“Loving,” “loud,” “energetic,” and “joyful,” are how demonstrators described the crowd they formed in Maryville on Oct. 18 as part of the national No Kings movement. The event was one of more than 2,500 demonstrations held across the country to challenge “President Trump’s attempted coronation,” according to the No Kings website, and it marked the second wave of a movement which first turned out in June to protest actions by the current administration.
Demonstrators in Maryville lined up on South Main Street across from the Walmart, chanting, holding signs, and cheering at honks from passing cars. Many had protested in June as well. Participants came from across the region, some driving as far as an hour to stand in solidarity with like-minded people on a brisk morning under a blue sky.
Judy Jennings, of Stanberry, MO, said she felt the country is “at a turning point.”
“We have to stand up for the Constitution and the rule of law,” she said. “Having a convicted felon lead our country, and ignore our laws, is wrong.”
Many shared Jenning’s overarching concern for the country’s democracy, and had specific concerns as well, from Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids to the rollout of the military in cities across the US.
“I just don’t like what’s happening,” said Beth Bakkum, who came from Bethany, MO with her husband to protest.
“I don’t like that the Trumps are enriching themselves while others are suffering. I get Social Security, and I want to keep getting it. There are a lot of reasons we decided to come,” she said.
The Bakkums noted Hamilton County, where they live, is only 16% democratic. “That’s another reason we came,” Bakkum said. “We needed a little community today. We needed to see people who feel the same way we do about what’s happening.”
Participants from Albany, Grant City, Burlington Junction, and rural areas outlying Maryville spoke of a similar need for solidarity. Abby Swink, of Maryville, was one of the younger participants at the rally, and said the solidarity extended beyond the Maryville rally.
“I saw a map of where all the protests are taking place across the US and there are actually quite a few in Missouri, which is cool to see because we are such a red state,” she said.
Petitions address state issues
Although many in attendance had national politics on the mind, actions by the Missouri Legislature were also of concern for participants. Organizers were in attendance circulating petitions challenging actions taken by lawmakers at a special session in September, including a reform of the petition process which would make it nearly impossible for citizens to amend the state constitution by a popular vote.
Wearing a bright yellow shirt emblazoned with the campaign’s insignia, Megan Vesel was collecting signatures for the Respect MO Voters effort, which challenges the legislature’s reform and aims to preserve the petition process.
Vesel said when talking to voters, the response to their campaign has been overwhelmingly positive. “It’s a non-partisan issue,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a democrat or a republican, you should want your vote to count.”
Missouri is one of 24 states which allows citizens to place issues directly on the ballot. Vesel moved to Maryville from West Virginia, which has no petition process in place. “So this is a right we need to defend.”
Another petition being circulated challenged the legislature’s recent redistricting of Kansas City to push Democratic Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver out of his seat.
The Maryville No Kings rally was organized locally by Persisterhood, a St. Joseph-based group which also put on events in St. Joe and Chillicothe. Other rallies were held in Red Oak, Shenandoah and Clarinda, IA.
