On Saturday in Geneva, chants of “No kings in America” and “This is what democracy looks like” rang out over seemingly supportive, near-constant honks from cars driving by the large protest that stretched across several blocks of Randall Road.
The peaceful gathering was one of many “No Kings” protests around the country on Saturday, the same day as the massive military parade honoring the Army’s long-planned 250th anniversary celebration that also coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
Protestors in Geneva, who were lined up along Randall Road from Fabyan Parkway to Fargo Boulevard, held up signs that criticized Trump, compared his administration to authoritarian regimes and celebrated American democracy and diversity, among other things.
“People are mad, and people are ready to speak out,” said Sharon Riggle, who leads Batavia-Aurora Area Indivisible, one of the groups that helped organize the protest in Geneva on Saturday. “This is bigger than anything we’ve had before.”
The “No Kings” rallying cry is important, Riggle said, because Trump wants to “shortcut the system” of constitutional democracy and act like a king, she said. That’s “not acceptable” because the Constitution is the basis of “everything that we have,” she said.
Her family fought to free this country from kings 250 years ago, Riggle said, and “we’re not going back.”
Alongside signs about protecting American democracy, protestors also waved American flags, a few of which were being flown upside-down. An American flag flown upside down is often a signal of extreme distress. Riggle, who was dressed up as Uncle Sam, said the American flag iconography was an important part of the protest because the rally was on Flag Day, and the flag is one of the things that best embodies American democracy.
Plus, for some, the American flag has been co-opted by elements of the political right who claim they are the only true patriots, according to Riggle. She said that, by flying the American flag at the protest, they are taking it back and saying that true patriots defend the Constitution, obey the rule of law and work to make sure everyone is included and get their fair share.
Riggle said Saturday’s protest was the best she’d ever been to, was bigger than others she has helped to organize and wouldn’t be surprised if over 5,000 came out to the event.
Miki Powell, who helped organize the protest as part of We Can Lead Change Fox Valley, estimated the number at 8,000 or 10,000.
When asked what she thought brought so many people out to the protest, she simply asked, “Have you heard the news?”
Trump is “destroying our country,” families, infrastructure, business, everything, Powell said.
“I mean, how much worse can it get in this country?” she said. “People are angry, and that’s why they’re here.”
Karen Goetze said she attended the protest in Geneva on Saturday because she’s against “just about everything the president is doing currently,” particularly because of what she called attacks on the Constitution but also because of the “huge attack on the immigrant population.”
Two others at the protest, John and Diana Saarima, similarly were attending for a number of reasons. Diana Saarima said it was hard to decide which reasons to put on signs, so they brought multiple.
In particular, the couple said they were at the protest because they cared about the Constitution and about veterans. In addition to their protest signs, they also had an American flag.
John Saarima said the turnout and emotion at the protest was heartening. With all the protests going on, he hopes the country gets the message, he said.
In addition to the protest happening in Geneva, several others were planned across the Chicago area and the state.
Yorkville’s “No Kings” protest saw a turnout of about 750 people and was a “resounding success,” said organizer Ali Castillo. Like in Geneva, Castillo said cars were honking in support of the protest that stretched almost three blocks, and many community members stood up to give remarks.
Both protests also brought out elected officials: U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, was seen in Geneva, and Castillo said U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, was in Yorkville.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com