No Kings Rallies Restore Hope

When I'm not writing snarky books about our absolutely terrifying political situation, I like to go practice what I preach. I attended the June 14th No Kings rally in Kansas City, MO and was amazed at the turnout; Mill Creek Park was overflowing with people holding the most creative, and sometimes just blunt, signs. I had the good fortune to attend with a friend and local comedian, and it really just felt like a great time being around thousands of like-minded people of both parties. Think Mardi Gras without the booze and beads.

When word came out that there was another No Kings protest happening October 18th, I found that lots of the small towns around me were holding their own protests ahead of the Kansas City meet up so that people could attend multiple events if they wanted. I was elated to see my town on the list, but also hesitant to expect much of a turnout since I live in a very red state, rather small town.

My expectations were blown away. Not only did rural Missouri show up, we had over 200 people by the time it was over. It may not seem like much, but it is about 2% of the overall population. For a town that was covered in Trump signs pre-election, that's a big deal, and one that instilled hope in a lot of us that are working behind the scenes to try and make things right.

As the weather turns colder, outdoor events will be off the table for many areas. I hope we maintain the momentum we've gained, and as always, keep moving forward.

MJ