However, a number of other towns and villages have also been hit by flooding, including Great Glen, where Cimi Kazazi waded through waist-high water to rescue a woman from a stranded car.

Over the years, Metzger waded into Democratic electoral politics — not too deeply nor successfully — then turned in frustration to assembling his own group with its own angry acronym, WAR, White Aryan Resistance.

Officials said one person yelled a “homophobic slur” and another thew “wads of paper” at the pedestrian.

At the protest, Goldberg, who walks haltingly with a cane, waded into a shouting, shoving crowd to stand with the school’s supporters and try to engage with the other side.

Others outside Italy have waded into the debate too.