‘No Kings’ in Lakewood

In a Schoolhouse Rock video titled “No More Kings”, a line says
“When the colonies complained, the king said ‘I don't care’.” 

Referencing American Independence from King George, John Adams said, "I see... pomp and pageantry, I hear bells...” 

The gentleman from Virginia can be forgiven for not anticipating that today would see hand-held signs, and bells would become car horns.

Hundreds, perhaps almost 1000* lined up along Gravelly Lake Boulevard between Main and Alfaretta St. (near the Interim Library).  For a moment “86... 47... 86... 47...” echoed back and forth across Gravelly Lake Blvd.

Lakewood in microcosm came together to protest the Trump administration’s numerous actions.  According to the “No Kings” website, thousands of cities, American and global, stood up to the Trump administration in peaceful protest. A dozen European cities, four in Germany, assembled to protest the Trump administration as well.

Just down I-5, Portland shows how to conduct a ‘protest’.  The vibe is not so much a protest as a circus sideshow, featuring inflatable frog and unicorn costumes in keeping with Portland’s style.

The Northwest values its voice.  For the original No Kings protest on June 14th, Seattle was estimated to have the third largest presence at 70,000 participants.  The first protest happened in response to Trump’s use of a military parade coinciding with his birthday.

(*Chief of Lakewood Police Patrick Smith estimates between 200-300.)