LA GRANGE — There was plenty of commotion and honking horns at the N.C. 903 Overpass on U.S. 70 Sunday afternoon — but it wasn’t because of traffic.
Instead, there were protestors between the overpass over U.S. 70 holding signs and banners showing their disdain for President Barack Obama and the way he has handled several situations in his tenure in office.
“Overpasses.org is doing Overpasses for Impeachment,” Lenoir County Republican Party Chairwoman Michele Nix said. “We believe President Obama should be impeached for Fast and Furious, Benghazi, IRS and now, Syria. We had people at this rally from Wilson, Goldsboro and of course, throughout Lenoir County.”
Although Nix led the “Defund Obamacare” rally at the Lenoir County Courthouse Friday, she said she had nothing to do with Sunday’s protest.
“People are coming to a point where they’re fed up,” Nix said. “They want to do something, but not sure what to do. The Lenoir County Republican Party didn’t organize this event; I participated as a citizen. My sign said ‘Remember Benghazi.’ ”
The organizer, Steve Ragan, has nothing to do with local government or any party affiliation. Ragan — a self-described pulp mill worker — organized the event on Facebook, hoping people would protest with him.
“I’m tired of big government and them not listening,” Ragan said. “I’m tired of Congress not pursuing all they have available to impeach, and that includes members there as well. I’m not a tea party member, in the Republican Party or a GOP member. I’m just someone who wanted to spark change.”
Ragan got the idea from the website and wanted to catch traffic from visitors of the beaches back to Raleigh. He felt his message was well-received by passersby, considering the amount of positive reception given.
“There was tons of motorist reaction,” Ragan said. “There were blinking lights and horns blowing. There were thumbs-up and high fives through their windows and sunroofs. I think I got the message across. Maybe if I do it 1,000 more times, it will get across more than just the local people. Maybe local constituents will read the newspapers and see what we’re doing.”
He continued, “I do not want Obamacare and Congress’ messages shoved down my throat. Hilary Clinton once said ‘At this point, why does it matter about Benghazi?’ It matters a lot to many people. Instead of getting to the bottom of things, they shuffle people around so you can't talk to them any longer.”
Nix believes the protests against Obama are only beginning, considering the volume of rallies locally and nationally.
“People have been having them across the state and nation,” Nix said. “Based upon the response from the people, I'm sure there will be more.”
In fact, there have been some protestors taking things into their own hands, expressing their desire to have Obama removed from office.
“I received a text about signs on Highway 11 that said ‘Impeach Obama’, but our group didn’t do it,” Nix said. “I had also seen several along Highway 11 and Greenville.”
Ragan said he plans on having more rallies in the future.
“We're going to try to have one on Friday and Monday,” Ragan said. “We’re hoping to have one every weekend until we see change and impeachment by the next election. There will be protests in New Bern and Greenville planned. Wherever there’s a rally, I'll be there.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.