begin it now.” Her announcement drew huge cheers from the crowd. She continued, “I do not make this decision lightly knowing full well that an impeachment process could be a painful ordeal for our already divided nation.” The congresswoman reminded everyone that even if the House decided to impeach, the final decision would be up to Senate which most likely would not convict. However, she encouraged the activists that ‘uncertainty should not cause us to forsake our duty under the constitution.’
So far, 63 of the 235 Democrats in the House publicly support impeachment proceedings of the President. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, however, has been refusing to follow the calls for an inquiry fearing it would pave the way for Trump’s reelection in 2020.
Calls for impeachment, however, have been growing after Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s public statement on May 29, 2019. According to a Reuters poll published on May 4, 2019, 45% of Americans support impeachment while 42% are opposed. The poll was conducted before Mueller’s statement and before the President’s remarks in an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that he would be open to political dirt on his 2020 opponents provided by a foreign government.
More impressions of the rally which was hosted by Impeach Trump NYC, March for Truth, Need to Impeach, Empire State Indivisible, By The People- Impeach Trump, Indivisible New Rochelle, Rise and Resist, Four Freedoms Democratic Club NYC, and Indivisible Nation Brooklyn, are below:
