Protesters gather in Uniontown to rally against Trump’s policies, Elon Musk
More than 100 demonstrators gathered at the George C. Marshall Memorial Plaza in Uniontown on Saturday to protest the policies and actions that President Donald Trump has taken since resuming office.
Protesters waved signs with messages denouncing Trump’s handling of international relations and domestic policies, and chanted “Dump Trump!” and “Hey hey, ho ho, Elon Musk has got to go.”
Some motorists expressed their disagreement, while others honked their horns and gave thumbs-up in support of the demonstration.
“I’m appalled. I’m outraged with what is going on in the government,” said Danielle Lancaster, a middle school teacher who lives in Uniontown and attended the rally with her husband, Matthew Lancasater. “I’m worried for my children, I’m worried for my students, and, you know, it’s just scary what could happen in the future under this administration.”
Demonstrators said they were dismayed by the flurry of actions over the past seven weeks, ranging from the president’s efforts to lay off thousands of federal workers, an immigration crackdown, a rollback of environmental protections, and his announcement of tariffs on imports, all of which Trump says has the country on the right track.
“Hands off Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid,” read one sign, while another said, “Protect Veterans Rights.”
Other protesters expressed concern with the influence of tech billionaire Elon Musk and his role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and Project 2025, a blueprint for overhauling the federal government.
“What’s going on in this country is absolutely terrible. They’re taking our freedoms away. I didn’t vote for Musk,” said Pam Newmeyer of Uniontown. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. We have to save Social Security.”
While those gathered expressed concerns about Trump’s actions, his approval rating is 47% – the highest it’s been in either of his times in office, according to an NBC News poll released Sunday. The efforts of DOGE received a 46% approval rating in the poll, but 51% of those queried held a negative view of Musk.
Saturday’s event was organized by the Democratic Women of Fayette County, one of the largest Democratic Women’s organizations in Pennsylvania.
Said Tracy Wllson, president of DWFC, “I think it’s important that we not only protest in Washington, D.C., but that it’s important for people in Fayette County to know that there are still blue dots in the county and that we are going to fight,” said Tracy Wilson, president of DWFC, noting the event provided a platform for people who are worried about what they believe is a government that no longer serves the interests of the people.
Other protests are being planned, but dates have not yet been scheduled.
Mary Ann Zsiros of Uniontown, a women’s health nurse practitioner, said she attended the rally “to stand up for the rights of everyone – women, men and marginalized communities,” and she is worried that “Trump is destroying our country.”
Mary Macar of Uniontown, a retired Laurel Highlands Middle School teacher, said she is concerned about a litany of issues; among them, Trump’s cuts to federal programs including the Department of Education, his efforts to ramp up timber production and mining in national forests and on public lands, and souring relations with once-close allies, including Canada.
“We need education. You don’t just go in and cut the Department of Education without realizing what you’re doing. You don’t just go in and cut cancer research by the billions of dollars when people are dying daily from cancer. You don’t just go in and randomly cut jobs and programs at the (U.S. Department of Agriculture), you have to have a plan,” said Macar, who
Rick Yakubic carried a sign that said, “Resist.”
“This Republican party is not for the working people, they never will be for working people. Elon Musk called Social Security a Ponzi scheme,” he said. “You can see what they want to do with Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. They want to do away with it, and people need to wake up. All elections have consequences, and we’re seeing that now.”