About 30 people sporting and waving pro Obama signs rallied peacefully at Laurel Park in Los Alamitos on Thursday evening. Several came to support Jennifer Drudge after reading in last week’s edition of the News Enterprise how her campaign signs were vandalized and torn down in front of her home.
“We are here to promote a peaceful gathering showing neighborhood solidarity,” said Drudge. She is planning on having another rally on Oct. 30, at 5:30 p.m., at Laurel Park.
Drudge, 35, of Los Alamitos, who supports Obama’s Healthcare initiative, has had health care insurance issue personally affect her family. “My niece has had to have two open heart surgeries, so this really hits home,” she said. “An upcoming surgery would put her family at three-quarters of her lifetime limit, and would be considered a pre-existing condition by any other insurance company.”
Mary Conway, 57, of Los Alamitos said her signs had been vandalized, as well. “We have a lot of Obama haters in the area,” she said. “I just wanted to come down and show my support for the right causes such as health care, keeping our unions, and keeping hands off of Social Security and Medicare.”
Other rally attendees voiced concerns over a woman’s right to choose, gay and lesbian rights, and keeping unions alive. “Women need to make the choice over what to do with their own bodies,” said Sharon Heron, 65, of Cypress who is also retired from the Teamsters.
Pat Goodman, 63, of Huntington Beach came to the rally representing the Democratic Club of West Orange County. “We need to show a civility in dialog working towards good solutions for the country,” she said. “We are organizing America through e-mails and our club members.”
Joyce Malugeon, 74, of Cypress came to the rally to show her enthusiasm and be with like-minded people as did Lisa Francais, 55, of Los Alamitos. “I came out today to support Jennifer,” she said. “It’s not easy to find people who think alike.”
For more information on future campaign rallies, go online at www.barackobama.com.