Local protesters take to the street

Indivisible Eureka held a No Kings protest at noon Saturday in front of the Western District Courthouse, the largest local protest of the year. Both sides of the sidewalk were packed, and traffic was never impeded. Eureka Springs Parks and Recreation commissioner Rodd Gray was in an orange vest keeping protestors on the sidewalks, and police were hanging out with the citizens. 

Protests around the country coincided with the United States Army’s 250^th birthday, President Donald Trump’s 79^th birthday, and Flag Day, commemorating adoption of the American flag in 1777, representing freedom, independence and unity.

Brendan, a local resident said, “I’m a Christian. Jesus said whatever you do to the least of us you are doing to me. Look at what’s being done to people.”

Chants of A People United Never Be Divided, No Kings, and Love Not Hate Will Make America Great soared into the air as the beat of hand drums echoed off the stone buildings.

Fred of Friends of the Library said, “I think it’s awesome to see people expressing themselves.”

Scott Thompson held a sign fashioned from a Chewy box saying “No Kings.”

“It’s that this administration is ignoring the Constitution,” he said. “And acting like he’s a dictator. He’s ignoring the principles of this country. It’s all about him. That’s why I’m here. That covers the whole gambit.”

Teresa K., who did not want her last name published, said, “I may not agree with everybody here on everything, but I definitely think the Constitution is where it’s at. And idea of a king is just so non-American. “

John Rankine was once again on the front lines in combat fatigues and boots. “I’m thrilled that Eureka turned out for this. It’s beyond my expectations. It’s great. We need to be here!”

Another sign was a painting of a king playing card with the king on the top half and a skeleton on the bottom half. “My friend painted it over forty years ago,” a woman said. “I figured this would be the perfect time to pull it off of the wall.”

Other signs read, “Artists protest Protest is art” “Jesus was a Refugee” “The only Kings I recognize flows through hills” “No king in America since 1776” “Save Democracy USA” “Save democracy and our lands” “No Faux-King Way” “Americans are free and equal” “Keep Tiny Hands Off” “Hate won’t make America Great” “People Have the Power” and PEACE.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, a co-sponsor of the protests, more than five million people in more than 2,100 cities and towns across the country voiced their displeasure with what they perceive as their democratic form of government flirting with monarchy in America. That is roughly the same number of people who participated in Hands Across America to form a human chain across the contiguous United States in 1986, raising awareness and money to take a united stand against hunger and homelessness.