“Mark! Mark-o! I love the signs, man!”
Within five minutes of sitting with Mark Van De Carr, the owner of M & M Automotive, a customer and fan walks in to compliment him on the signs that now line Route 9, welcoming people into the town of Rhinebeck.
The huge wooden signs grab people’s attention with their red and blue lettering. The first thing you see is “Here’s What Makes America Great,” followed by four signs listing the rights in the constitution and the amendments that they correspond with.
The display ends with a call to action: a phone number where you can call Congress, (202) 224-321. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the senate office you wish to call.
If you are driving the other way you see different rights, including the right to a fair trial, stable and consistent leadership, and the right to peacefully assemble.
The right to peacefully assemble is particularly relevant right now with the protests that are occurring across the nation for No Kings Day. No Kings Day is a movement where Americans are encouraged to protest in the streets and defend our democracy.
On June 12, senator Padilla was handcuffed for interrupting the Secretary of Homeland Security. On No Kings Day a Democratic lawmaker, Melissa Hortman and her husband in Minnesota were assassinated.
These events have fueled the protests and reminded people of the rights displayed on Van De Carr’s signs.
Instead of talking about Trump, Van De Carr is taking aim at the slogan of the President and redefining it with the fundamental principles that underlie a stable and functioning government. He believes that the signs are the best way to grab people’s attention.
“People don’t want a book, they want a soundbyte”, VanDeCarr said.
Van De Carr indicated that the response from the public to these signs has been overwhelmingly positive, but that he is always “waiting for someone to ask [him] to take them down.”
Van De Carr doesn’t work alone; he has collaborated with Norm Magnuson who also runs Radio Free Rhinecliff, a station that provides a differing perspective from the mainstream media.
Van De Carr believes that the state of the country is the result of a racist backlash after Obama’s presidency. In his view, people are still mad Obama was elected.
Van De Carr’s wife of five years was the one who inspired the signs. She grew up in Brazil when millions of people were disappeared by the government.
“They can only get away with it if everyone is afraid to speak up,” she said, drawing a connection between the corruption of the Balsinaro presidency and Trump’s infringement on civil rights.
“People have no idea how bad it will get,” Van De Carr said.
According to Van De Carr, even if you think you’re safe, you’re not because eventually Trump will come for you too if you are in his way. That’s why it is so important for him to speak up to defend these rights.
Van De Carr still has hope for this country because according to him, we were in a similar state right before FDR was elected. He is taking an optimist lens, believing that soon new leadership will come into office just like FDR did. Until then, Van De Carr is doing all he can to speak up for the rights in the Constitution.
As one sign read at the No Kings Day protest at the Lions’ Mini-park in Rhinebeck on June 14, “Nothing Is More American Than Opposing a Tyrant.”
As we can clearly see, Rhinebeck is not going to stay quiet.
“There’s more signs coming!” Van De Carr shouted in response to the man who came to compliment his work.
