BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Most Monday workdays end at 5 p.m. For one dedicated group of Black Mountain residents, 5 p.m. is when their work begins.
The “Monday Group” is a weekly meeting of “pro-democracy protesters,” founded by a small collective of Black Mountain residents in the days after the reelection of President Donald Trump. While the group does not have a name outside of their weekday affiliation, many members share the convictions of pro-democracy nonprofits like Indivisible AVL.
Since February 2025, the protestors have met at 5 p.m. every week in Black Mountain Town Square, waving signs and peace flags at passing traffic and curious pedestrians. The demonstrations last 45 minutes, rain, shine or blizzard, with participants lining up along State Street and Montread Road in the downtown Black Mountain park.
According to Debra Rae Cohen, Black Mountain resident and an organizer of the Monday Group, the group’s numbers vary week to week. During the most recent No Kings rally in Black Mountain, Cohen reported that 1,200 protestors joined the cause at the town square. On quieter weeks, anywhere from 30-80 protestors take to the sidewalk.
“We are peaceful and do not let hecklers provoke us, but we sing, we dance, we wave signs, we get trucks to honk,” Cohen said. “The town is okay with it. They just tell us to keep the sidewalks clear.”
The lively demonstrations are fully permitted.
Cohen said that the response from the community has been tremendously supportive. During the most recent protest on Monday, April 13, cars enthusiastically blasted their horns for the duration of the event, par for the course for the demonstrations.
Cohen said that the group stands for more than simply protesting Trump.
“Despite the prevailing view being, of course, anti-Trump, we have always tried to focus on what we are for,” Cohen said in a statement. “So we are pro-democracy, pro-civil rights, pro-rule of law, pro-diversity, pro-education, pro-forestry. All of those things this administration has made a point of trying to dismantle.”
Rather than casting a shroud of negativity on what present politics are not, the group has become a beacon of community action for many. Cohen said that the purpose of the Monday Group is to remind the Black Mountain community – residents, visitors and themselves alike – that there is a large contingent of Black Mountain people who stand for the principles the protests promote.
According to Cohen, even those who disagree with the Monday Group are treated with courtesy.
“We just smile and wave,” Cohen said.
The atmosphere at the April 13 rally was familiar, with protestors chatting amongst their companions, complimenting others’ signs and leaning on their neighbors for support. Several protestors said they had attended many of the rallies since the beginning. However, even for newer participants, every sign pointed to the intention of returning next week.
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CORRECTION – 1:38 p.m., Wednesday, April 15 – This article has been updated with specific figures for the No Kings protest and clearer details about the length and frequency of “Monday Group” meetings, as well as a longer statement from Debra Rae Cohen.
