I attended a No Kings 2.0 Rally yesterday in Tucson, at River and La Entrada, one of several in Tucson and the surrounding area. More than 1,000 registered to demonstrate at that location, but there were many more, including people like me who did not register but just showed up.
The enthusiasm of the crowd was contagious, and it left me feeling encouraged and hopeful. Many people honked and waved in support as they drove past on River. Some drivers gave us the finger, of course, but it was only a small fraction.
Karma almost had its way with one driver. As he drove past, he was giving us the finger and yelling out the window of his pickup instead of paying attention to his driving. When the car in front of him stopped suddenly, he came within inches of rear-ending it. Although the opportunity for schadenfreude passed, I am sure he could hear us laughing at him.
I saw many clever signs. Of course there several with CHINGTUMAGA and the ubiquitous NO MORE KINGS. Two I particularly liked were IT’S NOT RIGHT VS. LEFT. IT’S DOING RIGHT VS. DOING WRONG and WARNING! THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
According to the No Kings Day organizers, nearly 7 million people demonstrated yesterday. That is 1 in every 50 people in the nation. Even in deep red Oklahoma where I am from, there were more than a dozen demonstrations.
I sense that many people are becoming tired, frightened, or ashamed of what Trump and his toadies, incompetents, and brownshirts are doing to this country. I sure hope so. I fear for the Republic. And I increasingly fear for the well-being not only of my family but of myself. I no longer feel safe in my native country.
It makes me sad that so many of my fellow citizens are not only gullible to Trump’s rhetoric, but who have given in to objectification and even hatred of those whom they view as The Other: immigrants, LGBT, people of a different race or religion, Democrats, women, and even neighbors. This morning as I was reading about the turnout across the country yesterday, I came across a deeply offensive video that Trump posted last night in response to demonstrations. Here is the link:
[ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rPeoMP2PjLE ]
I wonder how any Trump supporters are able to justify and even support this example of his petty childishness—or incipient dementia. He is not a healthy man, mentally or physically.
Hi Tom! It’s Kyra (the girl you met in Panera). I love that you are out there protesting for our country and what is right in this world. I have been to countless protests over the past few years, and what you said holds very true. The compassion and energy of a crowd is one of the most irreplaceable and indescribable feelings. The state of the country is one that I am not even sure how we got to, it’s very saddening to see. As a young women going into this world, I can only hope that my generation can change what our world has come to. I hope that people regain compassion and understanding that we have so lost. I want to thank you for being out there fighting for people’s rights.
I agree.
I hope more people of your generation will step up. The future belongs more to your contemporaries than to mine.