Crowds packed the streets of downtown Little Rock Saturday for the “No Kings” Protest. This was the second nationwide day of protests against the administration of President Donald Trump.
Marchers said they opposed many current government policies. A protestor who identified himself only as Ian said there were too many issues to name.
“They're suppressing voters' rights,” he said. “[Trump] is ruining Arkansas farms, he’s bailing out other countries while our government is shut down.”
Attendee Courtney listed health care and women's rights. A protester named Bill had constitutional objections.
“We’re against firing all the federal employees,” Bill said. “We're against the executive branch taking over the judicial courts.”
Attendees said they aimed to stir up: “good trouble,” a phrase popularized by the late civil rights leader John Lewis.
Shouts of “Lock him up,” “No Kings, no crown, tear the system down,” “the people united will never be divided,” and “release the files,” echoed through the crowd gathered in front of the Federal Building and Courthouse in downtown Little Rock. Protestors continued to sing and dance throughout the morning.
Navy veteran Bethany Walsh wore a red cloak and a white bonnet to the protest, evoking an image from Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Walsh stood on a sidewalk outside the main crowd, watching cars drive by as she displayed an upside-down American flag.
“This is a beautiful moment. I don't know why they try to say we hate America, we love America, we love Americans, Americans of all walks of life,” Walsh said.
“This is about everyone being able to be comfortable with who they are. To try to take away someone’s rights because they’re different than you is disgusting because no one is better than anyone else.”
Many protestors wore frog memorabilia and costumes to connect their actions with anti-ICE demonstrations in Portland.
Ali Taylor wore an inflatable unicorn costume to the protest. She stood next to a friend in a chipmunk costume.
“I love unicorns,” she said. “They represent freedom and joy and love.”
She said the costume would also disarm the opposition.
“I keep reading that fascists hate mockery,” she said. “So, we're mocking.”
One attendee named Courtlyn identified as a former Trump supporter. They said this was their first protest. They showed Little Rock Public radio their sign:
“One side is a quote from Hamilton,” they said. ‘I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love.’ And then the other side: ‘I didn't fight so my daughters can be handmaids.’ I have two daughters and I'm a veteran, this is not what I fought for.”
Roger and Hope Hawkins came to the rally to oppose “ all the number of things that are going wrong,” Hope said.
“So many lies, not enough cardboard,” added Roger.
The pair said they were encouraged by the amount of people attending the protest.
“It’s just great to know that there’s this many people who are aligned with more or less your values in the political climate we’re in,” Roger said. “I’m just moved by it.”
Saturday was also the scheduled date for Central Arkansas Pride’s annual parade and festival. In previous years the parade was held in North Little Rock’s Argenta neighborhood. This year, it passed through Little Rock’s Capitol Ave. up to the Capitol building.
No Kings’ organizers instructed attendees to march behind the pride parade, following local activism, sports, and community groups celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
Shea Leger is an organizer with Central Arkansas Dykes With Drills, a nonprofit teaching basic construction skills in a queer-friendly environment. Leger said she was excited to see the protestors walking alongside the pride parade.
“I love that [No Kings] is kind of in coordination with this event, and the fact that they’re going to kind of walk with us at the end to show solidarity with all of these marginalized communities and how we can come together and be a real power,” Leger said.
Several church congregations also marched in the parade. Representatives from St. Michael's Episcopal, Second Presbyterian in Little Rock, and two different Methodist churches joined the march to support LGBTQ+ rights.
Rev. Elizabeth Henry-McKeever from St. Michaels Episcopal Church in Little Rock carried a sign with a Bible quote: Matthew 25:35. She said Trump's policies violate her episcopalian views of how to care for people.
“I think undocumented folks, queer people, those who are living at the edge of the poverty line, those are the ones we are called as Christians to care for.”
