Local protesters focus anger at Trump's emergency declaration at Presidents Day rally

Nearly 200 people protested President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration on a Ventura street corner Monday in a Presidents Day scene repeated in rallies across the nation.

Protesters waved American flags with a few dressing in red, white and blue and at least two wearing foam Statue of Liberty crowns. They stood at the corner of Victoria Avenue and Telephone Road holding signs expressing their anger at the president and an emergency order aimed at obtaining funding for a border wall.

"I don't think we should waste our money on a wall. I think there are bigger emergencies," said Melissa Henry, of Camarillo, urging Congress and others to oppose the president's action. "The courts need to step up and say this is ridiculous."

More:California expects to sue Trump over emergency declaration to build border wall

Hundreds of similar protests were held Monday, from Santa Barbara to Lansing, Michigan. Nearly 70 people gathered at a Simi Valley rally, organizers reported, with many of them signing letters urging federal lawmakers to pass a joint resolution of disapproval at the emergency declaration.

"Congress gets to decide how the money is spent, not the president," said Leanna Brand, a leader of Indivisible Simi Valley. "We feel this is a complete overreach."

At the Ventura rally, a leader of Indivisible Ventura played 1960s and '70s songs like "War" and "We are Family" on a mobile speaker. Protesters talked about what they see as a battle for the democracy.

"We need to exercise our First Amendment rights before we lose them," said Walt Dunlop, of Ventura, waving a sign that said, "Jesus was a Refugee."

Others focused on their family's immigrant roots. Linda Demyan's grandparents come from Poland and Italy. The Moorpark resident's sign said, "Immigrants Welcome Here" and included pictures of Lady Liberty.

More:Ventura County residents, federal workers want a permanent fix for the government shutdown

Ada Feldman, 77, of Ventura, sat on a bench because she forgot to bring a chair. She ate an apple and held a sign that declared the president as the real national emergency. She came to the rally because she needed to do something.

"You feel so helpless," she said.

The Star provides local perspective on national issues ranging from border security to health care reform. Support journalism by considering a digital subscription.