The protesters at the West Bend “No Kings” rally had come to the conclusion that each of us, a large majority together, needs to rise up in a united front to vigorously oppose the heavy-handed agenda of President Donald Trump and his administration.
That was the main motivation for why 900 citizens came together Saturday at the corner of Paradise Drive and S. Main Street carrying American flags and homemade signs, many decrying “NO KINGS.”
That common theme was raised at an estimated 2000 similar rallies across America in communities small and large to show allegiance to the principles of democracy. It was an incredible national happening.
I’ve never seen anything like it in more than 50 years as a journalist on and off in this part of the state. Call it an uprising.
Citizens of many stripes, ages, occupations, genders, political leanings needed to vent. Their frustrations with how Trump’s MAGA disrupters have steamrolled our traditions, standards, protocols and laws to put an authoritarian stamp on a country where individual freedoms are inalienable found an outlet.
Here is a sample of the pent-up feelings on the signs of the West Bend parade attendees:
- Rejecting Kings Since 1776
- Loyalty to the Constitution, Not to the President
- Beware of DOGE and the Billionaires’ Agenda
- Crappy B-day Donnie; No Kings
- Our Veterans Deserve Better
- The Power of the People Will Overcome the People in Power (quoting John Lewis)
- Fight Ignorance, Not Immigrants
- Impeach, Convict, Remove
- We are a Democracy! No Kings! No Autocrats!
The West Bend rally was a small part of the national outcry. An estimated 4-5 million Americans demonstrated across the country. Those big numbers stood in sharp contrast to the White House estimate of 250,000 attendees at Trump’s military parade in Washington D.C. in honor of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and Trump’s 79th birthday. In short, the grassroots resistance dwarfed the grandiose military parade.
The anemic support for Trump on his big day came at a time when the latest polls showed his diminishing hold on the people of the country. The Quinnipiac Poll issued Thursday showed the president dropping to a 38% approval rating versus 54% disapproval. He had a positive six point spread after his election, so has lost a net of 22 points in his five months in office.
Back to the local level: the local rally was peaceful; the protest music from days gone by went over well; and people felt uplifted by the power of their shared commitment.
Many people in cars passing by honked and gave a thumbs up.
Mary Ann Rzeszutek, leader of the West Bend chapter of Indivisible, said, “The national rally got people’s attention. We did our part! It’s a great feeling.”
