Thousands fill downtown Boulder for ‘No Kings’ protest: In pictures

Thousands of people filled the Boulder Bandshell and spilled into Central Park on Saturday afternoon for the No Kings 2 rally, one of more than 2,700 coordinated protests across the country calling for the defense of democracy, protection of immigrants and limits on executive power.

By late afternoon, the park between 13th Street and Broadway was packed with people carrying handmade signs. Local and statewide elected officials and community organizers addressed the crowd from the Bandshell stage before attendees spread out onto Broadway, Canyon Boulevard and nearby streets for a honk-and-wave demonstration, drawing cheers and supportive honks from passing drivers. Organizers estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 people attended the Boulder rally.

Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin, the first Latina to hold the office, addressed the crowd with a message urging sustained civic engagement and didn’t hold back.

“My name is Marta. I am your first Latina Boulder County Commissioner, and I want to make it very clear that, as I serve this community, the state of Colorado and the United States, we are not going anywhere because this is our country as well,” she said.

Among the attendees was longtime Boulder activist Hank Brusselback, known for building large puppets used in demonstrations across the state. “I’m here because our democracy is in jeopardy,” he said. “This is a different time: pathetic and scary. In my lifetime, which is 80 years, I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“When they push us, we need to stand up and fight. That is the only way we can advocate for those who cannot stand for themselves,” he said.

Marsha and her husband CB, who didn’t want to share their last names, stood together among the crowd, holding signs and cheering as speakers took the stage. A veteran protester since the Vietnam War, Marsha said she was moved by the turnout. “I love my country, and I want it to go back to the values I love because right now it sucks. It just absolutely sucks,” she said.

Marsha said she worries most about younger generations. “I’m really fearful. It’s not so much for us because we’re older. I’m fearful for my children and my grandchildren, especially the grandchildren, that they’re going to grow up not knowing what democracy is, not knowing what freedom is, not knowing what acceptance of people who are different than them is.”

“We need to embrace immigrants. We need to embrace people who are different than us. We need to embrace people of different colors and different religions. We need peace again in this world,” she added.

CB shared her concerns. “We’re all immigrants. What’s wrong with our government right now is terribly wrong. It’s as simple as that,” he said. Despite their worries, he added, “Yes. It’s hard, but there is hope.”

Christina Jurgens said she came downtown to stand with others who share her concerns. “I am really hoping to let people know that there are a lot of us who believe in protecting immigrants, who believe in the rule of law, who want to take our country back, and who want there to be rules for even the leaders to have to follow,” she said.

“I have so many fears. I work with kids every day for my job, and I fear for the world that they’re inheriting,” she added.

The demonstration was part of the No Kings Day of Peaceful Action, which organizers say brought together nearly seven million people in towns and cities nationwide, one of the largest single-day demonstrations in U.S. history. From Washington, D.C., to small rural communities, participants rallied under the same message, organizers said: that democracy belongs to the people, not to “kings.”

The Boulder rally was organized by Forever Indivisible Boulder. The group said its goal was to keep residents engaged between election cycles and large national mobilizations. Saturday’s event, they said, aimed to give participants “the resources and ideas to stay active in the fight for America’s freedom.”

In downtown Boulder, the marchers’ route intertwined with downtown’s Roots Music Fest and World Singing Day, creating an unusually crowded and festive atmosphere along Pearl Street. Children sat on shoulders waving flags, street musicians played along the route, and chants of “This is what democracy looks like” echoed off nearby buildings.

Among them were Linda Flinkman and her daughter, Hannah, who stopped to sing before joining the rally. “It’s my birthday, and we came down to sing at International Singing Day. And then we are heading over to the Boulder Bandshell for the No Kings march,” Linda said.

“The reason that we’re here, and the reason I feel like it’s important, is because I think we all need to feel like we have a voice right now and we all need to show up as individuals to protect our constitution and our democracy.”

Her daughter Hannah added, “I’m really happy we’re all together because I’m scared for the future. For me and my friends and everyone younger, I’m almost 24, and it’s really hard to have hope. Being down here with people who are as angry and scared as I am is helpful.”

Loachamin continued her remarks with a direct challenge to the audience about political power and representation.

“What can you all do? Showing up, using your voice, speaking out on social media and talking to your neighbors is helpful,” she continued. “But let me also encourage you: You know what’s going to really f**ing piss off Trump? And I’m saying that as a person, as a resident, not as a county commissioner.

“When we have people of color at the local level, at the state level, and at the federal level. You all get to make that choice when you vote. You can work with candidates, bring them in, fill the networks and change the conversations at tables, community groups, happy hours and pickleball courts.”

Rallies took place throughout the area, including in Lafayette, Longmont, Erie, Lyons, Nederland and Denver, where crowds gathered at the State Capitol. South Boulder hosted a smaller “Visibility Brigade.”