The rainy weather didn’t stop dueling demonstrations from gathering in downtown Ellijay over President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office.
During Trump’s first 100 days as the 47th President of the United States, from his inauguration Jan. 20 to April 30, he took roughly 140 executive actions.
This pivotal time has been marked by swift deportation efforts, sweeping tariffs, legislation against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and major federal funding cuts and job layoffs by the Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk.
More than 80 percent of residents in Gilmer County voted for Trump in November, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. Some of those voters, and people from surrounding counties, came together in front of the Gilmer Courthouse Saturday, May 3, to express their unwavering, GOP support.
“Trump’s first 100 days in his second term has been the most productive, certainly one of the most productive initial 100 days in our history,” Jay Cannon, rally organizer and member of the Gilmer Citizens Forum, said. “We celebrate this great leader, his accomplishments and vision for our country, which we voted for in the recent election.”
Around 15 people braved the rain, holding umbrellas in one hand and signs in the other, celebrating Trump’s second term. Fannin resident Carolann Brooks attended the rally and shared the policies she supports the most.
“Immigration, protecting women in sports, DOGE is one of the most important ones,” Brooks said. “He’s done 100 things in 100 days.”
“It’s important that we’re trying to cut our spending and be aware of the spending going on in the Capitol,” Gilmer Republican Party Chair Deborah Ellis noted. “I’m just really proud of Trump and all the things he’s doing. I admire his policies, and I think he’s what’s best for America right now.”
While Trump supporters rallied in front of the courthouse, counterprotesters were permitted to gather on the square. Their signs were sharing a different message toward the Trump administration.
“I’m out here today because of the loss of due process, the loss of our First Amendment rights and the complete disregard for the Constitution from the man in the Oval Office, who’s a 34-time criminal,” Gilmer resident Bethel Spargo proclaimed. “I’m outraged about the people who are running our country … who are unqualified, indecent, inhumane and unethical.”
“Instead of the promises of cutting unnecessary spending, we’ve actually increased the deficit, which my children, my grandchildren and great-grandchildren are going to be paying for for years to come,” Gilmer resident Jennifer Smith said. “They are taking a chainsaw instead of a scalpel in order to fix what needs to be fixed.”
In the November general election, the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office reported 3,413 Gilmer residents voted for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
“Democrats are here in this county and we have a voice,” Smith added. “Just because we’re smaller in numbers, doesn’t mean that what we want and need doesn’t matter.”
Protest organizer Britney Cofflin expressed a shared sentiment amongst the anti-Trump demonstrators, that it’s hard voting blue in such a predominantly red county.
A man pulled a gun on her while she was putting up anti-Trump signage by Walmart, she recalled. Spargo noted that she’s afraid to wear “liberal” messaging on shirts to local restaurants, in fear of getting kicked out.
The anti-Trump protest drew around 30 demonstrators to the square over the gloomy Saturday afternoon, which caused concern among the opposing group.
“I am a little bit alarmed about the size of the gathering and if they all are from Gilmer or not,” Ellis said. “I would like the citizens of Gilmer to be aware that we need to be on our game as we go forward in our politics, because we have to defeat John Ossoff next.”
The Ellijay Police Department worked with both rally organizers to monitor the event and keep the public safe.
Once both groups had dispersed from the area by 2:30 p.m., an officer noticed a white box left on a bench in the square. It was deemed “suspicious” based on assembly permit procedure, according to Ellijay Police Chief Edward Lacey.
The box was believed to be brought in by an anti-Trump demonstrator. Ellijay police reached out to organizers, but they were unable to determine its contents. That’s when the decision was made to call the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Bomb Squad.
Traffic through the roundabout was held while a GBI special agent investigated the “suspicious” package. It was filled with apples and determined not to be a threat to the public. Traffic returned to normal by 3:30 p.m.
“The [Ellijay] Police Department will never assume the least from suspicious circumstances,” Lacey stated in a press release. “We apologize for any inconvenience caused by our response, but do not regret the manner in which we responded.”