By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
Over a thousand community members gathered in Ames Park in Northfield on Saturday as part of the No Kings Protest. The Northfield was one of thousands of protests held across the nation, where people spoke out against the Trump Administration.
The event, which lasted several hours in Ames Park, remained peaceful, featuring songs such as the Star-Spangled Banner and the Pledge of Allegiance, creative signs, speakers, and community organizing. Throughout the event, several speakers spoke about the importance of freedom and the First Amendment:
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“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise thereof, abridging the freedom of speech, or the press, or the right of the people to peaceably assemble. That’s what we’re doing right now today. We’re peaceably assembling to defend democracy and show our love for America. This is why I love America, because we have a constitution that gives us the right to assemble.” – Ted Sus, speaking at the No Kings Protest in Northfield
Rev. Sara Smalley of the Northfield Unitarian Universalist Fellowship spoke about the anxiety and fear that many in attendance on Saturday had been experiencing in the past months:
“I know many of us here are feeling overwhelmed, confused, or even frozen by all that is going on. The constant barrage of nonsense and anti-democratic actions of this administration.” – Rev Sara Smalley of the Northfield Unitarian Universalists Fellowship speaking at the Northfield No Kings Protest
However, Rev. Smalley said that her response to this was:
“I am more and more convinced that the antidote to overwhelm is joy, and the antidote to authoritarianism is community. It is easy to control a populace that is afraid and isolated.” – Rev Sara Smalley of the Northfield Unitarian Universalists Fellowship speaking at the Northfield No Kings Protest
Other speakers at the event included Richard Painter, an ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush White House, Ted Sus, a local Veteran, Mark Levgold, a local farmer and political candidate, and event organizers.
The first No Kings Rally was held on June 14th across the United States, the same day that Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortmann and her husband Mark were assassinated. The protest was organized by the Northfield Chapter of Indivisible.
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