Alaskans rally across the state for democracy and ‘No Kings’ protest against Trump

As the Trump administration hosted a multimillion dollar military parade in Washington, D.C., marking the Army’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s birthday, and amid escalating military and law enforcement force against immigrants and protesters of immigration enforcement actions, thousands of Alaskans rallied in communities large and small, joining nationwide “No Kings” protests against Trump.

In Anchorage, a crowd lined L Street holding handmade signs, waving flags and cheering, as cars honked in support. 

Stephanie Schulling held a protest sign reading, “no sign is big enough for all the reasons I’m here.” She said as a social worker, she feels an ethical responsibility to show up and protest “the issues with people being disappeared, the issues with DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency), the issues with the possibility of Medicaid, Social Security, you know, all those sorts of safety nets going away. It’s unthinkable.”

Signs and speeches from community advocates condemned the Trump administration as overreaching its power and authority, and called for protecting democracy and equal rights, including for immigrant and transgender communities. The crowd then marched along L Street to the Delaney Park Strip for an afternoon Juneteenth celebration. 

“People are really, really scared, and I think their fear has turned into action,” said Erin Jackson-Hill, an organizer and executive director of Stand Up Alaska, a nonprofit social justice organization. 

“In Alaska especially, we really hold on to our freedoms and our independence, and we’re not gonna bow down to a king,” she said. “And so the ‘No Kings’ march is a way to stand up and say, ‘We don’t have kings in this country, we don’t want a king!’ The country got founded because we didn’t want a king. And we certainly don’t want Donald Trump to be the king.” 

More than 2,000 No Kings protest events were planned on Saturday nationwide. Social media posts show No Kings rallies in at least 24 Alaska communities from Ketchikan to Seldovia to Bethel and a single protester in the village of Emmonak on the Yukon River holding a sign reading “No Kings, only salmon.”

Several protest participants spoke with the Alaska Beacon after events wrapped up on Saturday afternoon, and expressed appreciation for Alaskans showing up to demonstrate and denounce Trump.

In Nome, several dozen people demonstrated under the iconic Burled Arch and finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race. “We have no place for a monarchy or any king-type of government and you know, people wanted to make their voices heard,” said Hannah Anderson, a participant and 50-year resident of Nome. She said it was especially great to see that sentiment echoed on social media posts from across rural Alaska. 

“Because living off the road system in Alaska, it’s kind of easy to feel forgotten or feel kind of alone out here,” she said. “And by seeing other people expressing their view and opinion is important, and pretty nice.”

In Homer, a large crowd rallied downtown, in one of the biggest protests seen by Ron Keffer, a retired educator and participant. “There was a really big turnout today,” he said, estimating the crowd at well above 1,000.

“I’m not afraid at this moment,” he added. “I think this is a moment when this country has had to examine itself, and it’s found some rotten spots in the apple, some really rotten spots. We have some very unlovely tendencies amongst some parts of our country, more than we realize: the racism, the misogyny, … the antagonism toward immigrants, which is our lifeblood. So it’s a big reckoning. And it’s going to make us better. It won’t feel good for a while. It’s kind of like surgery, it doesn’t feel good for a while, but the outcome is going to be good in the long run.”

In Palmer, where a few hundred people rallied, safety for demonstrators was the top priority, said Dave Musgrave, an organizer with the activist group Mat-Su United for Progress. He said the group came prepared after there were threats on social media of armed counterprotesters. 

“We had 30 peacekeepers who had de-escalation training. We were walking the sidewalks making sure everybody knew what their de-escalation techniques were,” he said. “And guess what? The counterprotesters really didn’t show up in force, in spite of what they put all over social media. So we stood strong and resolute, but we were all very peaceful.”

He said there were about eight counterprotesters there that organizers spoke with amicably, and there was no disruption. “We had beyond just our grannies and grandpas,” he added. “We had some great-grannies and great-grandpas too. But we also had a lot of young people show up, and it was great to see them out there too, fighting for their community and fighting against authoritarianism.”

Well above 1,000 people rallied under rare sunny skies in Juneau, according to organizers there, with a small group of counterprotesters nearby.

Organizers say protests are ongoing, with some groups holding weekly demonstrations, and say they will continue to make their voices heard protesting the Trump administration.