Trailer Park Victory Chapter 26: Safety

 

c. 2025 Rod Ice

All rights reserved

(1-25)

 

 

With a political earthquake happening in Washington, D.C., and across America, the Geauga County Safety Center had suddenly become a focal point for news stories in the region. This intrigued Libby K. Raal, and lifted her out of the doldrums where she had languished since failing with her trailer park manuscript. Daily reports from WJW, the Fox affiliate in Cleveland, showed protesters of all kinds surrounding the large facility. Members of AntiFa, Black Lives Matter, Earth Liberation Front, Queer Nation, and even Redneck Revolt were participating. The latter of these groups wore T-shirts that carried their progressive slogan, ‘Putting the RED back in redneck!’ Sheriff’s deputies and members of other departments from northeastern Ohio who were providing mutual aid, stood as a buffer between the angry mob and its target. The facility’s population had swollen recently, with illegal, foreign nationals apprehended in Immigration & Customs Enforcement raids. This attracted much attention from opponents of the new federal administration, and its MAGA supporters. The result was loud, colorful, and very unpredictable. A chore for local law officers to manage, successfully.

 

Chanting continued from sunrise to sunset, despite the frigid temperatures. The zeal of student activists and their allies in the mainstream media could not be silenced.

 

“NO NAZIS, NO KKK! ELON MUSK, GO THE HELL AWAY! TRUMPER FASCISTS, FUCK THEM ALL! PUT THOSE BASTARDS UP AGAINST THE WALL!”

 

Rachel Madcow, hero of MSNBC fame, and a figure of renown with those who were disgusted by the rightward tilt happening to their government, decided to broadcast live from the parking lot via a satellite feed. Her program quickly became the highest-rated broadcast by any news outlet from coast to coast.

 

“WELCOME TO THE MADCOW MOO! HEAR ME, SISTERS! WE WON’T BE QUIET, WE WON’T BE WELL-BEHAVED WOMEN! WE WON’T LIVE IN A ‘HANDMAID’S TALE’ KIND OF FANTASY FOR THESE TRUMPER TROOPERS! THEY CAN ALL BURN IN HADES! GET YOUR FISTS IN THE AIR, AND FIGHT LIKE HARDCORE BITCHES, NOT HIGH-SOCIETY LADIES! DO IT RIGHT – DO IT RIGHT NOW!”

 

The television personality looked sharp and smart, with her short-cropped hair, and oversized glasses. As a Rhodes Scholar, she was a formidable enemy for anyone who thought themselves to be a superior intellectual force.

 

“WE’RE COMING TO YOU LIVE TODAY, FROM A STRONGHOLD IN THE HEARTLAND, VIRTUALLY OWNED BY THE ORANGE MAN AND HIS SYCOPHANTS! THE ARMY OF FIERCE FEMMES WE’VE PUT TOGETHER TODAY IS READY TO GET THEIR CLAWS INTO THE FAT, WHITE ASSES OF THESE MAGA GOONS! I AM SO PROUD OF THEM, AND OUR SPIRITUAL SIBLINGS, EVERYWHERE!”

 

Debris rained down on the contingent of deputies, as chanting continued to echo.

 

“NO NAZIS, NO KKK! ADOLF HITLER IS IN HIS GRAVE! DON’T RAISE YOUR ARM IN A HEIL SALUTE, WE’LL BREAK YOUR FINGERS AND PISS ON YOUR BOOTS!”

 

The unruly throng soon began to surge toward, in a show of strength. But this test of the law brigade only brought out tear gas and rubber bullets. Riot shields were held high. Soon, the mass of college kids and their volunteer instructors was overwhelmed.

 

Libby watched in horror, yet kept scribbling notes in her journal. She took photos with a cell phone, and sent texts to both newspaper editors that had rejected her work before.

 

Inside the facility, Aimes Hefti crouched on a bench in his holding cell. Other prisoners who surrounded him seemed to speak no English. So, he felt very isolated. And wished that some of his militia cohorts might stage a violent incursion, to set him free. Something he thought would be unlikely, in view of the armed contingent already on duty.

 

Outside, Sheriff Tom T. Rath raised a bullhorn, and addressed the protest gang directly. He had been well-trained for handling situations where conflict resolution was a priority. But now, on his home turf, the battle lines were more severe to behold. Everything about his career turned pale when pondering that the wellness of his home community was now in jeopardy. He had no involvement with decisions made in Columbus, at the White House, or on Capitol Hill. Yet his life, and those of citizens in his county, all hung in the balance.

 

Long shadows streaked across the concrete, as angry outbursts continued to resound.

 

“NO NAZIS, NO KKK! THE TRUMPER TRIPE IS ON DISPLAY! IT’S MAKES US SICK, THAT FOUL BUFFET! ELON REEKS, LIKE JUNIOR RFK!”

 

The din of dissent had been deafening for so long that few seemed to notice a throaty roar of diesel rigs, coming in from Thompson Township. These big-tired, jacked-up haulers were belching black smoke, and spitting shards of scorched rubber. While the invaders from Lake Erie cheerfully made their voices heard, a note of opposition began to provide contrast. Circling the spacious lot, a row of trucks rolled into place. Their occupants brandished rifles, shotguns, and pistols of all sorts. Confederate flags waved alongside Gadsden standards, and Trump banners from the last campaign season. Then, a chorus of Lee Greenwood boomed through speakers in the biggest of this brawling brood, a Chevy Silverado, running on the rugged driveline from a military personnel carrier.

 

“If tomorrow, all the things were gone

I’d worked for all my life

And I had to start again

With just my children and my wife

I’d thank my lucky stars

To be living here today

‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom

And they can’t take that away

 

And I’m proud to be an American

Where at least I know I’m free

And I won’t forget the men who died

Who gave that right to me

And I’d gladly stand up

Next to you and defend her still today

‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land

God bless the USA!”

 

Tears of respect and honor were flowing, even from Rath and his deputies. Then, one of the mobile-home residents stepped forward, with his head bowed in a gesture of diplomacy.

 

“Sheriff, ya got one of our own held captive right now. There ain’t a reason fer that, because no charges got filed. That stinking drunk never spoke up about getting whacked. Maybe he realized that it was justified. I’ll give him, and yer ass, my benefit of the doubt. So, here’s the deal, open that cell and let him go! We’ll call it even. Otherwise, I’ve got two-dozen pickups waiting to smash through yer front doors. There’ll be a lot of bloodshed when that happens, I know it. You don’t want the headache, and neither do any of us. All we want is our commander back among the ranks, where he belongs!”

 

Rath took off his Stratton uniform hat, and held it by the brim, in his fingers. He answered in a whisper that was only audible between himself and the militia representative.

 

“Citizen, I stand for the law. Nothing more or less. My personal opinions don’t count in that equation. I swore an oath to perform my duties, and by God, that’s what I’ll do. The courts will sort out this mess, that’s above my pay grade. If you really love this land, and this state, then it’s time to step aside. If you want to make a peaceful demonstration, that’s your right. But if your aim is to start giving orders, then I’ve got to send you home. I don’t take directions from you, or any group. I take them from the governor, and pray that whatever I ultimately did was right!”