Residents rally at RB post office in support of local postal workers
Redondo Beach resident David Poster, a 93-year-old veteran of World War II and the Korean War, organized a MoveOn.org rally on Saturday, in support of postal workers. Photos
by Rachel Reeves
When David Poster, a 93-year-old veteran of World War II and the Korean War, saw the online invitation to participate in a nationwide rally, he knew he had to be there. Entitled SAVE THE POST OFFICE FROM TRUMP, the notice was circulating via MoveOn.org, imploring the people to show up at a local post office at 11 a.m. on Aug. 22, three days later.
Poster, who lives with his daughter Vanessa in Redondo Beach, had been disturbed by news of changes occurring at the United States Postal Service (USPS), an institution he considers as American as democracy. It bothered him deeply that the newly appointed postmaster-general, a major donor to Donald Trump’s reelection campaign, was hellbent on cutting the organization’s costs just months before an election during which voters are likely to feel unsafe congregating at polling places. As a result of the cuts, mail deliveries were being delayed. Poster wondered why suddenly the USPS was being treated like a business.
“What is not mentioned in the Constitution is that the post office is required to make a profit, any more than the Army is required to show a profit for its services,” Poster said.
“The post office is a vital lifeline for people,” Vanessa added. “If we really have a true democracy then we have something where everyone can afford to send a piece of mail.” Poster is an incumbent candidate in the upcoming Beach Cities Health District Board of Trustees election.
“And receive,” her father interjected.
“And receive,” she said. “Prescriptions. Social security. Ballots.”
After reading the MoveOn.org invitation last Wednesday, Poster checked the box indicating he was willing to “host an action.”
“He became the host, which meant that I became the host,” Vanessa said, laughing.
She offered to help because she saw passion in him. She sent emails, made lists, and contacted the Redondo Beach Police Department to inform officers of the rally. The elder Poster anticipated a couple dozen people, “perhaps 25,” he said.
On Saturday morning, he arrived at the Redondo Beach Post Office wearing a mask and a face shield, carrying a six-foot staff his daughter instructed him to use to enforce social distancing guidelines. He carried a sign that read “Honk if you love the post office.”
Vanessa laid out water bottles beneath the shade of a tree and sprayed them with disinfectant.
More than 60 masked people showed up. They spaced themselves six feet apart down Catalina Ave., from PCH and beyond the United States Postal Service building. They stood there, in the midst of a heatwave, and chanted. They yelled to workers in postal trucks: “We love you! We appreciate you!” Cars honked as they passed.
A lone man stood on the other side of the street, yelling profanities at the people participating in the rally until police officers asked him to stop.
Vanessa moved through the line, asking questions about what had motivated people to show up. They had come from Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Torrance, El Segundo. There was even a participant visiting from New York. All were united by an appreciation for the more than 600,000 people nationwide who deliver the mail.
“It was just really heartwarming,” Vanessa said.
“Reassuring,” her father added.
“Yes, reassuring, to see that passion and compassion in such a scary, lonely time,” she added. “It’s especially important to maintain connection and build community right now.”
The Redondo Beach rally was one of more than 700 rallies held nationwide in honor of Save the Post Office Saturday. ER