In record-breaking numbers, people showed up hoisting home-made signs, waving flags – some upside down, some flourished with peace signs or the universal symbol for no. They rallied across the U.S. and beyond, including in Australia, Italy, France, and Great Britain.
Organizers estimated over 8 million people in the U.S. alone took part in the third “No Kings” protest Saturday, beating the last one by a million.
People protested not one thing but many, ranging from the war in Iran to high gas prices, immigration and ICE, including the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti – and even the demolition of the East Wing of the White House.
Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, was dismissive if not mocking of the protest, saying “the only people who care about these Trump derangement therapy sessions are the reporters who are paid to cover them.”
On the North Coast, Saturday’s protesters totaled over 2,800, including 755 in Manzanita, 300 in Cannon Beach, 550 in Seaside, and 1,200 in Astoria, according to Indivisible North Coast Oregon officials.
Laurie Caplan, one of INCO’s founders, said she was not surprised by the large number of attendees.
“All these people know we deserve better,” Caplan said. “Trump is ruining the country and the planet – and that’s why we’re all here.”
In Astoria, the No Kings protest included two factions: INCO and North Coast Action. People lined Marine Drive on the south side of the street from 31st to 34th streets, while another group was spread out from the Custard King corner at 16th Street to well past 20th Street. In some places, the crowd of protesters was clustered three people-deep. Many also stationed themselves along the north side of Marine Drive.
The sun was shining in a nearly cloudless blue sky on an unusually warm spring day, and there was a party-like atmosphere along the route. People banged on pots and pans, clanged bells and drummed drums. Huge bubbles floated in the air while protesters waved and smiled at passersby, who mostly honked in support.
There were some who also showed their disapproval by “flipping the bird” or purposefully revving their engines loudly as they drove past.
Most of the protesters waved flags or held home-made, hand-written signs that indicated why they were there. “They want 1939 Germany, They’ll get 1789 France,” one said.
Others were short and to the point: “No Faux King Way,” “Healthcare not warfare,” and “Send ICE to Iran.”
Mark Erickson was one of 10 to 15 people there on security detail. Erickson, who’s lived in Astoria for 40 years, said he had not seen or had to deal with any trouble. Everybody was “positive and happy and gentle with each other,” Erickson said. All the security people had walkie-talkies and had undergone specific training through INCO, he said, where “we discuss dangerous scenarios and how to protect people from being injured.”
Erickson, a retired elementary and high school teacher – he taught special education for 18 years at Lewis & Clark Elementary and six years at Astoria High School – said he was also there to help people get safely across the street.
Alan Quimby and Kace McDowell from Svensen came to the protest with their dog, Pearl, who was dressed up in a frog outfit. Quimby said he was protesting “to get rid of Trump,” and McDowell said she was there “to make our country great – the way it used to be. We’ve been doing this (protesting) since Trump was elected the first time. We took a break when Biden came in. We probably shouldn’t have.”
“I’m the Statue of Leber-ty,” said Janice Leber, dressed as the lady herself. “Leber is rebel spelled backwards,” she said.
Jane and Josh Donnelly of Astoria said the reason they were at the protest was because of “the continuing nightmare we find ourselves in.”
Joyce Balint from Warrenton, also dressed as the Statue of Liberty, said she felt compelled to be at Saturday’s event “cause I’m scared, really scared about the direction this country is going – toward authoritarianism. I want my country back – Robert DeNiro said that.”
Native Astorian Linda Orr said her family has been here for four generations. “I’m scared and I’m mad. And coming up on our 250th birthday to celebrate our democracy – are we going to have one? What’s to celebrate? I never thought I’d live in a corrupt third-world country.”
Andy Coll was dressed in a Tony the Tiger costume “to show support.” Bobby Thurman said he was at the protest because everything’s gotten “kind of stupid and out of bounds. It’s a lot of things. And the Democrats are not doing anything to keep (Trump) in check.”
Megan Goin was at the protest with her son Cedar, 12. She said she was there because of “everything that’s happened to our country. We’re living in unprecedented times. Protesting is a civil right, you have to exercise it if you oppose what’s happening.” Cedar, who said he agreed with his mom, held a sign that said: “My mom is making me do this because she says someday this will be a core memory.”
Caplan said while she has not received any outright threats from people opposed to INCO’s messaging or protests, “I’ve gotten a couple of anonymous letters that said they were ANGRY – in all caps.” But she said she is not fearful. “I don’t think any of us is going to back down in the face of threats with so much at stake.”
“I think it’s scary for everybody,” Caplan said, referring to Democrats and Republicans alike. “I like civil rights. The current government seems to be against anybody who doesn’t bow down and worship it.”
Julia Hesse, INCO coordinator, said “protests work,” and this one may be especially effective. “We need to apply this pressure right now when Trump is so weak.”
On Saturday, Measha Porter of Hammond was the first to arrive at the protest site across from Safeway. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, she had set herself up in a folding chair with a blanket across her lap, ready to “show up” for the next few hours.
“I’m tired of the stuff Trump is doing with the gas price, Social Security, Medicare, everything with ICE. I’m against all the stuff Trump is doing,” Porter said. “And he ruined the White House.”
“I hope something good comes from all of this,” Porter said. “I hope Trump realizes we’re not going to let what he is doing stop us. We’re gonna keep fighting.”
