Thousands of people showed up for two protest events in Chico Oct. 18, joining in a national No Kings 2 movement that swept the nation.
The Saturday morning march, organized by the Defenders of Democracy Coalition, drew more than 5,000 demonstrators, possibly making it the largest march in Chico history, organizers said.
An afternoon event, the No Kings Festival at Veterans Memorial Park organized by Indivisible Chico, stretched the day of joyful protest north toward the city’s suburbs. Some participants had also attended the morning march, but others had not.
An Indivisible Chico volunteer said more than 1,250 people attended the festival, which included a streetside protest on East Avenue.
“It’s amazing,” said Laurel Yorks, a march organizer, as the morning protest drew to a close at the Our Hands sculpture. “This was so much bigger than even Kings 1.
“What it does is, it gives us our power back. It gives us the confidence and security we’ve lost during the first nine months of this administration. We’ve been astounded by all the corruption and cruelty, and it gets worse and worse. Nobody’s coming to save us. We know now it’s our job, we have to get together, we have to save us.”
Another march organizer, Bob Trausch, said they extended the protest route in an effort to keep the stream of participants from overwhelming downtown intersections, where monitors were posted to ensure that demonstrators crossed in orderly groups in turns.
“I was really inspired by the way people are protesting in Portland,” said Morgan Szymczak, a local therapist who participated in the march dressed as the comedy character Old Gregg. “Part of what we are missing is humor and levity, the ability to put our own influence into the narrative that is being spun by the media. Then we can have conversations with people that aren’t just about hatred and fear, but the things we want to see as a country.”
Both events drew a diverse crowd that included whimsical costumes and music. People came from Glenn and Butte county towns and included some who were new to protest. Both events drew some students.
“We’re out here today protesting to hopefully demonstrate to our local authorities as well as our national government that we appreciate our Constitutional rights and we will defend them,” said 19-year-old Chico State student Angelino Martinez, who came with cardboard signs and plenty of enthusiasm.
“We’re not here to incite any riots. We will defend them with our words and our actions, not with violence.”
Chico State junior Camryn Kennedy was interviewed at Veterans Memorial Park during the festival.
“I came out today to give support to the values that I hold close to my heart,” Kennedy said. “I know Chico is a small town and that many people here don’t necessarily agree with what I do, so when I find a group that does agree with my values, it’s important to show up.”
