John Killacky was at the Greater Burlington YMCA on Monday morning when he overheard two men in the locker room talking about him.
One was arguing that Killacky shouldn’t have agreed to rent the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign for a rally Thursday night. The other defended Killacky’s argument that the Flynn stands for free speech.
“I laughed,” Killacky said. “I haven’t taken it personally.”
It’s been a whirlwind few days for Killacky, and for Vermonters, since the New Year’s Eve announcement that the Flynn will host the bombastic Trump. The controversial candidate has rented the hall and its 1,000 seats (sans balcony) for $3,300, plus personnel expenses.
In email exchanges, on Facebook feeds and via phone calls, Trump opponents around Vermont are in a fury over how to respond to a candidate who has called for banning all Muslim immigrants and regularly disses just about everybody.
Should they boycott the Flynn? Show up and silently turn their backs on Trump? Or holler like hell that his kind of “hate” has no place?
Vermont activists are considering those options and more. At least four Burlington-area events are planned, from silent vigils to rowdy rallies and even a comedy show — all in an attempt to trump Trump.
Already, the candidate who thrives on controversy has created plenty.
The Vermont Workers’ Center, a liberal advocacy organization, launched a petition calling on the Flynn to turn Trump away — only to change tactics Monday morning in the face of furious opposition from those declaring that free speech applies to all.
“In that the earlier petition might be misinterpreted, VWC has withdrawn it,” the group said in a statement. “We do not oppose Trump’s right to speak. However we stand steadfastly opposed to hateful and divisive rhetoric that has real-world consequences for our communities. See you in the streets!”
Sen. David Zuckerman (P/D-Chittenden), who is running for lieutenant governor, was among those who signed the petition, but withdrew his support for it when he faced a torrent of criticism. “I still have some issues with it,” Zuckerman said. “Free speech is not universal.”
James Haslam, the leader of Rights and Democracy, a liberal advocacy organization, said he understands the urge to shut off Trump’s message, but acknowledged, “You have to give people the right to say things you disagree with.”
Haslam’s group is planning a Rally for Love and Unity at 6 p.m. Thursday, across the street from the Flynn in City Hall Park. But he also said a reaction of any kind is exactly what Trump seeks. “He’s obviously looking for a fight. He wants to look like he’s brave coming into the lion’s den, Bernie’s hometown,” Haslam said.
Indeed, Trump will be speaking just a block from the campaign office of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), whose candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination is every bit as surprisingly successful as Trump’s. Sanders has in recent weeks condemned Trump as a liar, but don’t expect him to engage Trump in a head-to-head showdown.
Sanders will be campaigning in Iowa while Trump is in Burlington. He has no plans for any kind of counter rally, Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said. In a written statement Friday, Sanders welcomed Trump to town and said, “I hope his presence here will help him better understand Vermont values — social and economic justice, tolerance, respect for all people and the environment.”
Trump is unlikely to be persuaded by anything he sees or hears in Vermont, said Stuart Stevens, a Washington, D.C.-based political strategist and Middlebury College graduate who worked on Mitt Romney’s Republican presidential campaign. Stevens predicted Trump will win no states and will limp off the presidential campaign trail in short order once the voting starts in February.
“Donald Trump is doing what he enjoys, which is going around to places and having rallies. It doesn’t have much to do with getting elected president or winning a nomination,” Stevens said. “There’s no logic to it.”
Trump will likely steal the thunder of another Vermont politician. His 7 p.m. rally will come just hours after Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin delivers his final State of the State address in Montpelier. On the plus side for Shumlin: Many of the same protesters who interrupted his inaugural address a year ago will be busy in Burlington, waiting for Trump.
Trump’s campaign did not return a call seeking comment about his trip. If he’s hoping to nail down the Vermont Republican primary on March 1, he has shown little interest in building a campaign presence here. Vermont is not among the states listed on Trump’s website as having an established organization.
Regardless, he’s likely to draw a crowd of supporters and opponents. After initially saying the free Flynn tickets had run out quickly, the ticketing website Eventbrite appears to be allowing as many people who want to sign up for at least two tickets at a time.
However many people end up with tickets, only 1,000 will get in, Killacky said. They’ll pass through Secret Service security that will not allow signs or anything that passengers aren’t allowed to carry on a plane, he said.
Doors open at 5 p.m., or possibly earlier at the discretion of the Secret Service, he said.
Killacky knew that Trump’s visit would be big news, but the hoopla has been far greater than he anticipated. “I don’t think I would have chosen it,” he said. Still, he contended that the debate is healthy. “Let’s hope after the candidate leaves, our community is talking to each other in a different way,” he said.
When it’s all over, Killacky said, he might head down the street to the Vermont Comedy Club, which at 8:30 p.m. is holding Trumprov, touted as “an hour of off-the-wall, ridiculous, no-holds-barred comedy based on all things Donald.”
“I might go down there and have a laugh,” Killacky said.
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Trump isn’t doing the event in Burlington in order to nail down the VT primary…. he’s coming here because all of the Vermont TV stations are seen in parts of NH (via cable and satellite). His campaigns knows it will generate tons and tons of coverage by channels 3, 5, 22, and 44… and as a result he’ll get more of his message beamed into the homes of NH primary voters.
Hopefully the local media will offer up more critical coverage that makes some NH voters think twice about voting for this clown.
I’m not so sure Trump is not a better option than $Hillary$ if it comes down to that.
“Controversy Arrives Well Ahead of Trump’s Burlington Visit” Sensational headline. Where’s the ‘controversy’? Hey Terri, ever watch news regarding Trump events? Thousand of supporters, handfuls of protesters…
Shocker alert: some folks don’t like Trump’s message. Be advised that some folks don’t like Bernie’s, or Hillary’s, or Rand’s… message too.
First amendment right, guaranteed by the Constitution. Flynn is public domain, available to rent.
Can everybody calm down? It’s cold outside! Let’s worry about homeless and hungry people. Real world shit…
Zuckerman said. “Free speech is not universal.”
WTH does that mean?? Does it mean that free speech is fine as long as Zuckerman agrees with the thoughts?
Do we really want someone who thinks free speech is not for all and who lied on his expense accounts to “steal” money from the VT taxpayers? I think Zuckerman needs to read the Constitution and learn what it means for all, not just his side of the political fence.
Zuckerman is right. They don’t have free speech in North Korea.
“Comrades, after the revolution we shall control speech, sometimes after bong hits.”
$ 3300.- for the 1000 seat rental? Is that normal rates for the Flynn? Maybe they are kissing Trump where he lives, in his wallet, I seriously doubt that is the going rate to rent the Flynn, if so Brattleboro’s Latchis is waaaaaaaaaaay overpriced.
What those who can should do is buy tickets but not show.
Yes, Emily, the normal cost of renting the Flynn for an evening is $3,300 “plus personnel expenses”. That’s the going rate – not some kind of special kissing up to Trump.
I appreciate the reaction to my quoted comment. Of course, in fact free speech is a protected right, except when one yells fire in a crowded theater or uses it to incite harm etc. So, it is not actually universal just as I stated. I recognize that some just want to pounce, but even free speech is slightly nuanced.
I also greatly appreciate the vast range of speech and thoughts that have come to me, at me, and in discussion with me over the years and have learned a lot from people with whom I ideologically disagree. That is a great aspect of democracy and our rights under the constitution.
Let Trump speak his political message. He is not spreading hate or inciting a riot as you try to imply with your free speech nuance, DavidZ. Go back to trying to protect the ability of those who wish to spread diseases like polio which is far more harmful to society than Trump’s brashly worded political message. He’s no more offensive than $Hillary$ and probably a better candidate, perhaps sadly so. At least we know where he stands on issues even if he doesn’t always use nuanced language to portray his beliefs.
David, I’m glad you appreciate learning that your comments on free speech were inane. What does yelling fire in a crowded theater have to do with trying to muzzle a candidate for political office? And if you have learned something from people who disagree with you perhaps you could give an example because I have never noticed it.