All photos in this story are by Jeffrey Packard for Boulder Reporting Lab.
Several hundred people gathered on Saturday, April 19, at the corner of Table Mesa Drive and Broadway in South Boulder, joining a national protest called the “No Kings” demonstration — a grassroots effort to push back against what they see as the erosion of democratic norms in the U.S.
Waving handmade signs and chanting, protesters called for accountability, civic engagement and the protection of democratic institutions, citing concerns about executive overreach and proposed federal policy changes.
One of them, Liz Nel, stood with a sign that read, “Your only crowning was in the birth canal.”
“We are here in South Boulder protesting the idea of our leader acting like a king when we have a democracy,” said Nel, who traveled from outside Colorado to attend the event. “My sign states exactly how I feel, and this can be fact-checked — it’s factual.”
Nearby, Boulder resident Chris Munro held a sign reading, “Make America kind, smart, safe, tolerant, lawful, truthful, and democratic again.”
“We’re horrified with pretty much everything that’s happening in the United States right now,” Munro said. “I’m here to fight for our democracy.”
Though some demonstrators acknowledged skepticism about whether protests could lead to direct political change, many said the gatherings offered a sense of connection and resolve.
“It gives people hope, and then more people pay attention and take action,” Munro said. “That helps our Congress members and senators take action when they see us out here.”
Saturday’s protest was the latest in a series of civic actions held on the same South Boulder corner. Organizers said the gatherings initially began in response to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and have since evolved into regular events focused on defending democratic ideals.
“Participate in your communities,” Nel urged. “Speak up for what you believe so that others might feel more empowered to do the same.”
“Make a phone call to your representatives,” Munro added. “It’s documented, and it does matter.”
Among the younger faces in the crowd was John, a CU Boulder student studying astrophysics (who asked that his last name not be used). He said he joined the protest out of concern that federal workers are being undermined.
“Government and civil servants provide essential services that keep society functioning,” he said. “They’re being sabotaged.”
John pointed to proposed cuts to federal science funding — including a 50% reduction to NASA’s science division — as a threat to the country’s future and to young professionals like him. In the background loomed Boulder’s NOAA campus, where probationary employees have already been fired. The agency’s future remains uncertain as the Trump administration’s proposed budget seeks to gut its funding.
“As young people, we need the next generation to be educated,” he said. “We need the next generation to have these jobs — because that’s what makes America great.”
While he recognized that protests may not bring about immediate change, John said the outrage must be sustained.
“People need to stay angry so that when the time comes — when the next election comes around — they still care,” he said. “If we wash our hands of it, by the time we’re called to act, it may be too late.”
For Curtis Rogers, a psychology student at Naropa University and a member of Boulder’s Police Oversight Panel, attending Saturday’s “No Kings” protest marked his first time participating in a public demonstration.
“I’m just trying to be active in this fight against oligarchy and authoritarian rule,” he said. “I came here hoping to connect with organizers and learn from others who are already doing the work.”
Rogers didn’t write the sign he held — someone handed it to him when he arrived — but he said the act of showing up had meaning beyond words.
“These kinds of gatherings are catalysts,” he said. “In order to be active, in order to be potent, people have to be united. Anytime people come together under the same umbrella, under the same cause, it’s powerful.”
Rogers said he’s concerned about the effect politics are having on marginalized communities, especially international students.
“A few of my friends didn’t come today because they were afraid of being targeted,” he said. “Even though they’re strongly against what’s happening, that fear of deportation kept them away. And that’s real.”
“All I hear with Trump is this ‘us versus them’ narrative — Americans versus immigrants,” he said. “It’s about power and taking control of everything. That’s a dangerous way to look at the world — not just with other nations, but with nature itself. It’s ‘drill, baby, drill,’ despite everything we know about ecology. That kind of thinking is terrifying.”
Though inspired by the protest, he said he was clear-eyed about its limitations.
“If I’m being honest? No, I don’t think this alone is going to change things,” he said. “We need more. We need organizing. But this — this is a start.”
Holding a sign that read “Republicanos, encontrad vuestros cojones” — “Republicans, find your cojones” — researcher José Luis Jiménez joined protesters in South Boulder to call out political inaction in the face of what he described as democratic and scientific erosion.
“In Spanish, ‘cojones’ means having guts — being brave,” said Jiménez. “Right now, Republican lawmakers are the ones with the power to stop what’s happening, and they’re not using it. They need to step up.”
Jiménez, a scientist who moved to the U.S. for its leadership in research, said the current administration is undermining essential systems — from science to education to constitutional rights.
“They’re interfering with the formation of the next generation of scientists,” he said. “If we lose four years of training, that’s catastrophic — and it’s not something we can easily rebuild.”
He warned that the damage to America’s global scientific reputation is already being felt.
“Foreign researchers are scared. They don’t want to come here anymore,” he said. “And if this system is destroyed, the rest of the world won’t forget.”
Jiménez also condemned the revocation of visas for students protesting on university campuses, calling it a blatant attack on free speech.
“They’re using the protests as an excuse to go after universities,” he said. “It’s not even about the protests — it’s about silencing dissent.”
Jeff Ramsey made the drive from Erie to attend the “No Kings” protest, compelled by what he described as a growing sense of urgency.
“I just feel like every opportunity to get out and be part of the community protesting is important,” he said. “It’s getting more and more desperate. People are being disappeared. It’s not okay.”
Ramsey, who has attended several protests in Denver, said he was curious to see what civic action looked like in Boulder.
“In Denver, people gather in mass at the Capitol and march. Here, it’s different — smaller, but still powerful,” he said.
Carrying a sign that drew parallels between the current administration and the rise of fascism, he added: “I think Trump is authoritarian to the core. There’s a fine line between that and fascism.”
“Even if they institute martial law, I don’t think we’re going to be quiet,” Ramsey said. “We still have to show up and speak out. I have a sign — that’s all I have.”
Although you correctly reported several hundred protestors at Broadway and Table Mesa, my husband and I walked from NIST to Table Mesa and back, carrying my protest signs yesterday. There were far more protestors along the way.
Thanks Rossana for covering this important activism and hopefully we grow interest and voices along this hard, long road.
Rossana, thank you for covering the protests and including people’s voices. This is vital work, and each protest draws new people and reading about them encourages more people. Great photos too!