Speaking truth to power: Why rallies and protests matter

In the United States, rallies and protests are a form of free speech and freedom of assembly protected by the First Amendment. These precious rights are under attack and must be protected from those who are afraid of change and want to keep us divided. Governments and others with power are constantly finding new ways to suppress protest and silence critical voices. Global trends towards the militarization of police, the increase in the misuse of force by police at protests and shrinking civic space mean that it is becoming more difficult to stay safe while making your voice heard. (Source: Amnesty International)

On the morning of Flag Day, June 14, as No Kings rallies began rolling out across the nation, we received shocking news about the assassination of Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband in their Brooklyn Park, Minn. home, and the nearly fatal shooting of Democratic state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their home in Champlin, Minn.

Yet, that afternoon, record numbers of Clallam County residents (estimates are 2,600 in Sequim, 1,700 in Port Angeles) lined the streets to wave homemade signs and make their voices heard during No Kings rallies in their respective towns. The Clallam Democrats Rising newsletter team wanted to know why so many local residents were willing to face their fears and turn out to protest. 

We talked with a young man attending his first protest ever, a family protesting together, people who grew up in autocracies and fled to the United States, those speaking out to protect Medicaid and Social Security, many decrying ICE and illegal deportation, and those who were there to demand that Congress WAKE UP!

Here’s what your Clallam County friends and neighbors had to say:  

Lisa in Sequim
It’s important for me to be here because everything that we know and feel is part of our democracy is being threatened, especially the level of violence that is happening, which I think is a major fear tactic. Even though I was a little nervous today to come here after what happened in Minneapolis this morning, I still feel it was really important to come and be a part of this movement. ​

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Alex in Port Angeles
I just recently moved here from California, from Kevin McCarthy’s district [McCarthy served as U.S. representative for California's 20th congressional district from 2007 until his resignation in 2023]. The environment here is a total 180 degrees from his district. In my parents’ generation in the Philippines, the power of the people ended the rule of the dictator President Marcos. After 14 years of dictatorship, Marcos was exiled and they took him away. And we are seeing it now [in the U.S.]. It starts with freedom of the press losing their rights, then the people lose their rights. In my parents’ generation, if you spoke against the government, then you’re in jail. If I were in the Philippines doing the student services work I’m doing now, I would be in jail. 

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Mike (with his family) in Port Angeles
This is my first protest. I am here because I support our democracy. I haven’t been an activist, but I have never seen such meanness and depravity. The world has gone to shit with the Republican playbook. I wasn’t an activist until someone started sharing with me and I could understand what was needed. I want to do that for others if I can. I have hope for the future – it is showing around the edges. This whole thing (today) is pretty positive. 

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Dave in Sequim
I wanted to help get out the word and help more people be aware of what’s going on in politics right now. And I think so many voters don’t know what [Trump]’s doing because they get all the news just from [Trump]’s mouth.

Kim in Port Angeles
Where do I start?  There is so much I can’t keep track! The disregard of our laws, the deportations. Protesting gives me a voice. When people aren’t engaged, I try to [find] out what they care about – Vets, Medicare, etc.- and [let them know] how the administration is affecting them. Seeing people out protesting across the nation gives me hope that our collective voice will cause things to change.

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Harmony in Sequim
I feel like it’s important to be here today because there are a lot of people who are being taken away from their homes and a lot of people who are being hurt due to the situation they’re being put in by Trump. A lot of his new rules and regulations are making it so families can’t do certain things they need to do to get the support for their kids that they truly need to feel safe in their country. I think that’s why it’s important to be here to fight for those people who can’t fight for themselves currently. 

Rachel in Port Angeles
It’s important for us to be here today to show solidarity and show what it means to come together to support our country, what our country is supposed to stand for, and to stand up for our freedom. 

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Jennifer in Sequim
I think what’s happening in this country is that we’re going to an authoritarian system. Congress has abdicated its power so it’s up to us to let them know that we don’t approve of what’s happening. It’s our job to try to protect this country from becoming a dictatorship. 

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Nikki in Port Angeles
I think it’s important to be here today because the government currently wants us to feel afraid of doing things like this and we cannot let them win. 

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Steve in Sequim
We just moved to Diamond Point three weeks ago and the news of this morning just made it clear to us that this is where we needed to be today. 

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Tom in Port Angeles
I would ask [people who are not yet engaged] to ask themselves why a United States president is trying to destroy the university system, the greatest education system on the planet. Why is the president defunding things like NASA… discovery, knowledge; this country is built on the shoulders of giants, innovation. What gives me hope is the turnout here today! The energy is just great! 

Randy and Gunvor in Port Angeles
Gunvor: I was raised in Norway and we remember what happened in WWII.  I know what Fascism looks like. I can see it growing. Randy: Our democracy is threatened. The immigration issue is all about ‘making America white again.’ People will not change until it hits them in pocketbook. It has to personally hurt them. We try to make a point with Trump folks and try to understand them. We try to find the common ground. We believe the people are strong enough and we can move past this if we pull together. It is slowly happening. Someday we will look back on these bleak times that we got out of. 

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Erica in Port Angeles
I’m here to represent my family in Los Angeles, which is currently up against ICE and everybody going after immigration. My brother-in-law has been here for 30 years working and he’s been married to an American citizen for 10 years, with two American children. Eighteen-thousand-dollars later and he STILL doesn’t have his paperwork despite working for years and years AND being married to an American. I can only imagine how difficult it is for everybody else. Rght now my sister works with special needs children and [ICE] showed up at their place of work and they had to go in lockdown because they were going to take children out of the school; non-verbal children, autistic children, without their parents. So that is happening in California. That’s more than I can handle. 

Sharon in Port Angeles
I am protesting Trump, bottomline. I want democracy saved for the world. It is important for people to PAY ATTENTION. If you don’t, bad things can happen to you. I have hope because more and more people are talking and standing up. It is UP TO US! 

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Roland in Port Angeles
Both of my parents were born in Germany in the 1920s and 30’s, so they saw the whole Hitler show from a front-row seat, especially my father who grew up near Munich, where Hitler came to power. So I was compelled during my youth to learn all about that…it’s part of my family history. I had a grandmother who was a Hitler fan, because he was “Germany’s FDR” and he helped them build the autobahns and the Volkswagens. Most of what Hitler did was earlier on, when he was doing the work to corrupt the government, corrupt the system, to get what he wanted.  So it’s really a no-brainer that this is a time to stand up and take action. 

Steve and Lauren in Port Angeles
What aren’t we protesting?! We support democracy, we believe in the Constitution, and peoples’ rights. We are in solidarity with supporting immigration rights.  Protests like these help people who aren’t engaged see others that are of like mind. Otherwise, they won’t engage until their rights or money are impacted.  “Hope springs eternal.”  We run from euphoria to despair but we are hopeful the people will overcome. 

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Josiah and Layla in Port Angeles
We are horrified that they are deporting legal citizens and spending millions of dollars on a parade for his birthday. Trump is using his power in really dumb ways. We are concerned over fake ICE agents and raids. We tend to avoid talking politics, especially with workmates. We are concerned [that] people will treat us differently. These protests are sending a hopeful message. 

​Roger and Ingrid in Port Angeles
Roger: We are protesting the assault on our democracy and worry about losing our rights. People need to pay attention because we are at great risk of losing everything. Most people do not want to risk talking about politics.  Ingrid: I have been attending protests since I was 12.  Events like this help make me feel better.  I am not alone. 

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Candy in Port Angeles
 I see what is happening and I don’t want us to be like Germany in the 1930’s and 40’s. I don’t want to see us lose lives and freedom. I am angry that a felon is in charge and wonder what happened to our Constitution. I try to talk to people to [help them] understand but sometimes we have to agree to disagree. We shouldn’t force our opinions on others. I am tired of being silent. I am here because I have hope and I am stepping forward. I am not a Democrat or a Republican…I am an AMERICAN. 

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​Mark in Port Angeles
I am protesting a dictator who isn’t FIT for governing. He is mentally incoherent and making ridiculous choices to run departments. His impact [on] climate change will set us back years. He is getting us into a war between Israel and Iran – and it is partially his fault because he tanked the nuclear deal with Iran. We need to figure out how to combat Fox News and get the 86 million people who didn’t vote to wake up. I have hope that we can turn this around in 1.5 years at the midterms.

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The Perez Family in Port Angeles
We are horrified by the immigration issues – ICE, kidnappings, violations of the Constitutional rights and, now, the murder of Democratic legislators in Minnesota. We need to have compassion with people who don’t seem to care. It will take personal impacts to wake some people up. Sometimes it is hard to have hope, but it helps to see the solidarity here today. What is it going to take to wake up our leaders? Where are they? Side note: Our aunt recently passed away. Phyllis Gutierrez Kennedy was a Washington State representative in Yakima. She spent her life fighting for migrant rights. We honor her by being here. 

Joy in Port Angeles
I have been hard core politics my whole life. I believe in our future. Governments have come and go through the centuries. We will rise back up. 

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Kate and Carol in Port Angeles
We are proud to be here to defend democracy.  Change happens with momentum.  Today is a great show of force.  To engage more people, it needs to be fun but also ask people how they think things will affect their friends, family, co-workers?  Trump is not acting from a place of strength and he shows it.  We need to take power where we can.  There is always hope but likely things will get worse before they get better. 

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Trisha, Brittany, Isaac in Port Angeles
(Speaking with one voice) The list is long for the reason to be here – no dictators, absurd deportations, attacks [on] science, healthcare, human rights, immigration tactics. It is difficult to change minds with Trump supporters in the family. Not sure Trump supporters or the disengaged really understand the impacts. Yes, there is hope. But we won’t stand quietly by and we won’t make it comfortable for those who support this administration. 

Phil and Anonymous in Port Angeles
Anonymous: I am here because I am MONUMENTALLY PISSED. I am afraid of where this path is taking us and I will fight to my last breath. Phil: I am concerned about the deportations and lack of due process. The list is long. Anonymous: I have a lot of strong Trump supporters in the family so I avoid trying to change their minds. Phil: The bigger the turnout at protests the more people will start to pay attention. This turnout gives us hope. 

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