Saturday protests in support of the United States Postal Service reached across all 50 states, including a small demonstration at Flossmoor’s post office.
Demonstrators gathered to express dismay at recent moves by the federal government that they believe could degrade the ability of the agency to meet the needs of voters in the November election, according to a Washington Post report.
Flossmoor residents joined the effort about mid-morning. Three residents set up in front of the Flossmoor Post Office with signs showing their support for.
Terry and William Gillespie and Royal Klauk stood in front of the Flossmoor Post Office at 1020 Park Drive with signs expressing their support of the postal service.
Terry Gillespie said she sees the post office as not only a useful service, but as an integral part of life.
“I can’t imagine life without a post office,” she said.
Klauk agreed and indicated efforts to treat the service like a money-making business seem inappropriate.
“There’s no reason the post office should be a money making thing,” she said. “Are the armed services money making? No. They get funds from the national government and so should the post office.”
Gillespie said she suspects the recent changes, which have included removing mail-sorting machines from some postal facilities, might be linked to President Donald Trump’s statements that mail-in voting will hurt his chances of re-election.
“It’s just added a little knife twist of distrust,” she said. “You used to be able to count on the mail, and now it’s like maybe they won’t be able to. We’re living under this cloud of anxiety.”
All three said they had applied for mail-in ballots because they are concerned about the safety of voting in person during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One person stopped by shortly before 11 a.m. and asked the group what their purpose was.
In addition to raising awareness, Gillespie told the passerby they wanted the postal workers in Flossmoor to know they have support.