Hundreds of people turned out Saturday morning for the “No Kings” protest coordinated by the local chapter of Indivisible.
The march’s date coincided with the birthday of President Trump, which in turn coincided with the 250thbirthday of the US Army- an event that President Trump chose to commemorate with a costly military parade, arousing controversy even among supporters.
Signs abounded, some snarky, some amusing. The crowd, between 750 and 1,000 people took over both sides of State Street, receiving plenty of supportive horn-honking from passers by. Photo by Carole Brodsky.According to national organizers, the No Kings protest was designed as a “day of defiance…to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like.” Over 2,000 separate protests were scheduled throughout the US. The demonstrations were organized by more than 200 separate groups including SEIU, the ACLU, Sierra Club, the American Federation of Teachers, Greenpeace, faith groups and hundreds more.
Locally, organizers were looking forward to a day of community and shared support. In part, because of President Trump’s warning that any protester in Washington DC would be “met with very big force,” and also due to the skirmishes that took place during recent protests in Los Angeles, the focus in Ukiah was on safety. Event organizers wore green armbands to easily identify themselves to the crowd. Medical personnel were on hand and attendees were urged to walk away and de-escalate any tense encounters. During past protests, a smattering of Trump supporters would take up a position across the street from the Mendocino County Courthouse. This time, no representatives from the Republican Party or individual Trump supporters were present.
Robin feels that the Trump Administration poses a direct threat to democracy. photo by Carole Brodsky“We’re hoping for huge numbers of people enjoying a peaceful, pleasant day of demonstration,” noted organizers Susan Klimist-Zingo.
“This is a day for community, courage and compassion. We operate from love,” says organizer Janet Rosen.
Rather than make speeches, the Indivisible team chose to read from three documents they felt were germinal to their goal of promoting an understanding of and respect for democracy. The Declaration of Independence was read by long-time thespian and educator Ellen Weed. Following that reading, the Army Office Oath and the Constitution were read. Some attendees felt that listening to the words of the Founders and the oaths that bind those that serve the people and the Constitution acted as a somber reminder of the fragility of a still-young Republic.
David Scollin is concerned about the erosion of scientific research in the Trump White House. photo by Carole Brodsky.Taylor Bower, 23 is a college student at the Dharma Realm University and a Ukiah native. “I felt it was important to do something,” he explains. “When I was a kid, I was homeschooled. My mom read to me about Civil Rights, and how people opposed Hitler and the Nazis. I’d wondered what I’d do if I were faced with that situation, and with everything ramping up, it was obvious I had to get involved. Being young, there was no question for me. Locally, I’m part of a super pro-active group of people that are trying to set an example and show how this is done.” As a trans man, Bower is at the symbolic tip of the spear when it comes to concerns about rights and freedoms being curtailed. “I want to emphasize how welcoming this community has been.”
Molly Huddleston and Jerry Rubio are “mad as hell.”
“This tyrannical rule needs to change,” says Rubio. “We need collaboration over competition,” says Huddleston, adding that “Newsom got it right,” referring to the Governor’s recent response to President Trump’s mobilization of the Marines and the National Guard in response to anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles.
Holding a sign depicting a cat kicking a crown, with the word “Nope” prominently displayed, David Scollin said, “I felt like I had to do something to resist the craziness in government. We’re losing our scientific research. We’re discouraging scientists from coming into our country.”
“If There’s Money for a Parade, Then There’s Money For Medicaid” said a sign held by Robin. “I’m appalled how quickly the wrecking ball has been turned on DC,” she notes. “We’re citizens. There’s still a gang of Fascists who created Project 2025, and they’ll still be there even after Trump is gone.” She is referring to the 900-page “wish list” created by the Heritage Foundation. Some of their goals include placing the federal bureaucracy, including the Department of Justice under the control of the Executive Branch, eliminating job protections for government employees, overhauling the FBI and the Department of Education, maintaining a biblically based definition of marriage and family, stopping federal funding for abortions, eliminating funding for renewable energy, slashing corporate and income taxes and ending DEI initiatives.
Saturday’s crowd trended younger than previous demonstrations, and near-continuous supportive honking from drivers on State Street drew cheers from the demonstrators. Not one law enforcement vehicle was in sight, and the overall sentiment from attendees was that this event represented another in a continuing series of protests that they feel are drawing a wider sector of the population, as more and more people are becoming directly impacted from threats to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in these United States.
To stay abreast with future Indivisible activities, visit inukiah.com.
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