Fountain Square offers a place for energetic activism

AMENIA — Toots and a variety of political comments on all sides were heard from passersby on Saturday, July 5, inspired by a daily demonstration at Fountain Square initiated by a local resident.

Maker of the signs and initiator of the “No Kings” protest is Kimberley Travis of Amenia who began her solo appearances two weeks ago. By this weekend, one additional Amenia resident, Angus Elliott, had joined her to hold a sign and wave to motorists.

Travis said that she would like to have even more residents join in for some or all of the time. She plans to protest daily, except Sundays, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Self-described as “a full-time activist,” Travis said that she began her activism in 1974, protesting the Vietnam war as a child.

A former actress and stand-up comedian, Travis majored in Theater at New York University, and while pursuing a theater career, she worked as a legal secretary at a major New York law firm. She has worked as a personal trainer and been active in animal rescue work, volunteering at an animal shelter.

Her theatrical training supports her vocal projection strength, useful for conversation with passing motorists that she characterizes as mostly positive, like a toot. Even opposite viewpoints are delivered with good-natured civility, Travis noted.