No Kings Rally Draws 1,400 in Idaho: A Protest Movement in Red America

On June 14th, a large crowd of Idaho residents held their No Kings Rally in Bonneville County, Idaho Falls. The event took place on Broadway Avenue near the Japanese Friendship Gardens. Protesters began to gather around 4 PM MDT with signs and flags, chanting the phrase “No More Kings” as they stood on both sides of the bridge overlooking the Snake River.

Cities across the United States participated in No Kings Day, a movement that has now become one of the largest protests against a president in U.S. history. No Kings Day was a nationwide act of demurral, organized by the 50501 movement to oppose the actions of the Trump administration, which many Americans have observed to be autocratic or resembling the rule of a king. It was expected that many of these protests would be held in cities in more Democratic-leaning states—like Philadelphia, Atlanta, and New York—but what do rallies look like in predominantly red or Republican states?

Idaho Residents protesting at No Kings Rally by Gracie Leavitt

This rally had more than 1,400 individuals present to share their voices. The event was planned a month in advance, set to occur on both Trump’s 79th birthday and the U.S. Army’s 250th Anniversary Parade. 

One of the main coordinators of the event and Idaho resident, Miranda Armenta, spoke about her personal motivation to help facilitate the event and her experience with activism:“What prompted me was the blatant misinformation the Trump administration is spreading. Convincing Americans we aren’t a democracy. Convincing Americans and those here [that they] aren’t allowed due process. Convincing America rallies and protests are just riots that are well funded. All these conclusions are wrong about us, and I want to battle the misinformation with education.”

Armenta said she began advocating during the 2016 Trump administration—a common sentiment shared by some of the Idahoans present. 

One of the participants, Kris Burnham, expressed that her frustration began early on: “I’ve been frustrated with Trump since his first presidency. I feel like the things that are happening in the United States are so egregious that we have to take any time and chance we can to come out and let our voices be heard. We need people to know this isn’t right; this isn’t normal. There’s this continual stream of lies that are going out to a lot of people, and I feel like events like this have to happen to let people know that it’s not the truth. That’s why I’m here.”

Though all the protesters present were advocating for the same cause, many had specific issues they highlighted through their decorated signs and banners. Some of these included information about reproductive rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and environmental awareness. One of the younger protesters, Gavin McClain, said he was there specifically advocating for trans rights. Annette Harker, a resident of Idaho, was trying to spread awareness of local opportunities by offering documents for nonpartisan voter registration, ballot initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and more.

Idaho residents displaying their signs at No Kings Rally by Gracie Leavitt

The protest lasted for two hours, ending around 6 PM MDT. It was, overall, a peaceful event that encountered little resistance from counter-protesters—an event that reflected many others across the nation in both Republican and Democratic states, united for a common cause.