People lined the sidewalks of Algoma Boulevard and Congress Avenue near the Paine Art Center and Gardens in protest of President Donald Trump’s administration Oct. 18, calling for a return to pro-democracy values and policies.
Chants rang out amid the honking of passing cars as protesters waved flags and held signs, some of which read, “No more kings!,” “No one is above the law” and “Immigrants make America great.”
Some protesters donned costumes, including a unicorn, a chipmunk, a panda and a red crewmate from the video game “Among Us” holding a sign that read, “Eject Donald Trump from the White House.”
The “No Kings” protest on Oct. 18 was one of many held in the past few months, both in Oshkosh and across the country. Earlier in the day, a similar protest occurred in Appleton.
Oshkosh’s protest was organized by the Oshkosh-based Peaceful Patriots, which describes itself as a nonpartisan, anti-authoritarian, anti-fascist and pro-democracy group.
Peaceful Patriots leader and organizer Danny Schierl said he collaborated with protest organizers in Appleton so that people there could also travel to Oshkosh later in the day, and that it’s important to prioritize the values of democracy.
“We are the people who run the democracy,” he said. “Our voice matters, our vote matters and people need to be heard. … That’s one of our big things with Peaceful Patriots: One of our missions and goals is to spread awareness and to fight for our democracy peacefully, and gather and flex our First Amendment rights.”
Oshkosh resident Kathy Webb’s sign read, “No kings since 1776.” She said she’s appalled by the hate and lies from the Trump administration.
“…It just breaks my heart when I see how Trump is trying to stir up the American public to fight each other,” she said. “I believe in freedom; I believe in the Constitution; I believe in my right to protest.”
Webb said she’s appreciative of the opportunity to represent those whose voices aren’t being heard.
“I am grateful that I can come out and speak my truth for those that can’t — that are being wrongfully kidnapped off the street,” she said. “It just breaks my heart. I’ve been moved to tears many times to see the hate and the injustice and all the things that Trump is breaking the Constitution over and hurting the American public. He is not making America great again.”
She said that if she could speak to Trump, she’d encourage him to act with humility.
“I know there’s a good person inside there somewhere, and I wish (his) ego would get smaller, so (he) could really, truly make America great again,” she said. “Here, America is hurting, and we need true leadership. So (Trump needs to) stop the lying and get the ego out of the way and be a real American president.”
Standing on the street corner facing toward the protesters, Oshkosh native Patricia Martinez led the protesters in chants with a megaphone.
“This is what democracy looks like,” “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go” and “We the people won’t bow down” were among their chants.
Martinez said she’s concerned about some of the more recent political changes concerning women’s rights.
“I support abortion; I support the freedom of your body; I support everything this (protest) stands for,” she said. “I’m totally against our President. … So I just wanted to come out here and let people know I do not align with him and don’t align with his beliefs.”
She said she decided to protest because she stands against everything Trump stands for.
“I’ve never supported (Trump),” she said. “I feel like there could be anyone but him to be better in the world (as President). That’s how I feel.”
Martinez said that if she could speak to Trump, she’d question his morals and integrity.
“How do you sleep at night?” she said. “How are you living with yourself? … How do you run the country and feel good about that? It doesn’t make sense.”
The “No Kings” protest on Oct. 18 ran from 1 to 4 p.m. Various other protests have been scheduled by Peaceful Patriots throughout October and November.
More information about Peaceful Patriots can be found at their website, peaceful-patriots.com.
