Thousands of Boiseans gathered outside of the Idaho State Capitol Building on Oct. 18, making their way through downtown with handmade signs for the nationwide “No Kings Protest” taking place in over 2,000 U.S. cities.
This past summer saw the first iteration of the nationwide “No Kings Protest”. Millions throughout the country and thousands of Idahoans attended the June 14 rallies, disapproving of government policies and actions under President Trump’s administration.
The official website for the demonstration references the efforts made at stopping “his attempt to turn June 14 into a coronation”. The website also adds, “In America, we don’t have kings and we won’t back down against chaos, corruption and cruelty”.
Protest slogans such as “Hey-hey, ho-ho, Donald Trump has got to go” and “No more pedophiles in the White House” were chanted as Boiseans crowded downtown streets.
Speeches given at the Capitol drew a crowd American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho board member Sam Linnet described as the “largest demonstration in the history of Idaho”. Linnet and other speakers spoke on a variety of issues such as deportations, the war in Gaza, military tensions with Venezuela and women’s rights.
“Our democracy is in peril… the president and his confederates… are bold, they are dishonest [and] they are diligent in their work to pit red against blue, right against left, us against them. It must stop,” said Terri Pickens, Democratic gubernatorial candidate. “Let me tell you something that I think everybody here will understand in plain English — bullshit is still bullshit, no matter if you spray paint it in gold.”
The majority of Idahoans attending the No Kings Rally supported the cause, but some disapproved of the rally as they watched from the sidelines of Cecil D. Andrus Park.
“We’re teaching our kids [to] fight for what they stand for,” said Celyna Evans, a mother in the Treasure Valley carrying an American flag with “Make America Great Again” draped across it. Paul Evans, Celyna’s husband, noted many protesters were butting in on their conversations during the rally.
“Very disrespectful. It really is,” Paul said of the demonstration. “A lot of people take for granted what we have, and they don’t know what it’s like in a third-world country; they’ve never been in the military. They’ve never fought for anything, and they’re down here following.”
Organizations that planned the Boise event consisted of Idaho 50501, with partners Indivisible and the ACLU joining in. Attendees were encouraged to support a food drive benefiting rural Idaho food banks, as well as give donations to support the organizations’ missions.
“You are not going to miss a single election for the rest of your lives,” Linnet said. “You are going to–” Linnet shouted on the stoop of the Idaho State Capitol building.
“Do the work,” the crowd of thousands chanted back.
