What do King George III, Smokey Bear, and Uncle Sam all have in common? All three were present at the No Kings protest at People’s Park in Tacoma on June 14.
These protests were organized nationwide to take a stand against the second Trump Administration, and coincided with both President Trump’s 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the creation of the US Army, for which Trump held a $45 million military parade.
The Tacoma protest was a collaborative effort between organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, One Fair Wage, and Veterans for Responsible Leadership. Many protesters also prepared by creating different posters to express their beliefs. “The only king I respect is Burger King” was a popular slogan and children could be spotted with variations on “Hands off my education.” Musical theater was represented by posters with the famous lyrics “Do you hear the people sing?” from Les Miserables. Even the public toilets were labeled by signs reading “Trump Dump.”
The signs represented ideologies from a wide range of perspectives. For every “Home-grown Antifa” poster, there was one “Trump is a commie” sign. Plenty of people also took the time to make signs not directly about the president, representing grievances with everything from ICE to the state of trans rights to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Uncle Sam, a classic figure of American iconography, was spotted at the protest in giant puppet form, holding his own “Uphold Democracy” poster. This contrasts with an idea held by the right, that to protest one’s popular government is anti-democracy. With the central idea just being “anti-Trump,” all kinds of people were able to unite around it.
The protest was more than a ragtag group of sign-bearers, though. At the western end of the park, organizations and sponsors had set up different stalls and booths. Some were more informal, such as the First Aid Center, which distributed water bottles and granola bars. Other stands had been set up by organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America and Industrial Workers of the World. These organizations clearly arrived with the intention of recruiting and networking, as they had signup sheets and QR codes available. Even more appeared with the intention of simply spreading information, such as the Marxist Reading Corner, a makeshift library with a selection of socialist reading material, or the Tacoma For All stand, which distributed a pamphlet called “Landlord Fairness Code Facts for Renters” explaining tenants’ rights and how to protect them.
There were many guest speakers, but one, a member of the Black Panther Party, brought a message that stuck with me. He asked everyone present to think beyond the moment, saying: “I’m glad our current president was elected, since he brought us all here today. Because let’s not kid ourselves, the violence and the injustice didn’t start with him and it didn’t end when he was out of office either.” He received the most muted response from the crowd, possibly making them uncomfortable by suggesting that Trump is only a figurehead for deeper issues that won’t disappear when his term ends.
On June 14, Tacoma proved that it can band together against a controversial figure on a significant occasion. In the moment, it was comforting. But a moment fades, and we are left wondering if our community can do more. Is Tacoma limited to quick, dramatic flashes like this protest, or can we begin to work towards long-term goals? The guest speakers and volunteer organizations gave Tacoma the opportunity to make a lasting impact. Only time will tell if we take it.
