A No Kings protest took place on Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in downtown Bowling Green.
Hundreds of community members gathered at the four corners, where East Wooster Street and North Main Street intersect, to rally peacefully against the current United States (U.S.) presidency.
Comparable rallies also expressed concerns about the events taking place under the current administration of President Donald Trump. These protests took place across the entirety of the U.S. and several other countries as well, with more than 3,000 rallies taking place overall.
Protesters gathered with signs, with many also singing or yelling chants calling for government accountability. The rally remained peaceful with the Bowling Green Police Department in attendance, with visible signs also posted stating tips on how to keep a protest peaceful. These included: stay calm, don’t engage with agitators, respect other protesters and obey lawful orders.
Some community members personally shared some of their own concerns.
A man, who identified himself as “Santa Claus,” said, “Our democracy and our constitution is being undermined by the current regime, and I’m afraid that if we don’t start speaking up and taking action, things will get worse.” He adds that individuals should remember to cast their vote on the ballots.
Amanda Krieger, a community member, said, “If we don’t fight for our democracy, we’re going to lose it… I don’t think most people realize that we’re this close to being a dictatorship. He started a war without asking Congress or [the] Senate… that’s not okay.”
According to an article by the New York Times, “The move early Saturday to strike Iran has raised accusations that [Trump] is violating the [U.S.] Constitution by starting a war without congressional authorization,” the article said.
Krieger also urged others in the community to take action and make their voices heard.
“Don’t be afraid to come out here, express yourself and stand up for this country and fight for our freedom. The more we get, the better. Let’s keep up the pressure.”
Many vehicles passed through the intersection and demonstrated their feelings towards the protest. Many honked their horns, decorated their cars and some passengers held signs out of the window in support of the protest.
Other individuals driving through the area expressed opposition, with some openly voicing their opinions and wearing gear in support of Trump. While this created some tension, nothing escalated.
As the protest started to come to a conclusion between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m., the Bowling Green chapter of The Raging Grannies, an organization of women who sing parody songs with political themes, sang with a local live band to bring the day of protesting to a close.
