Residents turn out to protest federal overreach at No Kings rally

By Luke Purvis
The Ramspondents

Thousands gathered at Civic Center Park around 9 a.m Saturday for the nationwide No Kings protests. This was a coordinated movement opposing President Donald Trump and what demonstrators described as his administration’s nasty authoritarian behavior. 

Many brought homemade signs and waved American flags. It was a windy October day and the breeze swept through downtown Fort Collins. But, the mood was lively and protesters were determined. 

The rally opened with a speech from Victor Rhett, a University of Fairbanks graduate from 1953. Rhett spoke firmly about the values he said the country was built on.

“It means to me is that this is our democracy,” Rhett said. “Everyone has a chance. Everybody has to have a chance to be free, to determine what their lives mean to prospect.”

“This was a nation that was built upon immigrants; 65 years ago, I was told pilgrims came here for religious freedoms. Well… that's not exactly true,” Rhett said. “It means standing up for yourself, freedom. Nobody deserves a better chance than America. All of us deserve better health care, raise our children.”

 Rhett set the tone for the morning; the day’s message was: 

After Rhett, state and local officials took the stage to address the crowd.

U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse focused his remarks on accountability in Washington.

“I had the privilege of being in D.C to fight for you and Republicans were nowhere to be found because they are on week four now of their paid vacation,” Neguse said. “While families go hungry, furloughed and the Forest Service and labs and workers go without pay. They refuse to re-open the House, refuse to reopen the government. Refuse duly elected member of the congress from Arizona? Why? Because they know she will be the 218th signature to release the Epstein Files.”

He ended with a challenge to voters.

“If you vote in the electoral battle, I promise you, we will win and reclaim this republic for every single American in this country,” Neguse said.

State Rep. Andy Boesenecker, who enacted Colorado’s efforts to protect immigrants and LGBTQ+ residents, spoke on the importance of protected vulnerable groups.

“(We must protect)  immigrants against Donald Trump,” he said. “Make sure the federal immigration system stays out of our schools, stays out of our public spaces, stays out of our houses. Here in Colorado, we protect families, we don't rip them apart. While Trump and his Republican cronies try to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, we got to work in the state legislature. We passed the Kelly Loving Act.”

Larimer County Commissioner Kristin Stephens focused on compassion and local responsibility.

“We will work with our non-profit partners to make sure people have food and health care,” she said. “Even though the federal government seems to not care. We will make sure local government works for everyone… and I mean everyone.”

District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin motivated the audience to celebrate their unity.

“Patrons wanted to stand up for American values and speak their voices,” he said. “I am proud of everyone, you are the ones that deserve it. Please, I insist, give your neighbors a high five and applaud them.”

Finally, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold took the stage and yelled sharply about the rule of law:

“This is not the United States of America, where the president breaks the law. Undermines the constitution. Militarizes our cities. Has ICE round-up legal residents detained illegally.”

As the speeches ended, organizers directed the thousands gathered toward Mountain Avenue. Drums started beating from the front of the pack, and the chants rose louder. 

“Ho Ho, Hey Hey, Donald Trump has got to go!”

The call-and-response echoed into Old Town Fort Collins. Many protesters carried signs and some wore Halloween costumes. Others waved flags and some stood off to the side and recorded from their phones. Cars honked when they drove by, but many who were just visiting Old Town cheered and enjoyed the vibrant environment.

The march stayed peaceful and organized.

Sam Conna, a freshman bioscience student at Colorado State University, said she joined because she sees the movement as a rejection of dictatorship.

“It means no dictatorship, USA we were founded under the people so when Trump is acting like a dictator this is us protesting that,” she said.

When asked for her message to Trump, she didn’t hesitate.

“Fuck him.”

Crysta, a self-proclaimed white woman from the Midwest who has lived in Fort Collins for 35 years, said she was tired of seeing corruption go unchallenged.

“The way this is going and the way this dumb culture office is getting away with breaking laws, they need to know we will not stand for it,” she said.

Her message to Trump was equally as blunt as Conna’s:

“Just give up, Fuckhead.”

Along College Avenue, Audrey Peterson, who moved from Los Angeles to Colorado in 2012, said she was marching to reclaim visibility and unity.

“It means the world right now because we (people of color) are hidden in our homes,” Peterson said. “It’s an opportunity to be proud of who you are and stand with likeminded people who want their country back.”

An anonymous federal worker joined the march despite potential risks at their job.

“We lost between a quarter of employees since this year,” they said. “I am out here partially for that. Even though I'm working.”

They described the protest as vital at a time of national division.

“Its important for a lot of reasons.

It's good to see these people express themselves and know their voices aren't alone.”

They added that the country’s polarization has affected their own family.

“It’s dividing families, my parents are both huge Trump supporters,” they said. “It’s dividing families, it's hard to understand why they believe what they believe. It's made them small-minded, not open to diversity.”

 Dave Winnemann, a Fort Collins resident, carried a bold red-and-white sign.

“Things are out of control,” he said. “Trump is a moron, he is going to get us into war with Venezuela pretty soon. He’s already been sanctioned through the international court, so we need to put this creep in jail.”

 Dave Glazer, who led the “We are Democracy" chant, said: “It means everything, people come together and fight fascism, stand up against transitional government and administration.”

Their chants blended with the drummers.

Aspen Ulibarri, an elementary school teacher, said: “It just means that we are all coming together, we are not happy with how things are going,” she said. “I am a teacher and (I want) a good future for my children that I am teaching.”

She said being surrounded by so many people who helped break the sense of isolation that she’d felt watching the news.

“It's super important because we are all on our phones, feels isolated. Seeing people out here feels like you are not alone. There is so much news, it's hard to keep up.”

Steve Olt, a US veteran, answered directly.

“It's most important for the entire country, this is our home,” Olt said. “Unfortunately, we live in the minds of the government, if we live in.”

After looping through downtown, the marchers returned to Civic Center Park around noon. 

For many, the day was a reminder of what collective action can feel like.

The anonymous federal worker who had joined the march despite work risks summed it up simply:

“Its good to see these people express themselves and know their voices aren't alone.”

By early afternoon, the chants had quieted. Though the people already spoke, the message lingered in conversations across Old Town and the message was heard beyond Colorado.

Luke Purvis is a CSU Journalism and Media Communication student. He hopes to gain as much knowledge as possible so that he can come prepared when he graduates.