No Kings Street Party
(The following is cross-posted from Subject to Change)
My Protest Posse and I headed to downtown Austin Saturday afternoon for the biggest street party I’ve ever attended. Three spouses of posse members drove separately, making a group of ten once we met up at Auditorium Shores, a park across the Colorado River and a short way from the Texas State Capitol. Most of the afternoon’s events, tables, and booths were at the park.
We were equipped with our “No Kings,” “Beware of Snakes...in Washington,” and “We the People” signs, flags, hats, and plenty of water. The heat was oppressive but the atmosphere was joyful. It was energizing to recognize so many like-minded people in the same place. People who were positive, nonviolent, and kind to each other, but deeply serious about preventing our nation’s slide into authoritarianism.
The Posse found shade under a huge oak tree where it was hard to hear speakers and musicians clearly who spoke from across the park, but it was too hot to stand on the green in front of the bandstand. It was enough to enjoy the street party vibes and witness so many patriots in one place in one frame of mind. The inflatable dragon, frog, and shark costumes were pretty cute, too.
The official protest began at the Capitol building and then protestors marched the 1.5 miles down Congress Avenue, along Cesar Chavez St., and across the 1st Street bridge that spans the river, adjacent to Auditorium Shores. We went directly to the park, rather than meeting everyone at the Capitol, because we’re a bunch of old ladies with creaky knees and achy hips. However, four of us met the marchers on Cesar Chavez to walk the last half mile or so with the leading edge of marchers. It was phenomenal!
Once we returned to the park and assembled under our shade tree, we watched marchers stream across the bridge for a half hour or more. There were an estimated 20,000 – 30,000 people in all. Nationwide, there were seven to eight million people in around 2500 different locations. Several foreign countries also marched in solidarity with us. A great turnout, making our message clear: No kings in America!
Governor Abbott mobilized the National Guard for the protests, but the Austin Mayor negotiated with him to keep Guard members on standby at nearby Camp Mabry. There was no need for them. Law enforcement was friendly and helpful, as far as I could tell. They closed the streets on the march path and a line of motorcycle cops led the marchers all the way to the bridge. There were no incidents reported by the police. In fact, they posted their thanks on Facebook to the organizers and citizens for a peaceful event.
I don’t consider myself an activist, but this is the fourth protest I’ve attended this year. Participating with good friends means each event becomes a social occasion, but realizing so many other central Texans are concerned about our country makes my heart swell, enhancing my resolve to dissent. We are united, as the march chant proclaims. “We are united; we will not be divided!”
I was sweaty and exhausted by the time I got home but satisfied that I’d spent my day well. There was so much nasty rhetoric in advance about the so-called “Hate America” rally that I admit to some trepidation—some people seem eager to provoke violence to justify their own violent behavior. I’m really proud of those who came out on No Kings 2.0 day, to a nonviolent display of solidarity. We had a fabulous street party. Why wouldn’t everyone choose that over hatred and cruelty toward their neighbors?
Thanks for reading Truthify! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.