No Kings 3.0: Another record-setting protest for Brunswick County
- BrunswickDems
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
Editor’s note: Those who attended No Kings protests and rallies across the U.S. had a lot to say about why they were there. Mike Houston, a member of the BCDP Communications Team, talked with some of the attendees at the March 28 protest in Shallotte. An on-duty officer with the Shallotte Police Department estimated 3,500 protesters were in attendance. Here's Mike's report:
Of the more than 3,500 protesters who gathered in Shallotte on March 28 for the latest “No Kings” rally, Anthony S. was one of the youngest.
But like his elder counterparts, the 12-year-old sixth grader was vocal, and laser-focused on his mission.
“This guy Trump is in the Epstein files, and he shouldn't be president,” Anthony said while holding his hand-crafted sign opposing fascism. “We have to get Trump out of office. He's a bad president, and he’s evil,” Anthony continued.
Beth R. has been to every No Kings rally since the first one last year, and other rallies, such as one protesting ICE. She said she'll keep showing up until change occurs. “If we stay silent, we let him win,” she said. “We cannot let him win. There’s too much at stake, with the survival of democracy topping the list.
"Things are horrible right now, she continued. “But it can be a lot worse. And if my continuing to show up helps in any way, ...”
Charles T. participated in the anti-Vietnam protests of the 1960s. He said it’s different in the country now, and not necessarily for the better. “We're more fractured, and the difference in the haves and the have nots has expanded greatly," Charles said. “Too many people seem hopeless, and desperate. That's a volatile combination.”
Sarah L. said she was frightened of ICE from the moment she saw those “brainless goons beating on people minding their own business.” She added, “And along the way, they've shot and killed at least two innocent people that we know of, with no reprisals whatsoever. This shouldn't be happening in this country, and now these killers are roaming around at the airports. What the hell kind of BS are they gonna pull there?”
John R. said the shift away from having three independent, distinct branches of government – the executive, legislative and judicial – has removed a vital layer of checks and balances in our system of democracy. “This clown king has all the judges and all the scared Republican legislators in his pockets, and chaos is the result,” he said. “The main thing we need is some legislators with some spines who are gonna do the right things for the good of this country and others, and not do things out of fear of reprisals.”
Bethany L. said she fears for her lesbian daughter and her partner and is convinced both will have to move to a larger metropolitan area to get some peace. “The level of tolerance for different people is almost nonexistent these days,” Bethany said. “I pray for the marginalized and ostracized, that they find peace.”
Joe V. said he had to come out and make his voice known because silence will not affect any change. But he’s prepared to continue his activism. “All change starts from a tiny mustard seed. Our mustard seed is growing,” he said. “We've got to keep the momentum going. There is so much at stake.”
Watch NBC Nightly News' March 28th coverage of No Kings protests from around the country and world -- and note that Brunswick County was mentioned (~1:51 into the report)!
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