Protests Are Worth Remembering

Memories of moments help us keep fighting

Photo by Woody Martyn

I hope you protested last month and had a joyful time telling Trump that we don’t want, won’t stand for, a king. I wrote the story below the day after the No Kings protest. I smiled and even laughed as I wrote and recalled moments from the event. But by the time I was ready to post the story, so many other things had happened that it seemed outdated. Of course, that’s the goal of the Trump regime: “keep ‘em confused and scared and wondering.”

After rereading it recently, I found that it reminded me of that wonderful day and brought back the joy of being surrounded by others with similar values. It brought back the satisfaction of being part of the largest organized protest in American history. It brought back the feeling that together we can make a difference.

I hope reading this story evokes memories and feelings from your protest journey. We need to keep in touch with the good times; they keep us going.

On No Kings Day, 722 protesters showed up in our small town of Livingston, Montana. That’s more than we had at the first No Kings. Mary and I, co-founders of Indivisible Park County, helped organize both local events.

Those protesters represented more than 8% of Livingston’s population. That’s more than twice the 3.5% figure we hear batted around as the percentage of persistent protesters needed to topple an authoritarian regime.

We also had twenty-three dogs in attendance. I don’t know how many dogs we need to fight authoritarianism, but one little canine carried a much-loved sign on its back that read, “Dogs Against Kristi Noem.”

We even had a horse and a sign-carrying rider who attended the rally, but didn’t hoof it with the protesters on the sidewalk.

As protesters arrived, they brought with them almost 500 pounds of food to donate to our local food bank. Asking them to donate food helps achieve one of our organization’s goals: protecting our neighbors and community—an especially important goal today.

At the request of a persistent and passionate young man, we opened our rally for the first time by ceremoniously presenting the colors: two American flags. As the breeze ruffled the flags, another first: I led the protesters in the thirty-one words in the Pledge of Allegiance. So few words; so much meaning. It gave me chills.

That moment was followed by a five-minute speech by Kelly, from the Women’s Action Project, a co-organizer of the event. She got right to the heart of why we were taking to the streets. She had to pause often to take in the cheers and applause.

After the opening ceremony, we marched; our sign-carrying protesters filled the sidewalk along five city blocks. Megaphone-carrying chant leaders marching alongside helped the protesters stay loud, happy, and engaged.

Counter-protesters show up too. Mary counted six in front of one store on the opposite side of the street. That’s fewer than made a stand there on the first No Kings.

Another counter-protester briefly stopped his old SUV in the middle of a busy intersection, hung his head out the passenger’s side window, and shouted pro-Trump remarks as we marched by.

A lone, tall man in a cowboy hat on the opposite side of the street matched our pace and shouted angry and provocative statements. Thankfully, the police corralled him before trouble erupted.

One volunteer counted 747 vehicles passing our column of marchers and reported that folks in about one in seven of them gave a thumbs-up or honked in support. I don’t know if anyone has researched whether that’s a good number. But I like it.

Seventeen informed Safety Volunteers, stylishly clad in orange vests and a yellow No Kings bandanna, did a great job keeping everyone safe and protecting a space for protest and joy.

Our protesters carried more American flags than we could count. When the marchers returned to the starting point, we began the closing ceremony, this time presenting the Montana and American flags. As we fell silent and paid our respects, I found myself smiling and thinking that it was time for us to take back the flag that the MAGA followers have co-opted. And that was a great start.

After Mary finished her brief speech, more than 700 people joined her in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance again. Our loud voices showed how much we love this country, especially the “liberty and justice for all” upon which our republic is built.

It took thirty-eight volunteers doing fifty-one jobs to make this protest happen safely. We, the organizers, are thankful for each of them. And we’re grateful for every one of the protesters who showed up.

Protests are essential to rejecting authoritarianism and showing each other and the world that “this is what democracy looks like.” Taking to the streets also encourages our submissive democracy-backing representatives to stand up and oppose the authoritarians.

Protesting can also help each of us deal with the emotional side of living under and fighting against authoritarianism. When you spend time peacefully holding signs in the streets, chanting and singing, and walking and talking with others who share your values and determination, you can come away feeling energized, happy, a part of something bigger, and excited to join more public protests. I’m not just saying that; scientific research supports the positive effects of protesting. Not only are you helping in the fight to save democracy, you’re also helping yourself.

So, between now and the next protest, I encourage you to recall your moments and memories of being part of We the People in the streets on your protesting journey.

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Who is Rick Lamplugh?

I’m a writer of award-winning nonfiction books. I combine research with storytelling. Two of my last three books covered wolves and Yellowstone National Park. I actively advocated for wildlife and wild lands for a decade. I’m now advocating—with my wife, Mary, and so many others—for our democracy.

I’m also currently researching and writing on a new topic—my journey into the wilds of cancer.

To read preview chapters from my forthcoming book, The Wilds of Cancer: A Life-Affirming Journey