On Saturday, June 14, thousands of people gathered across the nation over 2,000 cities for No Kings Day. Denver’s demonstration occurred at Lincoln Memorial Veterans Park, part of Denver’s capitol area. Those who attended the peaceful protest brought signs that ranged from opposition of the Trump administration, immigration enforcement, attacks on free speech, LGBTQ+ rights, and protests for Palestine. Though the motives varied across the crowd, certain things rang true throughout the nation: Things are bad; Americans are not happy, and the people are here to fight for what they believe.
Where was Trump on this day? Celebrating his birthday with a military parade in Washington, D.C., allegedly in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Army. Social media videos showed the parallels in the crowd turnout from the military parade versus the No Kings rallies.
This is a time when the horrors of the world and nation on social media are more common to come across than cat memes. A time when it can feel isolating, like the world is on fire and there is nothing that can be done. But this is not the time to give up hope, especially for 50501, a progressive, grassroots political organization run by volunteers whose name represents the group’s goal of holding protests in all 50 states on a single day.
Seeing people gather, hug each other, share resources like sunscreen and water, and hearing people organize, teach, and honk as they drove by in support was enough to bring chills to my skin—regardless of how hot it was that day. This rally was a reminder that it is the people of America who make it great: the immigrants, the historically oppressed, the diverse communities, the ones who enter into the fight for what they believe is right, the ones who see a need and actively organize for their communities.
“And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”― Kelly Hayes, Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care
Scroll down to see more photos from Saturday’s protest.
Photos by Becky Duffyhill. See more of her work here! Follow her on Instagram @beckyduffyhill.creative.
