Dear Editor, Since Donald Trump was elected for the second time, I have been protesting a great deal, largely in Chittenden County. We get many honks and waves and thumbs-up, as well as the occasional thumbs-down — and, rarely, people flipping the bird.  I can imagine flipping the bird to protesters with whom I disagree, and I can deal with receiving that gesture, though I don’t think I would do it myself. What bothers me far more is the loud revving of trucks, speeding through intersections and blowing black smoke from their tailpipes, known as coal rolling. This is the practice of modifying a diesel truck so that it belches thick black exhaust on demand.  It’s jarring and dangerous, and definitely activates a fear response in me and others. Anecdotally, this happens at least once at most protests and sometimes more than that.  This past weekend, I was at a protest, and there were three incidents of coal rolling, perhaps perpetrated by the same person; I am not sure. What type of person does this? What type of person wants to scare people and put them in danger? We are peaceful protesters, standing with signs, waving our hands at times to motorists passing by.  Then I realized this is the type of person Trump is. He does not care that he is putting people in danger. He does not care that he is disruptive and scaring people. I suddenly saw this coal rolling as a metaphor for the current administration. And sadly, I no longer believe the type of person doing the coal rolling is open to facts, reason or compassion.  READ MORE What would stop one of these trucks from doing this? Maybe they would respond to law enforcement. Maybe not.  Just like our president. Krista Reincke Shelburne, Vt. Read the story on VTDigger here: What ‘coal rolling’ at protests tells us about this moment. ...read more read less