91茄子

By Maddy Sherer and Lauren Spiers

Voters gathered outside former President Donald Trump鈥檚 arraignment and discussed his criminal charges and their impact on the upcoming election. Some carried 鈥淏lack Lives Matter鈥� flags, while others dressed up as Trump.

Tom from Arizona said he was a lifelong Republican, but Trump has pushed him toward a more centrist perspective. 鈥淚f anything, this has brought us more to the center,鈥� Tom said. 鈥淚 think it brings a lot of people to the center. Everyone鈥檚 scooting toward this more independent-type thinking.鈥� Tom said his vote is decided at this point. 鈥淭he indictment outcome wouldn鈥檛 change my mind for how I feel about the party. I think both sides are so far apart. We just have to come together.鈥�

Mason Hudson, who wore a red 鈥淢ake America Great Again鈥� hat and a gray shirt with 鈥淭rump鈥檚 Life Matters鈥� written on it, said his vote would depend on the outcome of Trump鈥檚 potential trial. 鈥淚鈥檓 not going to vote for a guy who鈥檚 in jail,鈥� Hudson said. 鈥淏ut I don鈥檛 think he鈥檚 going to be physically in jail by then.鈥� Hudson also said he thought the court dates鈥� timing was suspicious. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 kind of funny that they鈥檙e scheduling these court dates really close to the primaries.鈥�

Hudson said he believes the election results following the indictment may surprise the public. 鈥淲ill it affect the outcome of the primary?鈥� Hudson said. 鈥淵ou know, I think it might help [Trump]. He鈥檚 got a lot of low supporters.鈥�

Herbert William said he was eager to see justice done.

鈥淚 came here to stand up for the people,鈥� William said. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking for justice for the people.鈥�

William said he felt optimistic about the outcome of the arraignment. 鈥淭he judge has a good reputation, and she won鈥檛 be pushed around. She鈥檚 used to handling the Jan. 6 cases. She鈥檚 fair.鈥� He said he also came to stand against the regressive politics of Trump鈥檚 supporters. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to get a psychiatrist to acknowledge what鈥檚 going on in America,鈥� William said. 鈥淧eople are fearful as changes are taking place.

These people [Trump supporters] want to turn back. They don鈥檛 want to go in that direction. And then they feel threatened by the change. That鈥檚 what MAGA is defined as. It鈥檚 all about 鈥楳ake America Great Again,鈥� meaning 鈥榤ake America the way it was.鈥� Nobody鈥檚 going back.鈥�