The second No Kings Day has come and gone. Unlike the projections made by many Republican leaders, it was not a Hate America day. In Brookings, we even gathered for the singing of the National Anthem before the demonstration began. American flags were prolific. It was clear people were together because they loved their country, affirmed democracy, and objected to a looming autocracy.
And it was peaceful! In fact, many gatherings reported the same festive air we experienced here. Not that we were happy about our situation in the country. Rather, it was exciting and sustaining to be together with so many like-minded people. From all reports, our peaceful experience was similar to the other 2,700 protests all across the country.
In New York City, 20,000 people walked down Seventh Avenue; altogether 100,000 protested in all the boroughs. The police reported there were no arrests. Millions of people can gather in protest of an oppressive and violence-prone regime, nonviolently. We proved it on Saturday.
Have you noticed, frog costumes are proliferating? Hats off to all those participants who bring a light-hearted dimension to our protest experiences. In Brookings, we had frogs, dinosaurs, a polar bear, and several other creatures. Its been a treat to see all those frogs standing at ICE detention sites across the U.S., facing off against police and National Guard troops, who are just itching to hog-tie and arrest violent or stubborn protesters. How do you hog-tie a protester in a balloon suit?
At the Brookings rally, I had an opportunity to talk with a polar bear. I think I know who inhabited that costume, but I could only see one eye. I also think I know who was impersonating President Trump. He was sitting in a chair, red tie in place, with a casual smile on his mask. Although I was surprised to see a Trump figure there, I thanked him for coming, without any response. I expect he was being overcome and numb from the numbers of people objecting to his policies.
Actually, at the same time as the No Kings protests Saturday, the real Donald Trump was at Mar-a-Lago hosting a different kind of gathering for his wealthy friends. This candlelight dinner cost a million dollars to attend. It was the second expensive gathering he hosted that week. Earlier, on Wednesday, he hosted an event at the White House to raise money for his ballroom. The cost is expected to be $250 million and this dinner helped raise $200 million of that sum. A lot of those donors were corporate executives, who have business dealings with the federal government.
Also on Saturday, as the protests were happening all over the country and millionaires were dining at the Trump resort, the senators and congressman from Alaska were writing the president asking for an emergency disaster declaration for their state. Typhoon Halong had decimated several communities in the Western part of Alaska. The village of Kipnuk was perhaps the worst. Hundreds of residents were evacuated and homes were washed away. Earlier, the Trump Administration had scrapped a $40 million grant, promised during the Biden Administration, to prevent coastal erosion around the village.
Perhaps those folks who lost their homes can be aided by the president’s spiritual adviser and head of the White House Faith Office, Paula White. She offers seven supernatural blessings and an angel God assigns them for a donation of $1,000. Although, having lost their homes, the residents of Kipnuk probably dont have the money.
What shall it be, typhoons or tycoons? Isnt that the primary question we are facing as a country? A democracy is built on an assumption of human equality. I recited our founding ideals in public when I was a high school student. Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Dont we still believe that, adding the equality of women? And dont we still believe that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth?
We seem to be at a crossroads; democracy or autocracy; aid for typhoons or tycoons. I trust that we are resilient as a people, indivisible, and will continue to work diligently to secure liberty and justice for all.
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