Region's 'No Kings' protests see large turnout, counter-protest
HAILEY HILL | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 months, 1 week AGO
Protesters line First Avenue in Sandpoint during Saturday's "No Kings" protest.
Photo courtesy HAL GATES
Protesters packed First Avenue near the Bonner County Courthouse and Sandpoint Community Hall during Saturday's "No Kings" protests.
Protesters pack First Avenue during Saturday's "No Kings" protests.
Protestors hold signs along U.S. 95 in Coeur d'Alene as part of the nationwide "No Kings" protest held in cities across the country Saturday.
A group of protestors carry signs and American flags as they walk along U.S. 95 in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday.
Gina Brooks of Coeur d'Alene smiles as she holds a sign among other "No Kings" protestors in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday.
A man holds a sign in reference to rumors of paid protestors at Saturday's "No Kings" protest in Coeur d'Alene.
Ben Betz of Coeur d'Alene shouts as part of a counter-protest in favor of the Trump administration Saturday.
A man waves an American flag during a counter-protest in response to the "No Kings" demonstration along U.S. 95 in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday.
Parker Henley and his friends may have been younger than many who attended Saturday’s "No Kings" protest along U.S. 95 — but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have something to say.
“With everything going on, it’s important for the young people to show up,” Henley said. “We’re here so that the silent youth is heard.”
“We want to see this rise in authoritarianism squashed,” added Luke Sharon.
For Nolan Jarvis, attending Saturday’s protest in Coeur d'Alene was about focusing on issues he’s seen at the local level.
“I’m speaking out against everything that I think is wrong with our policing and the Republican party,” Jarvis said.
The young adults were among the large crowds of people that partook in Saturday’s protest, with estimates ranging from several hundred to a few thousand in attendance throughout the day.
Saturday's demonstrations were part of the national "No Kings" movement described as “a mass, nationwide protest rejecting authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics and the militarization of our democracy,” in a press release earlier in the week.
Over a million people participated in similar protests in over 1,500 cities nationwide, according to nokings.org. In Sandpoint, organizers estimated that about 1,000 people showed up over the course of the event.
Many protestors had specific motivations behind their decision to assemble Saturday.
“I’m very upset about how the folks that put food on our table have been treated by this administration,” said Gina Brooks of Coeur d’Alene.
“I’m an environmentalist, and I think Trump and his deregulation policies are bad for the environment,” said Nancie Lester, also of Coeur d’Alene. “Without our environment, we have nothing.”
A counter-protest of over one hundred people gathered on the opposite side of U.S. 95 and Appleway Avenue, some of whom were armed or dressed in military-style tactical gear.
“It’s not to threaten anyone or anything,” explained an armed counter-protestor who asked to remain anonymous. “We saw what happened in Los Angeles, and we’re not going to let that happen in our town.”
“I want them to know that they’re not unopposed,” said Ben Betz of Coeur d’Alene. “We all grew up here, we have our morals and values, we’re Christians.”
The counter-protestors responded to shouts of “no kings” with chants of “U.S.A.” in a back-and-forth across U.S. 95.
“Most people (in North Idaho) think like us,” Betz said.
Protesters packed First Avenue near the Bonner County Courthouse and Sandpoint Community Hall during Saturday's "No Kings" protests.
Protesters pack First Avenue during Saturday's "No Kings" protests in Sandpoint.
Protestors hold signs along US-95 in Coeur d'Alene as part of the nationwide 'No Kings' protest held in cities across the country on Saturday.
A group of protestors carry signs and American flags walk along US-95 in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday.
Gina Brooks of Coeur d'Alene smiles as she holds a sign among other "No Kings" protestors in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday.
A man holds a sign in reference to rumors of paid protestors at Saturday's "No Kings" protest in Coeur d'Alene.
Ben Betz of Coeur d'Alene shouts as part of a counter-protest in favor of the Trump administration on Saturday.
A man waves an American flag during a counter-protest in response to the "No Kings" demonstration along US-95 in Coeur d'Alene on Saturday.ARTICLES BY HAILEY HILL
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