Cheryl Degler hasn’t been politically active most of her life, though she recalls her mother working for Republicans when she was a child. As an adult, the Overland Park native registered to vote about the time Ross Perot entered the 1992 presidential race.
“I always believed that a business person could run the country better than a politician,” Degler says.
Since that time, she’s been a voter, but never an activist.
“I voted for (George W.) Bush. I voted against Obama two times. Well, and then Trump came along,” she says.
Degler is an activist now.
The small business woman is organizing a Spirit of America Rally in Overland Park this weekend. It’s one of almost 60 such rallies taking place across the United States this week. The brainchild of a former Tea Party organizer, Debbie Dooley, the rallies will promote President Trump’s America First policies.
“These rallies are inclusive, non-partisan and open to anyone supporting President Trump in his efforts to bring back manufacturing jobs to America, to put the security of our nation ahead of political correctness, improve our infrastructure, revitalize the inner cities and secure our nation’s borders,” Dooley said in a Spirit of America press release.
Degler first learned about the Spirit of America rallies on social media. She contacted organizers to find out where she could attend one. She decided to organize one when she learned there wasn’t a rally scheduled nearby.
Trump’s policies are misconstrued by the mainstream media, according to Degler.
“We want to set the record straight that we’re here–the Silent Majority,” she says.
Pundits were surprised by Trump’s victory on Election night, and Degler says stories today are showing political activist protesters from the left to make viewers believe that view is a common view of America.
“We’re trying to be able to voice our opinion,” Degler says. “We’re behind our President. He has our support.”
Event Details
Turnout could number in the 50s or the 500s.
“We could get several thousand. I just don’t know. I’ve got busses coming from Wichita,” she says. “There’s nothing between Denver and St. Louis, but this rally. We’re kind of it for the center of America.”
The Spirit of America rally will be at noon on March 4 at the corner of 110th and Lamar in Overland Park. For more information about the event, visit the Facebook page or the Main Street Patriots website.