GOP supporters protest Jill Biden's visit to Allentown

Roughly two dozen GOP supporters marched through downtown Allentown as first lady Jill Biden visited the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday afternoon.

The GOP supporters protested against the Biden administration and Democratic U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, according to a Facebook post from the Lehigh County Republican Committee, which encouraged protesters to “tell them that we’re tired of the lies from the Biden administration.”

Starting outside of Wild’s office at the federal courthouse, the protesters walked up Hamilton Street around 1:30 p.m. while being monitored by several police officers.

The protesters stopped at Seventh Street, near Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Donley Center, where Biden and Wild were. Police officers blocked the nearby section of Hamilton Street leading to the college.

Protesters chanted slogans such as “Vote them out,” “Trump ’24,” “Tell the truth” and “Back the blue.” Some were carrying American flags, as well as Trump flags. Others were holding signs with messages such as “Make America Great Again” and “Fire Susan Wild.”

Lehigh County resident Heather Wickett held a large blue flag calling for Trump’s reelection. She said she wanted to protest against Joe Biden and Wild because she feels they don’t protect veterans or the country’s borders, and blamed them for a “horrible” economy.

“There are many issues,” she said.

Michelle Mattus, who lives in Ridley Park, Delaware County, said she came to support GOP state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who is challenging Wild in her reelection bid in the Lehigh Valley-based 7th Congressional District.

“I think that this is a congressional seat that is critically important for a Republican to win and take back from the Democrats,” she said.

Mattus added that she was disappointed with Joe Biden’s performance during his debate against Trump last week, and that she was concerned with his mental health.

By around 2:40 p.m., the protesters left the intersection of Hamilton and Seventh before breaking off into smaller groups, with some leaving the protest and others moving to Walnut Street.

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