Crowd gathers on Capitol steps for ‘impeachment eve’

Harrisburg’s rally was one of many around the country in which people who oppose President Donald Trump turned out to celebrate his possible ouster.

• Katie Meyer
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  Katie Meyer was WITF’s Capitol Bureau Chief from 2016-2020. While at WITF, she covered all things state politics for public radio stations throughout Pennsylvania. Katie came to Harrisburg by way of New York City, where she worked at Fordham University’s public radio station, WFUV, as an anchor, general assignment reporter, and co-host of an original podcast. A 2016 graduate of Fordham, she earned several awards for her work at WFUV, including four 2016 Gracies.
  
  Katie is a native New Yorker, though she originally hails from Troy, a little farther up the Hudson River. She can attest that the bagels are still pretty good there.
  
  WITF's Capitol Bureau Chief Desk is partially funded through generous gifts made in the memory of Tony May through the Anthony J. May Memorial Fund.
  
  For more information about Tony May, click here.

 Katie Meyer / WITF

Ralliers gather in Harrisburg to support the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

(Harrisburg) — House Democrats are expected to vote Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump.

And so on Tuesday evening, at least a hundred people rallied on the state Capitol steps in anticipation, repeatedly breaking into chants of “lock him up”—a refrain Trump himself has long deployed at his rallies in reference to Hillary Clinton.

Lots of the ralliers at the Capitol, like Robert Brown of Harrisburg, said they’re supporting impeachment so fervently because they want a return to some sort of normalcy in politics.

Katie Meyer / WITF

At least 100 people packed the Capitol steps to make their support for impeachment known.

“We’ve got to get the deceit out of the White House,” Brown said. “Once we do that, I really think that it would level the peace and the happiness and the enjoyment of the people.”

Jim Williams of Camp Hill agreed. Trump’s presidency, he said, has left him feeling destabilized.

“Everyone’s tired of such erratic behavior. We’re more than ready to get back to normal,” he said, adding that if the Senate doesn’t vote to remove the president, he’s banking on Trump losing next year’s election.

Several state lawmakers spoke.

Philadelphia Democratic Representative Chris Rabb urged ralliers not to settle for “normal,” and to stay engaged in politics even if Trump leaves office.

“Trump,” he said, “is a symptom.”

The rally was organized by several groups that frequently organize protests around Harrisburg.

Anna Drallios, who coordinates the group Tuesdays with Toomey, said it was the biggest turnout she’s ever gotten.