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Letting one’s voice be heard and counted is not an uncommon thing in Asbury Park.

This year alone, there have been a host of marches and rallies held in support of environmental protection, LGBT and Women’s rights, to name a few. Each has drawn crowds numbering in hundreds, if not the thousands.

So it came as no surprise that Sen. Cory Booker was at Langosta Lounge early Friday morning to show his support for 11th District Democratic Assembly incumbents Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey, and Senate candidate Vin Gopal. Booker immediately followed the fundraising event by stopping by Garden State Equality’s headquarters on Main Street.

“Asbury Park is really a center of activity and the city is really doing a great job,” Booker said. “But this is where Garden State Equality has their home office so I thought doing [a rally] here would be a really important thing. This city is really on the move and I’m so excited about the activism here, especially around the LGBT issues.”

This was the second rally held within a week locally to support of the U.S. Military’s transgender service members and the message once again was to take action.

“One of the best things for me, is that we have seen the action of the American people,” Booker said. “We have shown from protest at airports against Muslim bands, the Women’s March here in Asbury Park to Washington DC itself. Often we define who we are during the most challenging times.”

Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino said this particular issue of banning transgender service members hits close to home.

“My partner is a Marine,” Fuscarino said. “He serves alongside 15,000 transgender troops all throughout our military. Instituting a ban only weakens our forces and sends a message to the troops that their service is not valued. Our service members stand and defend our nation’s sacred values day in and day out. Trump’s decision undermines those values and is a disservice to our military and our country.”

Among those in attendance were Army veteran Babs Siperstein, the DNC’s first openly transgender woman commented; former Freeholder candidate Army Capt. Sue Fulton; VFW 1302 Post Commander and Ret. Army Sgt. Major Jennifer Long – a Bronze Star and French National Defense medal recipient for her actions in Afghanistan who transitioned during her time of service to the nation; Democratic Committee Chair and BOE member Joe Grillo; Musician and Chiropractor Dr. Geena Buono, Amanda Kane, a Women’s March Asbury Park organizer; Asbury Park Councilman Jesse Kendle; Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty; Assemblymembers Downey and Houghtaling; and Neptune City Councilwoman Pamela Renee.

“It was like a low blow, but the irony is that we just had a victory in the House,” Siperstein said of reading Trump’s tweeted policy change. “The Hartzler Amendment was going to deny our transgender troops basic medical benefits. We won that but the enemy never sleeps. Nineteen State’s attorney generals came out with a positive statement against our tweeting trump. But we need to take America back again. The mission starts now.”

Long, who began transitioning during the end of her 30 year military career, said 150,000 transgender have already passed through the ranks.

“We are ready, we are patriots, and we are here to do our jobs,” she said as the crowd gave resounding applause. “That ability to serve comes from the deepest heart that drives everyone who raises their right hand to serve. And, we should all have that opportunity if we desire to serve our nation and protect it in its time of need. That service is done by a wide variety of service members in the transgender community. We are 15,000 strong and we are in all branches and all job sites.”

Fulton, a 1980 West Point graduate wore their black and gold colors in support of Cadet Simone Askew, the first black woman to achieve the rank of First Captain, and the upcoming cadet barrack dedication being named in honor of Tuskegee Airmen Commander Benjamin O Davis Jr.

“I’m also wearing West Point colors because yesterday, I stood on a stage with an active duty captain who has served in the Infantry, in the Airborne, a Ranger in Special Forces, and she is transitioning,” Fulton said. “These are the kinds of people who serve.”

Fulton also thanked Booker for work in helping Cadet Riley Dosh, who fulfilled her four years at West Point but not allowed to be commissioned into the U.S. Army.

In the end, Booker implored those in attendance to continue to fight and work together in advancement of the ideals of the nation.

“All of us cannot allow any of our elected leaders to be silent during this time of bigotry and hatred directed at great patriotic Americans,” Booker said. “Please be demanding right now for justice in our country.

“We cannot let down our guard,” he said before reciting a portion of Ella’s Song lyrics made famous by Sweet Honey In The Rock.“We who believe in freedom cannot rest. We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it’s won.

“Let us be relentless, let us be restless, let us keep fighting for our democracy, for our values, for our ideals, so that one day we can truly say in this county that we are indeed free at last,” Booker said.

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