Locals in the Ames community gathered Saturday morning in Roosevelt Park in support of the No Kings Movement, a demonstration against unchecked executive power and to demand reform of democracy, according to PBS.
The event, sponsored by Democracy Every Day and Indivisible Ames, drew in a crowd of upwards of 1,000 from across Story County.
“Raising awareness and getting people out is the biggest part of what we do,” said Michael Syring, an organizer with Indivisible Ames. “Seeing people that share the same views and speak out is the reason we’re here.”
The morning’s events began with a handful of guest speakers, including Marlin Crabb, a former resident of St. Louis, who moved to Ames in 2009 with the goal of bringing the community together.
“This is what Ames is,” Crabb said. “Ever since I’ve been here, Ames has been an amazing city. Seeing the passion in this community, it’s something special.”
Crabb noted that while Ames may not have the population of a major city, its locals are the ones who make it a special place.
“You don’t see the passion in [St. Louis,] like you do here,” Crabb said. “The people here are the ones who care.”
People in the crowd showed up with signs expressing their feelings towards the current President Donald Trump. Holding a plunger, attendee Janet Dixon carried a sign that read “You can’t flush that one, Donald,” a reference to previous allegations against the current president in 2022.
“We aren’t willing to let democracy die,” Dixon said. “We’re unwilling to sit back and watch a would-be king turn the military against the American people.”
As the organized part of the protest came to an end, demonstrators lined the sidewalks and marched up Grand Avenue.
Passing motorists honked their horns in support, and others stood in their front yards handing out water bottles.
“We’ve seen more honks in support than people spreading hate,” Crabb said. “That just shows you how special this place is.”
To Dixon and Crabb, the protest wasn’t just about injustice; it was about humanity.
“Fascism is a crime,” Crabb said. “It’s a crime against humanity. Crime against humanity anywhere is a threat to humanity everywhere. That’s why we choose to stand up for what we believe in.”
Indivisible Ames plans to hold more events throughout the summer. Details on later events will be posted at a later date.
“We must practice empathy,” Dixon said. “If we don’t look out for one another, things will only get worse.”
