With an estimated seven million people across the country showing up, including as many as 20,000 in Denver, it appears that the weekend’s ‘No Kings’ demonstration topped even the first version of the event held last summer. That one, held June 14th, coincidentally the same day as Trump’s birthday and ostensibly to mark the 250th anniversary of the Army, was estimated at five million.
Saturday’s event, one of an estimated 2,600 across each American time zone, had its own unique tapestry. ‘No Kings’ rallies took place in major cities, small towns and even places well beyond our borders. Some protests were held in Berlin, Lisbon, Prague and beyond. More importantly, the gatherings were the opposite of what Republican leaders predicted they would be.
Republican talking points, which seemed coordinated as well as punctuated with many of the same adjectives, painted it has ‘hate-filled,’ and choreographed by ‘paid Antifa’ professionals. But Denver police, along with public safety officials in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C., counted few to no arrests.
In Denver where brisk but sunny fall weather forced people to layer up, Colorado’s state capitol was ground zero for the state’s biggest ‘No Kings’ protest. All ages, all hues, including various costumed participants and a diverse smattering of dogs, filled the grounds and, later the streets, to send a message to the President.
It appeared, based on the messages drawn on the signs, that there was no single reason to protest, but an overarching list of reasons for coming into the city and joining the demonstration.
Some protested the administration’s near elimination of the USAID program, others teemed with anger over immigration policies, ICE, federal job cuts, anti-DEI, health care issues, foreign policy, overreaching authority and no surprise, the Epstein files.
But nothing says protest as well as the imagination it sparks when Americans want to truly share their feelings. The Capitol grounds were peppered with a few protestors dressed up like Founding Fathers or iconic American symbols. George Washingtons, Ben Franklins, Lady Liberty and, of course, adult-sized chickens and superheroes all meandered through the crowd.
Signs exploded in both emotional and often humorous ways. ‘Not My President: 86/47,’ ‘Elect a Clown, Expect a Circus,’ ‘Make Nazis Afraid Again.’ Creativity ran wild.
While Republican leadership flailed in its effort to label the nationwide protest as a ‘hate America’ powder keg orchestrated and financed by the likes of George Soros and other outside players, now retired Bill Lucero called it just the opposite, a lesson in democracy.
“This is what we have come to expect from MAGA,” said Lucero. “They want you to believe the right to assemble and (exercise) free speech is un-American.” Lucero also had high praise for the peaceful nature of the ‘No Kings’ demonstrations.
Trump, he said, may have been disappointed that protests failed to “turn violent.” Had they, Lucero guessed, Trump would have an excuse to use the Insurrection Act and “crush his enemies.” The retired jurist also took the opportunity to contrast the peaceful approach from the weekend’s rally with the sheer violence of January 6th.
One of the speakers for the Denver rally was former Colorado state senator Joe Salazar. He called the 20,000 strong rally “a powerful and pivotal day for the nation.”
‘No Kings,’ said Salazar, was a singular American call for people to rise up “in nonviolent protest against this authoritarian administration,” adding, “we are not the domestic enemy that Trump has tried to paint us to be…we are defenders of our constitution.”
Still, while the rally was more than gratifying for the estimated seven million who participated, Salazar says, “it is not enough.” The former state legislator says Americans need to organize, energize and work together to keep strong the foundations of our society. “That’s the way we overcome the destruction of this Trump regime.”
In Greeley, education advocate and activist Rhonda Solis, joined hundreds of others for a ‘small town’ ‘No Kings’ protest. While the numbers were modest compared to urban centers, the enthusiasm was the same.
“It was great to see so many community members come together,” Solis said. “It wasn’t just about issues that affect an individual, but issues that also affect our neighbors.”
Despite the emotions that inspired Saturday’s ‘No Kings’ rallies, including the president’s latest campaign of using missiles to dispatch suspected drug boats off the Venezuelan shore, there was no comity or goodwill coming from the president.
Instead, he shared his opinion of ‘No Kings’ in an inarguably vile, tasteless late night Truth Social posting. In the AI generated video, he is at the controls of a fighter jet. But instead of a pilot’s helmet, he is wearing a crown as he maneuvers the plane over a massive protest to drop a payload of feces on those gathered below. The video is tagged “King Trump Strikes Back.”
Trump’s high-tech video was unmistakable in sharing his opinion about his detractors. But the messages on their homemade signs also left little room for guessing exactly how they felt about him.
