Worcester County residents attend inauguration, protests

The destination was the same, but their purposes reflected the national political divide, as some Worcester County traveled to Washington, D.C. Friday to witness the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump, while others went Saturday to join the Women’s March protest.

Christy and Buddy Trala of West Ocean City made the two-and-a-half hour drive from Worcester County with friends to attend the inauguration. They attended with Chesapeake City Mayor Dean Geracimos at the invitation of a friend and Trump campaign staffer.

“We had a great spot, as close as we could be. I wanted to support the new president and to be part of history,” Christy Trala said. “The crowd was massive; everyone was feeling more hopeful about the future.”

At the other end of the political discussion, Dell Purrell of Ocean Pines was less optimistic and participated in the Women’s March to rebuke the new president on his first day in office.

“I believe that women’s rights are human rights, and human rights are women’s rights,” Purrell said, echoing a sentiment of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign last year. “That’s not what I am seeing with this administration, and my voice needs to be heard.”

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