Protesters call for Trump’s impeachment outside Conor Lamb’s office in Mt. Lebanon

Saying America’s democracy is at stake, more than 150 people rallied Tuesday night outside U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb’s office in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mt. Lebanon, calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

“It’s the right time to do the right thing,” said Joe Shaughnessy, 52, a Mt. Lebanon resident who held a sign that read, “Trump is not above the law.”

With temperatures hovering just below freezing and light snow falling, dozens of protesters waved signs eliciting honks from drivers passing by. They chanted, “Impeach, remove, U.S.A. improve,” “Lock him up,” and “Vote him out.” Seven people each held a single letter in a line to spell out “IMPEACH.”

“It’s about preserving democracy, and I’m amazed at how fragile it is. It’s very scary,” said Tom Oles, an Upper St. Clair retired insurance industry professional who attended the event with his wife, Deborah Gibbon.

“He’s violating the Constitution; he’s violating his oath of office; he’s inciting foreign interference in elections,” Oles said.

The protest was among more than 500 impeachment-related rallies planned around the country on the eve of a full House vote on the impeachment articles proposed by the House Judiciary Committee.

“Thank you, Connor!” read a large banner carried by several people alongside Route 19/Washington Road.

Lamb, 35, a self-dubbed “moderate” Democrat serving his first full term in Congress, said last week he plans to vote in support of both proposed articles of impeachment lodged against Trump.

“I did not come to Congress to impeach the president,” Lamb said in a statement. “But, I took an oath to protect our country and defend the Constitution. What the president did was wrong. It made our country less safe.”

Political observers note that being vocal about his impeachment support could alienate some constituents in Lamb’s district, where Lamb was elected by winning over areas that supported Trump in 2016.

A likely House victory for the impeachment articles looks to tee up a Senate trial to decide whether Trump abused his power, obstructed Congress and should be removed from office.

Republicans have stood firm in opposing the impeachment attempt.

“The Senate is refusing to stand up to him,” said Gibbon. “It’s a frightening time right now. People aren’t playing nice anymore. It’s very, very divisive.”

At Tuesday’s rally in Mt. Lebanon, which lasted less than two hours and did not involve any public safety incidents, vehicles honked and drivers shouted their support for Trump protesters in waves, whereas seemingly annoyed or ambivalent drivers hurried along.

At least a few people in cars shouted profanities at them.

“The Trump supporters drive by real fast,” a child with protesters commented to a nearby adult.

A pair of young kids riding in an SUV with the windows rolled down shouted, “Go Trump! Go Trump!”