Albany’s October 18 “No Kings” protest stretched along Western Avenue from Manning to Stuyvesant Plaza, a couple miles. I walked it from one end to the other, then back again. Discovering a strange fact: the return distance is much longer.
Trumpers called this a “Hate America” event. Not at all what I saw. Instead, many thousands who deeply love this country — its values and ideals, that Trump wars upon. The numerous home-made signs showed true understanding of those democratic principles. Many referenced freedom of speech and of the press, inclusiveness, and ICE’s unlawful depredations. And of course the regime’s pervasive lies. I told one acquaintance that her sign must have the most lettering of any: writing out the entirety of the 14th Amendment. And on the back, the First Amendment.
I myself feel conflicted these days about the flag. But the flag-waving was everywhere that afternoon. And while disapproval of the Trump regime was heartfelt, there was more mockery than venom directed at him. The mood not darkly hateful but remarkably cheerful and upbeat.
My own sign was a relic — made for the January 2017 airport travel ban protest. Much used since. One side says “Trump Disgraces America;” the other, “Make America Great Again: Dump Trump.” Among all the clever signs, I was surprised how appreciated mine was; often photographed.
One other I relished said, “Vaccines Cause Adults.”
It was nice how many acquaintances I ran into. Like Aimee Allaud; I was especially delighted to encounter her, still handing out League of Women Voters pamphlets. I was actually the league’s first local male member, and worked with her over 50 years ago, producing a comic-book style “voters rights” booklet (which Albany’s political machine hated, its operatives depicted like Snidely Whiplash). Aimee said she’s almost 87.
Well, this was mostly a grey-haired crowd, younger people decidedly under-represented. One guy was telling folks, “thank you for being under 100.” Many were dinosaurs. Or at least wearing dino costumes.
Some burbled about the event’s wonderfulness. But I’d respond that it’s terrible we have to do this. It’s unnerving what Trump gets away with, there’s more capitulation than push-back, the country by and large shrugging at his travesties. At least these “No Kings” events represent some resistance. Even if it’s doubtful what good it will do.
