While President Donald Trump toured the Peterbilt Motors plant on Thursday, Oct. 1, several dozen people stood along Dallas Drive near Interstate 35E holding signs against his administration, according to the Denton Record-Chronicle.
The gathering was billed as an "umbrella protest" and was organized by Indivisible Denton, which the Record-Chronicle described as a local, nonpartisan pro-democracy group. The newspaper reported that the crowd was peaceful and that passing drivers honked in response to the signs.
What protesters said
Signs carried messages including "What has the war done 4 u?", "We will not forget the Epstein files" and "I was a Republican. I am fed up," the Record-Chronicle reported.
Brian Beck, who once represented District 2 on the City Council and lost the June mayoral runoff to Mayor Chris Watts, was among those present. "He can come talk about Peterbilt, and I can come express my disapproval," Beck told the newspaper.
Resident Ed Soph called the president's conduct "absolutely disgusting" and said he joined because "there's strength in numbers." Another demonstrator, Earl Armstrong, pointed to rising costs for food, gas and prescription drugs, according to the report. A longtime resident who gave only her first name, Linda, said the stakes felt "critical," especially ahead of the election.
Participants also reminded people of upcoming dates: the voter registration deadline on Monday, Oct. 5, for the Nov. 3 election, a "No Kings" protest planned for Oct. 17 and the start of early voting on Oct. 19.
