October 18 marked the second “No Kings” protest, a nationwide movement protesting the “monarch-like” actions of President Trump. The Santa Rosa march, organized by Indivisible Sonoma County, started at two locations (SRJC & Juilliard Park in Santa Rosa) and converged at Doyle Park.
This was the largest “No Kings” protest in Sonoma County on the day, and according to the numbers listed on Wikipedia, the second largest single-day protest in the U.S, behind Earth Day in 1970.
“Some people are coming here today in understandable anger. Some people today are trying to stand for specific change. And I imagine a lot of people today are also coming here for community, unity, and release,” said Devon Keelty, a “No Kings” protester from Santa Rosa.
At the protest was a spectrum of beliefs and causes. According to Bob Williams, a volunteer for Indivisible Sonoma County and the primary organizer for this event, groups ranged from Democrats, labor groups, feminist groups, immigration activists, a couple of veteran groups, and several young groups, including Sonoma State’s Young Democratic Socialists of America Club.
Not only was the “No Kings” march a stance against Trump and his administration, said Williams, it was also about visibility. To give a voice to all the different people being affected. To show this isn’t just policies being passed, it’s the lives of your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, that person you say ‘hi’ to every day while walking your dog.
“These events give a lot of validation to people who are there,” states Williams “They are not alone, and they are part of a much bigger community.
Indivisible Sonoma County stated their main objective for this march was to bring people together in a safe, supportive environment. To talk about issues that affect all of us. At Doyle Park, there was live music, performances, and tables for a variety of mutual aid and political groups. There was also a soapbox where anyone could stand and share their thoughts and experiences.
“The most important thing about being here today is having our community, saying we’re gonna stand up, we’re not going to just take this. We’re going to fight back and show solidarity with everybody in our community and throughout the country,” states Charlie, a “No Kings” protester from Santa Rosa.
The Santa Rosa march saw the faces of many community members of Sonoma County, who stated they were not just fighting for causes that affect them, but also using their privilege to fight and give a voice to those who are often silenced.
“We believe that the strength and numbers comes with that a great responsibility to act, morally, and with ethics, and to understand that just because we are safe in our own environment, there are a lot of people who are not, and those are the people, those vulnerable ones that we really need to reach out to and to help support,” states Roxanne Goodfellow, Indivisible Sonoma County Media Lead for the protest.
What this protest and many forms of activism emphasize is unity and community, and many feel that getting involved with your local community is where true change begins. To learn more about the No Kings protests, you can visit their website or start at a local chapter like Indivisible Sonoma County.
