The people turned out again! I saw one report picked up on a couple of networks that there were 3,300 separate protests and 8 million people. This is more than the 7 million at the last NO KINGS, and less than I had hoped for.
Across the country, and Portland in particular, people have a legitimate fear of being kidnapped by the government by masked people in unmarked vehicles if they are not white and spotted by ICE. It happens every day. I do not blame them for not going out and holding signs. We did see brown-skinned families happily cheering and honking from their cars as they drove past.
While I wish there were more protestors, what we saw this time, that we have seen again and again, is that it’s mostly older white people out there – the safest group of us. I just asked ChatGPT how many people in the U.S. are white and over 50, and it says approximately 26%. That’s around 89 million people. So something like 9% of White Americans over 50 were out there. That’s a big number, and something to be proud of.
I keep going on about the fact that people of colour are getting randomly kidnapped by masked feds because I continue to find it MAD. Are you kidding me? In the United States, in 2026, in broad daylight, with zero accountability, thugs are simply taking people who are minding their own business, shipping them out of state and often out of the country with no warning, no due process, no lawyers, no notice to their families, and MOST OF THE COUNTRY DOESN’T LOSE THEIR SHIT OVER IT?! I just can’t believe it. What world am I living in? The thing that makes the MAGA people mad is the PRICE OF GAS?!
Anyway.
I had been checking the No Kings organizers for information about a Tigard protest all month, but nothing came up. So Pedro and I chose to go to Hillsboro instead because, “They have a large Hispanic population and they need us,” Pedro said. It’s true. At the last minute, I finally saw something in Tigard, but we had already committed to Hillsboro by then.
My sign refers to Dump’s war in Iran, that they named “Operation Epic Fury.” My shirt says Chinga tu MAGA, a play on a common insult in Spanish, Chinga tu madre. It translates to F your MAGA. Pedro’s shirt is of the Freedom Frog who got famous for peaceful Portland protests at the ICE facility. Pedro is wearing the U.S. flag in protest of those MAGA morons co-opting it for their nefarious messaging.
Conscious Engagement 
Great signs other than that, no words 😡
I thought they did such a good job with signs! This was at at small town suburb of Portland, so I can only imagine the great messaging that must have been across the metro area! There were around 30,000 in downtown Portland.
Voltaire’s injunction to écrasez l’infâme just needs a bit of updating of the Target -Trump.
Lou! I don’t recall seeing this from Voltaire before, but I think it is the most appropriate message for the Dump. Squash the creature.
I’m so proud of all of you. Worried a bit for Pedro because the morons don’t know better. You will find no protests where I live. It hurts my heart. I LOVE the signs. Brilliant.
Thank you Marlene. We are safe, even my proud man. It helps to get out and be surrounded by like minds for a couple of hours. I wish you had access to the same sense of community. It is healing. But I am glad you have access to Word Press and can see the sights that others saw. The drone footage over crowds is especially exciting to me.
The numbers seem to be increasing
It seems this was the largest so far. We were encouraged not just by the numbers holding signs, but by the few people expressing their displeasure at us. The Dump-supporters seemed to be much quieter this time, and that is an important development.
I admit that I love seeing the crowds on street corners and gatherings and marches through big cities. But I could feel the fatigue this time. I could sense the bewilderment that we are still having to voice our fierce opposition even as it becomes so distorted it’s hard to imagine a side that actually supports it. But here’s the thing that also astonishes me: where are the young people? It seems 90% of who I gathered with were people my age. Where are the Zoomers (GenZ)?
We talked about that with the people we were standing with (older and whiter than us!). The only thing I could come up with was that my kids have been so disconnected that they didn’t know about any of the protests before, until I told them. They heard about this one because this was the first one that got so much news coverage in advance. My kids have been avoiding the news. So…maybe that is one reason? Otherwise, I just don’t know why young people don’t come out. But god bless the old white ones!! ❤
Thank you for being out there on the street and making your wishes known.
I live in MAGA land and many people are 70-80% uncoupled from reality. The fortunate thing about fuel prices: lies can’t cover them up. The MAGA people have to pay. I’ve been expecting fuel shortages like they have in Australia. Industry experts say it won’t happen.
I advocate that income tax and Federal Excise (fuel) tax increases must cover any supplemental Congress approves. $200 billion? The Congress must not approve free wars on the granchildren’s nickel. Get with Congressional Budget Office and figure out how much taxes must increase to pay off $200 billion by the end of the President’s term. Another supplemental in May? Increase taxes. It’s the one way to hitch accountability to the zero accountability President.
Thank you for commenting. We go out and protest because we know many people cannot, even if they agree with the protestors. Fuel prices always get people’s attention, and for that I am grateful that it has people talking. Pedro recently told me he heard a news clip from some conservative personality that the high gas prices are Biden’s fault. I can’t believe the audacity to try and pin this on President Biden too, but then, as you said many people are 70-80% uncoupled from reality. If they are told to believe it, they will believe it.