Over 1,000 Protest Toll Hikes at Perryville Public Hearing

Hundreds of people packed the auditorium, cafeteria and hallways of Perryville High School on Thursday night to make their opposition to proposed Susquehanna River bridges toll increases be heard loud and clear by the Maryland Transportation Authority.

About 120 people had signed up to testify at the public hearing an hour after the start of the public hearing, one of many the MdTA has been holding around the state.

An hour and a half into the meeting, the speakers had only been state and local government officials.

The overflowing crowd, however, which comprised about 1,000 people at its peak, made its views known by its presence alone.

People seated in the auditorium waved signs demanding "No Higher Tolls Hatem Bridge" and cheered and shouted throughout the testimonies of the government speakers.

Outside, signs on vehicles included messages like "MTA = Money Taking [Expletive]."

A smaller rally also took advantage of the crowds to collect signatures for a petition to repeal a state bill that would give tuition breaks to illegal immigrants. That tent also attracted a steady flow of people.

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