Ramaswamy protested

HURON TWP. — Not everyone who attended Wednesday's Lincoln Day dinner was a fan of the keynote speaker, Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Protestors from several area activist groups gathered near the entrance of the Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Center on Milan Road (U.S. 250), holding signs and chanting slogans to passing motorists. Numbers ranged throughout the evening, but at any given time, about 60 people peacefully protested outside the water park near the main entrance. Authorities did not make any arrests. Why they were there They largely called attention to their dissatisfaction with the Ramaswamy platform, comparing it to a state version of the Trump administration's "Make America Great Again" agenda. Protestors were decrying a myriad of topics, including: • Perceived cuts to Social Security and veterans benefits • The legality of DOGE and the influence of Elon Musk on the government • Reductions to the Department of Education along with the mass firings of government officials • Claims of Abraham Lincoln as a modern-day Republican. "It's laughable that Republicans still try to claim Abe Lincoln as someone who represents their values when they have abandoned those values," said Kevin Cardone, a Norwalk resident who wore Lincoln's trademark stovepipe hat and black suit. Cardone mentioned the "switch" in the 1960s when differences between the parties led most Southern Democrats to migrate to the Republican party and African Americans to switch to the Democrats. Both parties secured the "conservative" and "liberal" agendas in place today. Activists specifically decried the undoing of guaranteed funding for the PACT Act and the lack of transparency among U.S. senators and representatives. Where are they? Organizers and attendees spoke at length about being unable to contact senators Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and Jon Husted, R-Ohio, but receiving multiple automatic response email answers that do not answer their questions. "I sent (Sen.) Moreno an email asking if funding for disabilities was going to be reduced because me and my wife take care of our son, and we want him to stay at home with us and lead the best life he can, but no one would talk to me, just give me an email, so I am here to listen to this side," said Ronald, a Monroeville resident who asked the Reflector not identify his last name. The activists were met with both cheers and jeers from the public, including one diesel truck "rolling coal" or using an intentionally modified vehicle to emit large amounts of black or grey diesel exhaust, in front of the protest, an illegal act under Ohio law. Although police presence was high, law enforcement made no effort to thwart the action or apprehend the vehicle driver, even though they agreed the act was illegal. Even though the activists were demonstrating a wide variety of issues, the crowd bonded over a general feeling of anxiety and determination. There was a sense of unity in the message of the lack of government transparency. "We are here to let the public know that not all Ohioans accept the Trump agenda, and we want to know what is happening," said Jake from Sandusky, who asked not to be identified by last name due to fear of retaliation. "Where is the transparency we were promised? We can't even get in touch with our representatives in government." Calls for comment to representatives of the Erie County Republican Party, who hosted the event featuring Ramaswamy, were unreturned by press time.