Dozens of people took to the streets in downtown Baltimore on Wednesday night to protest the Senate’s acquittal of President Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment.
The protesters gathered at McKeldin Square to voice their disapproval of Wednesday’s vote as part of the national “Reject The Cover-Up” demonstrations. Residents stood on the corner of Pratt and Light streets calling out Trump and other Republicans while chanting, “We will remember come November!”
In largely party-line votes, the Senate voted 52-48 to acquit Trump of abuse of power related to the president’s hold on roughly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine as he pressured the ally to investigate his political rivals. Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah sided with 45 Democrats and two independents, but the vote still fell short of the two-thirds majority necessary to remove the president.
The Senate also voted 53-47, entirely on party lines, to acquit Trump of obstruction of Congress related to the White House’s withholding of evidence and blocking of witness testimony.
JoAnn Robinson, 77, of Baltimore said it was important to continue to show disapproval of Republican senators, despite the fact that Wednesday’s acquittal was largely expected.
She said those who oppose Trump “just have to keep coming out” to keep up the enthusiasm among Democrats and the president’s detractors come November, when Trump’s name will be on the ballot along with several Republican congressmen.
But Robinson added that the result is still disheartening, regardless of whether she knew it was coming.
“I think it’s a great miscarriage against justice,” she said. “If he can get away with this, what else can he get away with?”
Ben Hurlbut, 35, of Baltimore, stopped by the protest to support the cause as he was walking home.
He said Trump “doesn’t represent the people” and that he wanted to support the protest because he believes the president’s actions toward Ukraine represent an impeachable offense.
“He’s been caught. He did something wrong,” Hurlbut said, adding that he was upset by Senate Republicans’ blocking of witness testimony.
“He should have had a fair trial,” he added.
