Mike Pence was in Savannah on Saturday. The Georgia city hosted the South’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade.
He was expecting to see a lot of green as he marched in the parade, but he also saw a lot of rainbows.
Protestors holding signs that said “Mike Pence Is A Homophobe” and “Hate has no home here” waved rainbow flags.
VP Pence came to savannah to march in our parade- and every. single. picture taken of him has a pride flag in the background. proud of my city 🍀👩❤️💋👩💜👨❤️👨 pic.twitter.com/0wADWbWfCE
— it’s fran! (@frannipan) March 17, 2018
First City Network Chairman Michael Ploski, who served in the Air Force in Vietnam, wore a rainbow flag and an Air Force cap to the parade. #savannah @savannahnow #savstpats pic.twitter.com/CzIlQtSjvM
— Mary Landers (@MaryLandersSMN) March 17, 2018
Yesterday, Mike Pence spent an absurd amount of taxpayer money to visit Savannah for 1 hour and a failed photo op. Businesses lost thousands of dollars on the biggest tourist day of the year due to security. Thanks to the protestors, we but we need accountability. @CREWcrew pic.twitter.com/U5mIyuluzD
— Tracy Brisson (@tracybrisson) March 18, 2018
VP Pence came to Savannah for St Pats. The city said No signs in the “Pence zone.” ACLU and local layers sued the city and won. Every Pence photo in the media has a gay pride sign in the background. The #resistance is real. pic.twitter.com/9TxayCbzDw
— Elissa Greene (@Far_fromNormal1) March 18, 2018
Some people protested for other causes, too.
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A protestor awaiting Vice President Mike Pence’s appearance in the #StPatricksDay2018 parade in #Savannah pic.twitter.com/Fw2pZEX9if
— GPB Savannah (@GPBSavannah) March 17, 2018
“I’m a married lesbian, I’m 30 years old, and I’d like to adopt children,” Savannah Kite, who wore a T-shirt that said “Gay, Irish and Proud,” told the Washington Post. “I think his policies have hurt queer people, and that bothers me.”
The “secure zone” set up by the Secret Service for Pence was also a sore subject for local businesses, which expect the parade day to be one of their more lucrative days each year.
“It looks like it’s going to kill our business,” said Shane Johnson, who owns a doughnut shop in Savannah. “We should be slammed wall-to-wall right now.”
Yesterday, VP Mike Pence visited Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parade for 1 hour, costing an absurd amount to taxpayers & lost sales to businesses who count on that day every year. Protestors made sure there were rainbows in every photo op with the bigot. @Amy_Siskind @woke_folk pic.twitter.com/vijzvIOwbn
— Tracy Brisson (@tracybrisson) March 18, 2018
But many people were happy to see Pence.
“That’s the American way,” said Mayor Eddie DeLoach. “And that is why I think it was so great. And then people who were for him got excited and hollered ‘USA’ so I was fired up.”
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