COLUMN: Walking into a ‘No Kings’ protest
The last day of our Media Fest trip in Washington, D.C., my coworker and adviser wandered into a ‘No Kings’ rally. We had just left a little all-day breakfast place when we heard the sound of chants, and despite some mild reservations, mainly on my own part, we walked toward the sound.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of people marched side by side, waving flags and signs. The Metropolitan Police watched from the sidelines, some laughing amongst themselves, others standing idly as the peaceful protest marched forward.
Some protestors wore shirts that called for democracy, while others wore costumes like handmaidens from Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale. An energy hung in the crowd, a buzz formed by the shared destination and message on their mind.
“Show me what democracy looks like!”
“This is what democracy looks like!”
“No crowns! No thrones! No kings!”
We didn’t plan to merge into the protest, planning to capture a few photos and videos and return to our hotel to finish the conference, but we found ourselves in the middle of it. We interviewed people about why they chose to march, inquired about the signs and shirts that some protestors wore.
This was the first protest I had ever witnessed.. There was power in seeing people exhibit their right to assemble in a place like Washington, D.C., which, before this trip, had only resided through pictures and television. To stand alongside charged individuals who wanted their voices heard, to pass by historical buildings that exemplified the protests and efforts of our founding fathers.
Hundreds of voices merged into one, demanding to be heard.
While we were in Washington, D.C., another ‘No Kings’ protest took place a bit closer to home in Paducah, Kentucky. News Editor River Murt has the story.
